pfan, Take a look at my build thread. I got a Gamma2 Vittles Vault Plus for Pet Food Storage from Amazon (25 lb). It holds around 5-6 gallons of water and I got a Seville Classics Foldable Storage Cube/Ottoman, Charcoal Grey from Amazon as well to hide it.
SC Aquariums Owners Thread
- Thread starter OceanWolf
- Start date
pfan, Take a look at my build thread. I got a Gamma2 Vittles Vault Plus for Pet Food Storage from Amazon (25 lb). It holds around 5-6 gallons of water and I got a Seville Classics Foldable Storage Cube/Ottoman, Charcoal Grey from Amazon as well to hide it.
z3speed4me
Member
Exactly why I went with the smaller sump from the 66/80 in my 75 gallon.
The 28"W x 17"L x 13-3/4"H is WAY better for space than the 31-1/2"W x 16-1/4"L x 17-3/4"H that would normally come with the 75 or 90.
That small loss of sump space, just gains enough room for my trigger5 ATO. (a 10 would be nicer to fill less but obviously won't fit)
z3speed4me
Member
Those gamma lids are great by the way, I have them on all of my 5 gallon buckets that I use for RO and Salt Mix. Much cheaper at home depot (black ones) and lowes (white ones) too, think they are 7 bucks.
SaguaroSteve
Moved On
So I heard back from Steve today. In order to ship the MDF stand back I have to strap it on a pallet and pay $180 return shipping. A solid wood cabinet will cost me $300 plus $150 shipping and I'd get a $100 credit on the returned cabinet. So it'd cost me $450 for the new wood cabinet alone, and $530 to return the one I have and get a wood one.
That's absolutely outrageous.
I'm tempted to build my own, but I live in an apartment and don't have the knowledge, tools, or space to build my own. I know the big box stores will cut the wood to size and all that, but I'm really not keen on sanding and staining a stand in my living room or kitchen.
That's absolutely outrageous.
I'm tempted to build my own, but I live in an apartment and don't have the knowledge, tools, or space to build my own. I know the big box stores will cut the wood to size and all that, but I'm really not keen on sanding and staining a stand in my living room or kitchen.
soulpatch
New member
I dont see anything outrageous about that. You got a package deal which meant you likely only paid 150 for the MDF stand give or take. THose things aren't cheap to ship as you are now aware.
450 for the new wood stand shipped to you (which if you look up cost of stands is a steal in and of itself) OR 530 to get new one and return is still a steal my friend. I was looking at 1K plus for basic wood stands for my 150 before I found SC.
The MDF will be fine for you while in the apartment. Take the time to caulk the seams and I recommend painting the interior with white epoxy appliance paint which should seal everything for you regardless.
450 for the new wood stand shipped to you (which if you look up cost of stands is a steal in and of itself) OR 530 to get new one and return is still a steal my friend. I was looking at 1K plus for basic wood stands for my 150 before I found SC.
The MDF will be fine for you while in the apartment. Take the time to caulk the seams and I recommend painting the interior with white epoxy appliance paint which should seal everything for you regardless.
SaguaroSteve
Moved On
Soulpatch, your avatar is most appropriate, haha. I understand the expense of shipping due to size and weight, I get that, but I can build a beautiful oak stand (24"x24"x36") built like a brick sh*thouse for ~$100. I would just have to sacrifice time until I can meet up with my woodworking buddy, it's good to have friends in the trades!
I think it's pretty obvious, it'd be stupid to return the MDF stand, I'd have two stands for $450, or one for $530.
I'm ok with the MDF, it's just the more I read on here, people make the MDF sound like absolute junk, that's going to dissolve, and I'm going to wake up in the middle of the nice to my tank falling in on itself. But my experience is limited, and intended on coating and caulking the interior to begin with, if you think that will suffice, then I'll take your advice.
I think it's pretty obvious, it'd be stupid to return the MDF stand, I'd have two stands for $450, or one for $530.
I'm ok with the MDF, it's just the more I read on here, people make the MDF sound like absolute junk, that's going to dissolve, and I'm going to wake up in the middle of the nice to my tank falling in on itself. But my experience is limited, and intended on coating and caulking the interior to begin with, if you think that will suffice, then I'll take your advice.
I think the MDF stand will be fine for many years. I'm not worried about mine causing any damage to the tank in the future. I caulked the seems and the screw heads but didn't paint the inside. Obviously I'll be careful to wipe up any spills but I've had plenty of particle board and MDF stands over the years and never had a problem. I actually still have an old crappy stand from a nanocube 24 that is at least 7 years old and is still in perfectly fine shape and those are about The cheapest stand I have ever seen.
I think $450 is pretty reasonable as well. I was shocked when the stand for my 90 came preassembled. I assumed it would be cheaper to send disassembled but I guess weight must be the only factor. I'm honestly not sure how SCA makes money on these systems giving free shipping and a discount on the product itself if you call. I'm assuming shipping for my 90 system had to be at least $300 but more would not surprise me at all.
I have to agree with everyone else. That's very fair considering there wasn't an actual issue with the stand you received. You say you can build a sweet one for $100 and maybe you can if you already have the tools. It's cost you quite a bit more for a nice and finished stand. Prep it with caulk and paint and you'll be fine.
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davocean
Active member
I'm a finish carpenter and I get hit on to build stands all the time, it amazes me what people think they should cost.
Just a 2x frame w/ a decent ply top and bottom is going to run $100 in materials alone, unfinished, no skin or doors.
I think more people should actually try building their own stands just so they realize what it actually costs and recognize the labor involved.
I don't see anything outrageous at all on SCA's part, for a nice looking quality tank they are hands down the best deal going in my opinion.
Just a 2x frame w/ a decent ply top and bottom is going to run $100 in materials alone, unfinished, no skin or doors.
I think more people should actually try building their own stands just so they realize what it actually costs and recognize the labor involved.
I don't see anything outrageous at all on SCA's part, for a nice looking quality tank they are hands down the best deal going in my opinion.
strat1960s
New member
DaveOcean,
LOL. I started out building a 2x4 stand. Didn't like how I lost so much room inside the stand due to the 2x4s. Built a 2x3 stand. Didn't like the fact that I could twist the top while the bottom stayed in place. (My own fault) Went back to the 2x4 stand finished it and made it work. Total cost to me: around the same cost it would have been to have the wood stand shipped with my tank order. LOL.
It aint cheap to DIY on everything. My 2x4 stand is solid though. :beer:
Now if I could get on with my PVC plumbing. ARGH! It seems everyone in San Antonio knows what a gate valve is. However they don't carry them. Should have ordered the valves when I first found out the big-box stores don't carry them. Would have been done with the plumbing and had water in the tank by now. ARGH!
Gate valves should arrive Thursday or Friday.
Ted
LOL. I started out building a 2x4 stand. Didn't like how I lost so much room inside the stand due to the 2x4s. Built a 2x3 stand. Didn't like the fact that I could twist the top while the bottom stayed in place. (My own fault) Went back to the 2x4 stand finished it and made it work. Total cost to me: around the same cost it would have been to have the wood stand shipped with my tank order. LOL.
It aint cheap to DIY on everything. My 2x4 stand is solid though. :beer:
Now if I could get on with my PVC plumbing. ARGH! It seems everyone in San Antonio knows what a gate valve is. However they don't carry them. Should have ordered the valves when I first found out the big-box stores don't carry them. Would have been done with the plumbing and had water in the tank by now. ARGH!
Gate valves should arrive Thursday or Friday.
Ted
SaguaroSteve
Moved On
For those of you that had it delivered, did you have to contact Custom Co first or did they contact you to set up the appointment?
texdoc77
New member
Since you live in an apartment I would ask how long you plan to stay there? I know when I lived in apartments I never stayed any one place longer than 1-2 years. If you don't plan on staying more than say 3-5 years, use the MDF, then when you move switch to solid wood. If you are pretty permanent where you are, I would still keep the MDF but either have Steve build you a new one and send it out or have someone else do it for you. Hindsight is 20/20 and going with the solid wood to begin with would have been my advice, but that ship has sailed. Plus you can still use the MDF cabinet or even sell it on ebay.
soulpatch
New member
Built my own stands before and NEVER got out for less then around $400 plus by the time you make it look nice and that doesn't include my own labor...
While a fun project it is not economical compared to the cost of an SC stand. Other brands yes as some charge thousands for their stands so you can save a good deal if you wish to invest the time and energy.
SaguaroSteve
Moved On
Based on where I've been posted I typically stay three to four years, so I'm due for a move in the next year or two. I'm looking at having a buddy of mine build one for me for reasons listed below.
My point revolves around the 50gal cube for the rest of this paragraph, not the 150gal you have. There's a lot more material and time involved in building a stand that's three times as big. What I'm hung up on is the price of the stand for the end product. I've seen several different styles for the stand. The first, which CafeReef and JayVIP have in their builds, is trimmed and has finishings, which I can palate spending $300 on, it looks nice. The second that SCA offers (this is not a dig at anyone who has it) is literally 3/4" plywood cut into a box and some hinges thrown on, that's not worth $300 to me. Anyone can make some simple measurements, go to Home Depot/Lowe's, have it cut, screw it together, and paint it black or white for less than $100, I guarantee it.
I've seen the stand that came with yours, I love it, and I'd pay the asking price for that if it was available for the 50 gal. I emailed Steve about getting a stand like CafeReef's in cherry and he said they sold out a few months ago. So, with that, I'm building a stand that's worth $300 and will look like $300 to me. I'll post pictures when it's done and advise on total cost.
soulpatch
New member
Good luck. 4x8 sheets of anything decent outside of sheething ply which I wouldnt use is going for around $40+ a sheet. If you ONLY did ply and had no corner support, bracing, feet, doors, hinges, trim ect you would already be at $80 for the 2 sheets you would need.
I think when you price out the furniture grade ply SC uses you will see they make nothing on the stands when you factor in shipping. For furniture ply you are easily 60 a sheet for base grade and with 2 sheets again you are at 120. Add in recessed hinges they use, doors, paint, labor, ect and 300 even for that base stand is a bargain.
But everyone has to make their own call. It's not my money or time to be spent here. Good luck on your build but I would triple your budget for the stand and hold that 200+ in contingency as I suspect you will use it all for a decent build...
My post about costs was not for a 150 gallon stand either. I have done stands for tanks as small as 20 gallons and for them to look presentable you are well over your $100 line in the sand.
SaguaroSteve
Moved On
You're misunderstanding, I'm saying I could build what SCA now offers for $100, I have a $300 budget for myself to something like what SCA no longer offers like CafeReef's stand, less his custom finishing.
Also, how do you know the 50gal cube stand is furniture grade, do you have one? What is the grade going to matter if one just paints it? The only time I would be concerned with grade is for staining.
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soulpatch
New member
Typically the grade is important as it is different wood types used. IE base ply is a mix of cheap softwoods. Furniture grade gets into hardwoods with the cheaper ones being a mix and then getting into better grades as you climb. I am sure Dave can chime in with much more detail if you need.
Grade and type matter due to how they compress, handle weight, disperse water, ect. Different woods have different properties and yes even if you plan to simply paint they all matter. Grade isnt as important for staining as type of wood used is. IE Hickory has much different grain lines then Maple or Oak.
And no you could not build what SCA now offers for $100. Base cheap ply is $40 a sheet right now so add on hinges, paint, and screws and you are over $100.
Grade and type matter due to how they compress, handle weight, disperse water, ect. Different woods have different properties and yes even if you plan to simply paint they all matter. Grade isnt as important for staining as type of wood used is. IE Hickory has much different grain lines then Maple or Oak.
And no you could not build what SCA now offers for $100. Base cheap ply is $40 a sheet right now so add on hinges, paint, and screws and you are over $100.
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