SC Aquariums Owners Thread

[Spikewire]

The plumbing that comes with it is metric so depending on where you are from, if you want to hard plumb your system, you have to swap out the parts for SAE.
I ended up dumping all the plumbing that came with mine because I need SAE and also the parts it comes with are pretty cheap. The cheap loc-line(read knock off) style returns are junk. mine all cracked trying to take them apart so I ordered real "loc-line".

Yes I've been wondering why so many folks have to change out the stock plumbing. I've been comparing SC and CAD Lights for some time now. We're moving into a new home and now is the (almost) perfect time to pull the trigger. I just can't seem to decide between the two systems. I will say that having to gut the plumbing on a "system" does put a damper on SC?

Thoughts?

 

[deaddat]

Yes I've been wondering why so many folks have to change out the stock plumbing. I've been comparing SC and CAD Lights for some time now. We're moving into a new home and now is the (almost) perfect time to pull the trigger. I just can't seem to decide between the two systems. I will say that having to gut the plumbing on a "system" does put a damper on SC?

Thoughts?

I went with SCA because they had an amazing deal which they seem to have often on their website. I think I saved about $300 on my PNP. They come with a bubble magus clone; same pump for the skimmer which are great. I really like the sump having a separate skimmer section. The tank and sump seem really well made.

I plan on setting up my stand and tank today...not excited to put the stand together. I would just suggest putting a ball valve on the return.

 

[Spikewire]

I went with SCA because they had an amazing deal which they seem to have often on their website. I think I saved about $300 on my PNP. They come with a bubble magus clone; same pump for the skimmer which are great. I really like the sump having a separate skimmer section. The tank and sump seem really well made.

I plan on setting up my stand and tank today...not excited to put the stand together. I would just suggest putting a ball valve on the return.

Great info deadat. So can I assume you got the SC Stand bit it didn't come assembled? Also other than the ball valve on the return (excellent idea) have you kept the rest of the plumbing? Also had you considered CAD Lights? I can understand the great deal. I'm just trying to figure out if the product and quality is at an equal level and the right deal at the right time is what to be looking for. For some reason I feel that CAD Lights systems are better quality (especially the stands) but the SC customer service is far better.

 

[andrek787]

Guys, could any tell me the length and width dimensions of the newer 150g tank? Steve said its exactly 60" by 24", but I really want to double check.

I asked SCA not to ship the tank until the stand is built, so it not just taking up space.

I am still messing with the design of the steel stand for the tank and decided to add a 1/4" steel plate for the tank to sit on, so I can do the ELOS\Red Sea Reefer design, where the tank appears to hang over the doors.

 

[sk8elenex92]

Here is my SCA 120. About to fill her up. Really nervous about filling it in the house. Hopefully there are no leaks. I will update you guys once its filled. Hoping for Friday.
The plumbing is the worst thing about the tank. Why not just use standard bulkheads! The service is top notch thats for sure.. Wish me luck guys.

 

[deaddat]

Great info deadat. So can I assume you got the SC Stand bit it didn't come assembled? Also other than the ball valve on the return (excellent idea) have you kept the rest of the plumbing? Also had you considered CAD Lights? I can understand the great deal. I'm just trying to figure out if the product and quality is at an equal level and the right deal at the right time is what to be looking for. For some reason I feel that CAD Lights systems are better quality (especially the stands) but the SC customer service is far better.

No my stand didn't come assembled. When I saw the SC Aquariums I thought the tank was perfect since I really wanted a cube and first thing I googled I saw negativity, but it was only because they were built in China. This thread really persuaded me and when I mentioned it to a friend he said SC Aquariums is a great "clone" company and they make great products.

I will be using the plumbing that it came with since I hate hard plumbing and I have no reason to change it. If the knock off loc-line does break down the road I can easily swap it out.

Forgive me as I'm a total idiot when it comes to working with my hands and measurements, but why does everyone hate the metric plumbing and why exactly does it effect you so much? On the site it specifically says my drain is 1" and the return is 1/2". I have the 50g.

Oh yea, that rimless cover on the CAD is pretty sweet!!!! I'm going to get started on my stand, wish me luck.

 

[andrek787]

sk8elenex92, how did you move the pallet into the garage (i assume)?

 

[deaddat]

I just e-mailed SCA, but hopefully I can get a response asap! My stand is different than the diagram in the "instructions" so I was wondering is the U shape cut out on the back piece suppose to be at the top or the bottom?

 

[sk8elenex92]

Hey Andrek, couple guys and I carried the sucker off the truck. wasn't bad at all. I didn't have much help getting the tank onto the stand, me and one other guy carried it into the house. It was a little scary, but everything turned out. Just so nervous the tank is either going to leak or explode hah.. I talked with the insurance company, and any damage to the house due to the tank is covered, just not the tank, livestock and equipment.

 

[deaddat]

I just e-mailed SCA, but hopefully I can get a response asap! My stand is different than the diagram in the "instructions" so I was wondering is the U shape cut out on the back piece suppose to be at the top or the bottom?

Oh well, I just built it with the hole at the top. I will put the tank on it and plumb it later tonight.

 

[davocean]

The SCA tank itself is awesome and a great deal for starfire, and very well made, nice silicone and seams.
I wish they did the overflow and drain different, but it's workable w/ some tweaks.
I just made my plumbing and drain virtually silent and stupidly simple.
I'm a carpenter not a plumber, so I faked my way through this, but hey it works great for me, maybe it will help others.
Because the overflow is tight, and holes are fairly close, I chose to do flex line.
Home depot right now has these cool flex line pieces that are pretty much perfect for the drain section in the box(The only thing I don't have a pic of, I'll try to get one later, but they have an orange stripe and about 16" long w/ a coupling at each end)
So this is what I rigged up w/ what I had laying around.
This is extremely quiet and my water level is perfect.
I just mocked this up, I'll hit what shows w/ black krylon fusion later to hide all the ugly.

 

[davocean]

Here's what I used for drain insert in overflow box, it's flexible tubing w/ already glued on couplings.

 

[sk8elenex92]

Thanks for the pics. Davocean. Are you using the drain bulkhead that came with the tank?

 

[davocean]

Thanks for the pics. Davocean. Are you using the drain bulkhead that came with the tank?

Yes but I picked up my tank from their Rancho Cucamunga location, and they grabbed the right bulkheads for me.
I'm also using their original locklines, for now anyway, I'll see how they hold up.
The hardest for me was originally hard plumbing inside overflow, just not much clearance, the flex lines made all the difference.
Their original durso had my water level a good inch and a half below top, it kind of had to because it couldn't go higher in overflow w/out hitting the return T.
Now my drain is raised, water level about half to 3/4 inch from top as it should be.

 

[sk8elenex92]

Thanks. Steve from sca is sending me new bulkhead for drain since I can't it to stop leaking. Should be here today. Planning on filling the tank today we'll see. Nervous ! The original lockline would never catch the thread all the way so he also send new ones that now hold perfect. P

 

[davocean]

I found those guys at SCA awesome to deal w/, great customer service.
Even at my deal price ($500 for a 120 eurobrace starfire out the door tax included) they held that tank for a week till I could get there, loaded it in my truck for me, gave me a smokin deal on a rimless sump, GAVE me a LED fuge light, gave me the right bulk fittings and locklines.
Really cool guys over there.

 

[RingingEars]

I found those guys at SCA awesome to deal w/, great customer service.
Even at my deal price ($500 for a 120 eurobrace starfire out the door tax included) they held that tank for a week till I could get there, loaded it in my truck for me, gave me a smokin deal on a rimless sump, GAVE me a LED fuge light, gave me the right bulk fittings and locklines.
Really cool guys over there.

+1.
My dealings with Steve when I ordered my kit was great. Super nice guy...

 

[sk8elenex92]

Couldn't get the bulkhead to stop leaking for the life of me. Tried the new bulkhead Steve sent, boom first try no leaks, been running since Saturday morning.

 

[deaddat]

Here is my SC Aquarium 50g tank that I upgraded from a 20g H. I love this rimless tank so much and the plumbing worked for me. I have a Kessil A360 coming later this week which will really make the rimless design look perfect.

 

[GoGo98102]

What lights are those? I love the way they look. They look a lot like AI Hydra 52. Although I can't complain too much about my Reefbreeders because it does give me very good results, I just wish it was better looking and less fan noise.

This was Nov 1st, 2014

This was Dec, 2014. Notice how tiny the Pom Pom was.

This is last week. It's now more than 100 times the size. Even my SPS are growing more than 10 times.