SC Aquariums Owners Thread

[CafeReef]

I don't know what to do. I took the advice of owners on this forum and went for the SCA 66 rather than CAD Lights 68.

The stand is pretty roughed up, with dings and gaps and no response from SC yet. I paid full price for this setup and now I feel like a chump

have you called SCA? Steve is a busy guy, I know with me it took a few days to get a email response back because he was out of the office for the day but it all got taken care of.

There are people that went with cad lights that were missing parts that made their setups unusable for months. Steve will make it right, I recommend calling them, their phone number is on the website.

 

[soulpatch]

Also remember Steve is in Cali so depending on when you sent the email or try calling he might not be around or awake yet.

but yes he has gone out of his way for people who had had issues before. Every manufactorer is going to have a misstep once in a while whether their fault or that of a shipping company.

To me the pics look like it was damaged in shipping as the lean and spacing issues could be easily done by too much pressure on boxing especially with a weaker material like MDF.


And yes there is a reason Cad lights is hated on this forum and yet there are a TON of us very happy SC owners. Steve actually has great customer service. So give him a call later and see what all he says. I think you will be happy with the response.

 

[roosterchef]

The gaps would be my concern also (not Steve's service). Especially since the main worry with the mdf stands is the slow disintegration over time as the mdf gets wet or absorbs moisture and the fibers separate. I personally wouldn't trust it unless I knew I wasn't going to use it that long.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A

 

[GQuinn]

I agree. Steve will make it right. I had a couple of problems and Steve went above and beyond to make it right.

 

[915MANG]

I don't know what to do. I took the advice of owners on this forum and went for the SCA 66 rather than CAD Lights 68.

The stand is pretty roughed up, with dings and gaps and no response from SC yet. I paid full price for this setup and now I feel like a chump

For Sure call Steve, The 66g is a sweet tank.

 

[kzaveri19]

Thank you.. I just spoke with Steve to work out options. How much did you guys pay to upgrade to the All wood stand?

 

[soulpatch]

in most instances on the site the all wood stand is 200 more. So figure an upgrade would be ballpark to that...

 

[kzaveri19]

in most instances on the site the all wood stand is 200 more. So figure an upgrade would be ballpark to that...

Steve sent me pictures of the oak plywood cabinet in black .. it looks exactly like the MDF .. See attached for plywood cabinet pictures .. He is asking $280 for this for my tank. Seems a bit much. :sad1:

He offered to send a replacement MDF cabinet for free.

I am wondering is the oak plywood cabinet is worth an extra $280.

What do you guys think?

 

[soulpatch]

all wood is always worth the money over MDF. MDF breaks down over time as no matter what precautions we take we will spill water on it, have a leak, ect and MDF does not get along with water.

I would gladly pay 280 for the all wood stand.


The tank and stand hold everything else we spend thousands on so 280 is really nothing in the grand scheme of things. Hell the MDF stand for a small biocube is 100 bucks. If you want to go cheap then build the stand yourself. It would be around $40 in lumber, hinges, and paint to put it together. I have done that before and almost did it for my SC 150 but I am lazy now and the couple hundred for the stand is worth my time...

 

[kzaveri19]

I understand your willingness to pay. However, I am on a budget and I read that many paid $150 to upgrade from MDF to Plywood. I am willing to pay $150, however, I shouldn't be responsible for the extra shipping.

 

[915MANG]

I understand your willingness to pay. However, I am on a budget and I read that many paid $150 to upgrade from MDF to Plywood. I am willing to pay $150, however, I shouldn't be responsible for the extra shipping.

I think wood is better, but understand the budget issue. Id go with the wood stand if possible,because its a cleaner look. But then again, you could build your own stand. And you know it would be solid.

 

[soulpatch]

I understand your willingness to pay. However, I am on a budget and I read that many paid $150 to upgrade from MDF to Plywood. I am willing to pay $150, however, I shouldn't be responsible for the extra shipping.

Then get the mdf. If 135 is going to break you this hobby will be rough.

You already paid for the mdf and he will send another to you for free. Many who get deals with the wood stands do so because we get them at the time so he saves on shipping when sent with tank.

285 for an all wood stand is an astounding price. Look at what other comparable stands cost and those are typically mdf. ..

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[kzaveri19]

@soultouch and @915mang. I got the wood stand. . Thank you! I guess two years of graduate school in Manhattan made me poor and stingy. I am coming back to the hobby after several years. My 120 in India sat on custom made plywood stand and it was super strong.

I re-checked the MDF stand I got noticed that a couple of screws were screwed too tight (and a couple not so much ) and have cracked the MDF.

I am sure the MDF would have lasted for sometime, but I rent an apartment in a high-rise and will travel 4 days a week for work. I will sleep a lot better with the tank on a wood stand. I look forward to the build.

BTW.. how friends should I invite "for pizza" to hoist the 66g on the 36 inch high stand?

 

[915MANG]

@soultouch and @915mang. I got the wood stand. . Thank you! I guess two years of graduate school in Manhattan made me poor and stingy. I am coming back to the hobby after several years. My 120 in India sat on custom made plywood stand and it was super strong.

I re-checked the MDF stand I got noticed that a couple of screws were screwed too tight (and a couple not so much ) and have cracked the MDF.

I am sure the MDF would have lasted for sometime, but I rent an apartment in a high-rise and will travel 4 days a week for work. I will sleep a lot better with the tank on a wood stand. I look forward to the build.

BTW.. how friends should I invite "for pizza" to hoist the 66g on the 36 inch high stand?

Thats great! Glad everything worked out for you.

 

[soulpatch]

It took 3 of us to man handle my 150 into the house and a flight of stairs. I think one other person would suffice for the 66...

 

[roosterchef]

Agree. 2 people can manage the average 90 just to hoist on the stand.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A

 

[915MANG]

Loving this 24g AIO Not Bad For $349!

 

[pelphrey]

24 AIO is killer!

 

[915MANG]

24 AIO is killer!

Yes Sir, Im loving it. Plus I had a section to stash all my fish junk,lol.

 

[ReefCowboy]

Question: I ordered a 150 gal, and decided to have a custom stand built. Steve at SC was extremely helpful and advised the stand to have openings on top and rear panels to acommodate the overflow plumbing.

The openings must be 11"x6" on both.
I understand the opening on the rear panel is to aid in the connection and tightening of the piping(hand space), since im assuming the glass holes are too close to the rear glass panel.

My stand manufacturer is not happy cutting the rear stand panel since it will change the structure of the stand, so he will now have to now makes changes (knots) for the framing.

Did anyone go through this, Or done differently?