SC Aquariums Owners Thread

[rgodoy22]

so after 3 day of reading this thread from start to finish I guess I can finally comment lol

I finally became an SCA owner! picked up a used 50 gallon cube set up last week. I've spent the first week cleaning, and now moving onto the stand. i will be painting the inside white as most have done and sealing the entire stand with kilz due to it being mdf.

my biggest issue is the size of the original sump, I would love to have more room for other items inside the cabinet. has anyone actually gone through with using a different sump on the 50 gallon I've seen others use some great acrylic sumps on the larger tanks but nothing on the smaller ones. does anyone know of any pre made sumps that will fit? the only two I have found is trigger systems cube which will also leave little room in the cabinet but may allow for better organization or the synergy reef cl22. the synergy seems like the better option for allowing space but what do you guys think? will it be too small as far as how much water it will hold or will it work? has anyone found something better???
any input is much appreciated everyone!

 

[soulpatch]

You can easily go with a smaller sump BUT you need to ensure you plumb the overflow at the correct height and have your returns hign enough (or drill a siphon break hole in locline) so that they break suction when the return pump goes off to siphone water back into the sump. I dont have a 55 so I can't comment too much on which one to go with but it can be done.

Those of us with larger systems still have space issues. My apex needed its own external enclosure and my ATO container is outside my stand as I can not fit more then my sump, reactor, and calcium reactor inside my stand. With the amount of equipment and plumbing needed I think most people have issues in their stands at some point.

 

[aiber]

Hello all. Getting back into this world after a 10 year hiatus. Interested in this 50 gallon set up. Question: Are there already two holes in the overflow drilled? Also, what lighting and powerheads do you recommend?

Thanks

 

[RogueGrown]

Hello all. Getting back into this world after a 10 year hiatus. Interested in this 50 gallon set up. Question: Are there already two holes in the overflow drilled? Also, what lighting and powerheads do you recommend?

Thanks

Yes the overflow has 3 holes drilled. 1 return and 2 overflow. The tank comes with all the plumbing you would need as well but most ditch everything provided from the bulkheads down and replace it with a hard plumbing.

Im going to run a AI primes over my 50 when it goes up. As far as flow is concerned I havent gotten that far to decide what to run. Im sure others will chime in on the mater.

 

[aiber]

Thanks Rogue....That lighting is pretty expensive! Have you or anyone else thought about this lighting? Mars 165W LED Aquarium Light Dimmable Full Spectrum Reef Coral Grow SPSLPS Tank

 

[soulpatch]

There is a very long thread on the mars leds. The chinese black bix units have come a long way

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

 

[aiber]

Any thoughts of the need for an overflow cover? Is it needed? Where can I buy?

 

[pfan151]

Any thoughts of the need for an overflow cover? Is it needed? Where can I buy?

I'd definitely use a cover. I made one out of some spare pieces I had left from a BRS mesh top. I was going to get the one from SCA but I thought $30 was a little high for a little piece of acrylic.

 

[soulpatch]

Hmm I thought it was cheap to spend the $25 to get the cover so that it matched the rest of the overflow. Though no one has ever said I spend wisely...

 

[pfan151]

Hmm I thought it was cheap to spend the $25 to get the cover so that it matched the rest of the overflow. Though no one has ever said I spend wisely...

I guess. He told me $30. I just didn't want to spend that for what is basically a 10" piece of acrylic. I kind of feel like it should have been included with the system. But I'm cheap. I wish they had something that would come up from the overflow closer to flush with the rim of the tank. I'm still worried about a fish jumping onto my overflow cover and not being able to flop back into the tank. I've already lost a radial filefish and a cleaner wrasse that I had for almost two years through the tiny space between the BRS mesh top and the edge of the aquarium. I still don't know how that cleaner wrasse made it through that space. The filefish somehow made it through and landed on top of the mesh.

 

[aiber]

1)I remember using egg crate to cover the top of the aquarium when I was in the hobby before. Is that still done? I think it would look very ugly. What are your thoughts regarding a cover for the actual tank?

2)Steve also offers a "marine set up" which adds the lighting, a powerhead and the reeflink. Thoughts on this set up? I am leaning towards buying this set up. The lighting looks great and has good reviews. The power head the same. Saves me like $150.

Your comments are really appreciated!

 

[soulpatch]

I guess. He told me $30.

I would think all the business I have sent his way I would have gotten more then $5 off LOL I will have to have a talk with him...

1)I remember using egg crate to cover the top of the aquarium when I was in the hobby before. Is that still done? I think it would look very ugly. What are your thoughts regarding a cover for the actual tank?

I run the BRS mesh cover and like it. I have a canopy on my tank though so I dont see it. If I was running without a canopy I would get the better covers from Artfully Acrylic so that it looked the part. Not saying the BRS dont look good but it is not as clean a look as Artfully Acrylic does.

2)Steve also offers a "marine set up" which adds the lighting, a powerhead and the reeflink. Thoughts on this set up? I am leaning towards buying this set up. The lighting looks great and has good reviews. The power head the same. Saves me like $150.

Your comments are really appreciated!

I guess it dpends on what light and powerhead it is and the price variance. If we are talking a radion, MP and reeflink then sure. If we are tlaking the hydor powerheads on his site then perhaps not. He does normally run an ecotech package so I am assuming that is what it would be.

Saves you $150 vs what? Buying those parts elsewhere? What is the charge above the cost of the tank and stand for those extra parts and what are they? Lots of lighting and powerhead options out there.

 

[pfan151]

1)I remember using egg crate to cover the top of the aquarium when I was in the hobby before. Is that still done? I think it would look very ugly. What are your thoughts regarding a cover for the actual tank?

2)Steve also offers a "marine set up" which adds the lighting, a powerhead and the reeflink. Thoughts on this set up? I am leaning towards buying this set up. The lighting looks great and has good reviews. The power head the same. Saves me like $150.

Your comments are really appreciated!

The BRS mesh top is not very noticeable at all. Much better than eggcrate and it blocks virtually no light at all. It sits recessed in the tank so it is flush with the top. They sell clips that go on the rim to hold the top.

 

[aiber]

The BRS mesh top is not very noticeable at all. Much better than eggcrate and it blocks virtually no light at all. It sits recessed in the tank so it is flush with the top. They sell clips that go on the rim to hold the top.

Nice. I will look into it.

 

[KJoFan]

I guess. He told me $30. I just didn't want to spend that for what is basically a 10" piece of acrylic. I kind of feel like it should have been included with the system. But I'm cheap. I wish they had something that would come up from the overflow closer to flush with the rim of the tank. I'm still worried about a fish jumping onto my overflow cover and not being able to flop back into the tank. I've already lost a radial filefish and a cleaner wrasse that I had for almost two years through the tiny space between the BRS mesh top and the edge of the aquarium. I still don't know how that cleaner wrasse made it through that space. The filefish somehow made it through and landed on top of the mesh.

I purchased the $30 cover after the fact. I emailed Steve about it, he said it fits all the 3 hole overflows. The cover arrived and is far too long and too skinnny to fit my overflow. So...that was $30 wasted as far as I'm concerned. I have the 66g.

If I remember, I'll try to take a pic of it sitting on the overflow for reference. Pretty disappointed. So...I might think twice unless it fits a specific size of overflow.

 

[KJoFan]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[soulpatch]

Looks like they accidentally sent you a piece of acrylic. The cover is not a flat sheet. It has extra on the bottom to form a sort of raised U for the three sides that sit on the overflow.

 

[aiber]

Did you speak to the owner? That has to be a mistake.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pfan151]

That can't be right.

 

[cincyjim]

Mine is the same way... flat rectangle piece of acrylic. Doesn't fit very well either but my main goal was to keep light out of the overflow box and it will do that for me. At least it is black and blends in with the box so I'm okay with it. I received mine about 2 weeks ago so maybe they have changed the cover some.