SC Aquariums Owners Thread

[ksmmike]

I agree with this. I got the 66 PNP. I'm still using both the return and skimmer. The skimmer is decent, but I'll be upgrading it to a Lifereef very soon. I'll probably keep this skimmer as a backup because aside from being a little loud, it works fairly well.

The return has a..."charming" chugging whine to it and will be the next to be replaced. Keeping an eye out for those Black Friday deals.

Thanks, KjoFan
It sounds like building the system around tank and maybe the stand might be the way to go. It's a great price, but that usually comes with a price too.
I'd rather take my time and get parts that will last and be a quiet system. I have a biocube now and once I took of the top and put on the Echotech marine lights, the system is very quiet. I could hear the hum of the biocube two rooms over until I took off the top.
Mike

 

[KJoFan]

Thanks, KjoFan
It sounds like building the system around tank and maybe the stand might be the way to go. It's a great price, but that usually comes with a price too.
I'd rather take my time and get parts that will last and be a quiet system. I have a biocube now and once I took of the top and put on the Echotech marine lights, the system is very quiet. I could hear the hum of the biocube two rooms over until I took off the top.
Mike

I went with the setup originally because I didn't want to build my own stand. I wanted to take the easy (lazy?) route this time around. So, my thought was, for the price I would go with the PNP and use the equipment it came with until I encountered an issue or had the time/funds/desire to upgrade equipment. I almost a year on from original purchase and just now starting to look into upgrading so I think in the end it was still probably money well spent. It has served it's purpose and I can still keep the original equipment for backups.

I don't think you really can go wrong either way.

 

[ksmmike]

Does anyone know the standard flow rate if you use the plumbing and kit supplied with the 66 and 80 gallon PNP systems? If you upgraded the return pump or even the sump, which ones did you use?

I'm really going back and forth between getting them to build me a custom tank with the ghost or shadow overflow or the standard set up and upgrading it. If you used the standard sump, did you use the bioballs or switch to live rock and or put a refugium in the middle section?

I know so many questions, but I prefer to set it up the way I want it from the start and not have to upgrade over time. I'd rather try to make it as stable as possible in the beginning. I'm curious mostly about the sump setups and the flow rates so that I can get a better return pump from the start. I prefer a quiet system.

Thanks
Mike

 

[soulpatch]

your flow rate is generally limited to the plumbing. 1" pipe gravity fed maxes out at less then 1000 GPH and that is before you add bends and valves (valves even wide open restrict some).

I would go custom tank with ghost overflow all day everyday if I did my 150 again. I woudl also have 2 holes drilled for the returns.

I have a custom sump but then again with the 150 the sump was WAY too large for what was needed. For the smaller tanks like the 80 and such you dont gain any room going custom for most part but do gain some cool features like sock holders, holes for dosing tubes, probe racks, holes for reactor lines and more.

To tell you what return pump you would want to get is difficult as a lot of factors are involved such as if you would run a manifold or not. I personally LOVE my Fluval SP6 pump as it is super easy to clean, quiet, and packs a punch for the price. Your size tank a SP4 is likely sufficient.


As for the sump I am a large proponent in a fuge section. In mine I have marine pure plates and balls with some macro growing in there. Helps keep my phosphates and such to a minimum.

 

[ksmmike]

Thanks Soulpatch,
I asked Steve for a quote on a custom tank this morning. I'm leaning towards the
ghost or shadow overflow. It does seem to make a lot of sense, though I personally don't want to be the one cutting holes in a new tank, which is why I asked for the quote, rather
than getting a stock tank and cutting it on my own.

I do plan on making one section in the sump a refugium. I'm pretty sold on that as well.
I just have to decide on the skimmer and bioballs or a skimmer and socks. Anyway, you were a big help.

Thanks
Mike

 

[soulpatch]

Skimmer and socks all day every day. Balls will need to be removed and cleaned at times or else they could be a potential nitrate issue.

 

[homer1475]

Are bioballs even a thing anymore? I don't think I've seen them for sale anywhere in 10 years, although admittedly I haven't looked either.

Space for an ATS if I were to do it again. In the 55 or 80G the space left for a refugium is so small it's not really worth the effort. I would use the extra space in the sump for skimmer, socks, and an algae turf scrubber. Skip the refugium/macro idea altogether.

 

[ksmmike]

Thanks Homer,

You guys are good at spending my money. LOL.. via the algae scrubber and the
shadow or ghost overflow. I was considering a small refugium mostly for the pods.

As far as the bioballs, I'd rather stay away because I don't feel like cleaning them, tho I guess the socks have to be cleaned even more? I'll check into the algae scrubber.
My LFS was pushing the Eshopps sumps earlier today when I went by to get fresh water
for my water change. Any thoughts? He was high on them, but that's the brand they sell.

Thanks again
Mike

ps.. I'm waiting on the quote from Steve, then I'll pull the trigger since he said its about a 10 week wait on anything custom, even adding the holes for the ghost overflow.

 

[soulpatch]

depends on the eshopps sump but for the money I think there are better options like Trigger personally.

I disagree with homer about the small space making it moot point. The small footprint just changes the type of macro. You will likely be more into culpera, ulva, and the like as opposed to chateo. Though with various types of sumps or custom they have decent sized fuge sections.

And as for the socks yes they need cleaned often but you can go with mesh sock which last longer and still filter out larger items. I run them and rinse once every 2 week or so...

 

[homer1475]

Sumps are so simple to make, and cheap, plus you can put the baffles where you want. One of the reasons I cut the baffles out of the PNP system.

Of course premade is easy, but your stuck with what the manufacturer decided would work and they typically can't be changed(if made of acrylic).

Socks are a lot easier to clean then bioballs. They also serve different purposes. Socks are mechanical filtration, while bioballs are biological filtration. Socks can be used with the bioballs(again still not advisable anymore), or more rock, ceramic media, etc, to serve as a substitute for the bioballs(biological filtration).


With plenty of rockwork and a functioning ATS, pods won't be a problem. I have a leopard wrasse and mandarin, both fat and happy.

 

[homer1475]

Of course I didn't think of the ascetic's either. Premade certainly looks nicer, but for me a sump is a place to hide the ugly. lol

 

[soulpatch]

store/custom sump is not only better looking but compared to the PNP is better laid out with adjustable weirs and holes for pumps, dosing, and more. Heck a company like Trigger will do any change you want for the most part for the same cost as retail. I did a lot to mine for no more then a normal trigger sump costs and I wish I had done even more.

Though I would likely advocate custom for most I do understand that I run a slightly more complex system with more tubing then most tend to set up....

 

[homer1475]

Anything is a whole heck of a lot better then what comes with the PNP system no doubt. But if your going to buy the PNP system, it's a decent sump tank. Just keep in mind you might want to cut the prebuilt baffles out and remake it.

 

[ksmmike]

Thanks all,
Ive been running Steve ragged with all my pricing questions. He told me they have a 75 gallon too, but I don't see it on the web site. 36x24x20 I think he said. I'm leaning towards that or the 90 gallon which is 36x24x24 with the shadow ghost overflow box, and I guess using the bean animal method. Ill check out the Trigger sumps.

I don't want to wait 12 weeks or more for the tank to be cut and delivered, but I can still mess with my biocube till then. I have a tiny yellow tang that needs a larger home in the near future. He's the smallest one I've ever seen, which is the only reason I grabbed him up. My clowns were tiny when I got them too, but are growing fast. One grew a lot larger at first when they paired up, but are close to the same size now. That's been interesting to watch, but they still seemed to be paired up. They are always together in the tank and the larger one nips at the smaller one now and again. Its been fun to watch them.

I have a small pygmy angel too that gave the tang a hard time at first, but the tang is now the king of the tank even tho hes the smallest fish in there. Ill leave the angel in the biocube and move the others over. The angel really doesn't play well with any new inhabitants. I'd take him back but he's the wife's favorite. The same wife who didn't want anything to do with the me getting a tank but now wants something like you see on Tanked. Better than not caring a I guess

I'd like to get a Siamese angel and a yellow eyed Kole tang for the new tank, once its set up and going. Not sure of any others. Likely a carpenter wrasse and a diamond goby to keep the sand clean.

Mike

 

[FLSharkvictim]

Got my custom SC-150 up!

Got my custom SC-150 up!

Just getting my shopping list together on my plumbing. Already bought my substrate which is Tropic Eden Tonga MesoFlakes - 8 30lb bags. Also, installing the 20'' Synergy External Overflow box and a Ecotech M1 running my returns.


TANK INFO:
150 MIXED REEF

 

[ksmmike]

good luck Shark

 

[KJoFan]

Hey guys, this isn't solely SCA related but I have the chance to pick up a used Lifereef SVS2-24 skimmer for my SCA 66g.

I'm currently running the SCA 302. I don't really have complaints about it other than it takes a second to get itself going if you shut it off, but it skims pretty well.

So...since I don't NEED a new skimmer is the Lifereef "upgrade" worth it?

Anyone with experience with either skimmer or both or just have an educated opinion?

 

[soulpatch]

I have the lifereef and it is an incredible skimmer and I'd recommend all day every day

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[Bpb]

Yep. I upgraded a perfectly good enough skimmer because I came across a lifereef for a price I couldn't refuse.


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[KJoFan]

Well, I don't know how good/bad the price is, but seems like the upgrade is a smart move.

It doesn't come with a pump, any suggestions on a pump for my size tank?