Seeking Insight from Glass Tank Builders and Smart People

[jcgorla]

I have been looking for a vendor of my 96"(L) x 36"(D) x 30"(H) new tank, CA is on my top list. Their prices are very attractive, and I like that they publish their prices covering most popular sizes. I don't know how well their H2Overflow and Seamless Sumps will work, but they are really creative, and if your tank is built into the wall, frames cannot be seen from the front, their aluminum frame can be a plus. Not only the strength, but the wide open top without the wide euro type glass frame allow you to work in the tank much easier.

I have contacted them for a quote on Feb.24, but their communication and response time is not great. I have to follow up with phone calls and emails, and many times they do not have people to answer the phone. Finally I received a quote from them on March 8, the draw of their placement diagram looks great and very professional, but the price is almost $1,400 more than their listed price. I have contacted them with email and left 2 phone messages in the past 2 days , but received no response so far.

After DSA was out of business, I think they have the opportunity to become a major player for big tank, but we have to wait and see.

I've been working with their sales reps over the last couple of weeks to get an order together, and have spoken with them several times. Basically they are swamped with orders. Hopefully they get more help soon. They do have a rep that pops in to the forum from time to time, maybe we'll hear something back.

I just sent in all my signed paperwork today after several changes, fixes, etc. Hopefully this is it and I can finally place a firm order. My Synergy Reef overflow is already on the way to CA, I thought by now the order would be moving forward.

Did they say what caused the change in pricing so drastically? I changed all of my panels to low iron glass, except one, and made some other changes like tempering the overflow pane and the bottom. That drove up my price a bit over their listed basic price, but I was expecting that.

OBTW, your tank will be double the size of the one I'm ordering (48Lx36Dx30H). I'm looking forward to the extra depth and peninsula look.

 

[dickenscd]

I'll probably order a Synergy Reef overflow. My biggest concern right now is getting the water level right with the overflow so it still is above the bottom of the aluminum rim.

What cuzza said. I had a 36" built by modular marine on eBay. The inner box sits higher in the tank than the outer box, so the water line is above the frame. I mailed the box to custom aquariums for them to fill the holes for the pass throughs.

I possibly will go for Synergy 20" Reef Overflow for my tank. Do you find out if the water level is above the bottom of CA aluminum rim?

Do you have to send CA the overflow box or they can just work with the Synergy drilling template?

Any benefit to use 2500GPH Low profit Overflow from Modular Marine?

Thank you for the information.

 

[jcgorla]

The water level of the CA tank should be above the bottom of the aluminum rim with a Synergy Reef overflow. Looking at their measurements I was confident it would end that way.

I did send them the template and drawing ahead of time, but also shipped the overflow to them. That way there's no question about getting it right. I remember seeing measurements of the rim somewhere and the part that comes down the side of the tank is longer than it looks. Might come down a little further than the typical plastic frame you see.

I debated getting the Modular Marine overflow as they offered to adjust the placement of the pass through bulkheads if you needed the inner box a little higher, but ended up with Synergy as I was unsure of the durability of the construction of Modular's overflow looking how their corners are fabricated.

 

[CuzzA]

On my tank, from the bottom of the top inside rim to the bottom of the trim it measures 1.5". They provided me with an illustration. I'll have to see if I can find it.

 

[CuzzA]

Found it.

 

[jcgorla]

Thanks CuzzA! I should've asked around for this when I was doing the paperwork for my tank. Hopefully with the template and actual overflow in hand they'll get this right. I asked them to call me if there's any questions about getting it right.

I did notice on one of the Synergy Reef drawings the typical waterline is about 1" from the top of the inner box.

 

[CuzzA]

As long as the weir is above the bottom of the rim AND your tank is level you should be good. Depending on how much flow you put over the weir will dictate how much rise you'll get. Obviously, we want a nice smooth thin ~1/8"-3/16" sheet of surface water flowing over the weir. That should ensure the surface scum is always being removed for filtration and you won't be taking water column water into the weir which IME will begin to backup the oily surface scum reducing light penetration and overall appearance.

 

[dickenscd]

Hopefully with the template and actual overflow in hand they'll get this right. I asked them to call me if there's any questions about getting it right.

I did notice on one of the Synergy Reef drawings the typical waterline is about 1" from the top of the inner box.

Thank you very much for the information, they are really helpful.

Which size of Synergy Overflow are you using? 16" or 20"?

I am going to use 20", I possibly do not have to send CA the actual overflow if we are using the same size.

 

[Modular Marine]

I'd like to chime in if you don't mind as there has been concerns about our overflows and waterline placement. We have updated all of our low profile overflow designs so the water line will be hidden behind the trim (long as you have an inch or more of trim thickness).

As for any concern on our build quality/techniques, specifically the corners as mentioned above, we have sold a great number of these and have never had any customers report failures or issues. However, if our design ever has a non user caused issue we will fix/replace for free.

 

[CuzzA]

I'd like to chime in if you don't mind as there has been concerns about our overflows and waterline placement. We have updated all of our low profile overflow designs so the water line will be hidden behind the trim (long as you have an inch or more of trim thickness).

As for any concern on our build quality/techniques, specifically the corners as mentioned above, we have sold a great number of these and have never had any customers report failures or issues. However, if our design ever has a non user caused issue we will fix/replace for free.

Glad to hear you chime in. In fact maybe there's a match made in heaven for you and CA for those customers who would prefer the low profile pass through overflows opposed to CA's H2Overflow. I'm going to send you a PM regarding your overflows.

 

[jcgorla]

Thank you very much for the information, they are really helpful.

Which size of Synergy Overflow are you using? 16" or 20"?

I am going to use 20", I possibly do not have to send CA the actual overflow if we are using the same size.

dickenscd, I ordered the 20" overflow and it arrived at CA this past week.

-John

 

[dickenscd]

dickenscd, I ordered the 20" overflow and it arrived at CA this past week.

-John

Just curious to ask, are the height/position and size required for the 2 holes for 20" Synergy overflow can be exactly the same as the 2 holes required by 2 H2Overflow?

 

[jcgorla]

I know the holes for both the H2Overflow and Synergy Reef are 60mm. I am not so sure about the height from the top of the glass, though. The sales folks can send you a drawing of their overflows with measurements as I saw them when I put my package together.

 

[acer]

Wow- I am soo glad I found this thread. I am looking at a new 150-180 tank and was pretty lost until I found this thread and the SCA thread. Both seems to offer good quality tanks at much more reasonable prices. If seems the manufacturer on this thread is much more willing to customize ( drill per your direction, work with another company on the overflow,etc.) than SCA.

So - if I was to order a 150 gallon tank ( 60 x 24 x 24 ) - and wanted a Bean type overflow which low profile Modular marine overflow would work best? Would the 24 inch be overkill if I wanted to really surface skim the tank? I would have the overflows go down into the basement ( 10 foot drop) to a sump area there, then pump it back using a pressure rated pump = 10 feet high + friction of the PVC pump = ? .

 

[CuzzA]

Assuming the tank will be on a wall length wise I would go coast to coast the full 60 inches.

 

[acer]

So - I contacted the overflow guys ( via Email), Modular marine, for a bid on a custom Coast to coast low profile - or at least close to it ( 48 inches anyhow) .

Also spoke on the phone to get a custom aquariums to get a bid on a 150 ( 60 x 24 x 24 ) and/or a custom 185 (60 long x 24 high by 30 deep) getting 2 holes drilled with heavy bulkheads that will accommodate 1.5 pipe for either the low profile stock or a custom "coast to coast" with a bean style external box, low E glass on fronts and sides shipping included.

Cuzza - are you up and running yet?

 

[fishinthewall]

i have been eyeing up CA for a while, they will do c2c glass overflows right?

 

[dickenscd]

Also, one last thing. They seem to be very busy. It took ~16 weeks to get me the tank from the day I paid for it.

What is their current shipping schedule? I have placed my order with CA and tried to reach them several times in the past few days, but nobody picked the phone.

I need to tear down a wall for setting up the tank, I might need to wait until receiving my tank before tearing down the wall.


James

 

[acer]

hmmm... that is not a good sign.

 

[jcgorla]

No, CA is extremely busy right now. I placed my order about 3 weeks ago, and it probably won't ship until mid-late May. They have one person working sales, I think, and she is swamped. They do return calls, but email contact seems to work best for me.

Shortly after my order was placed their VP contacted me, and he was more responsive than the sales staff. James--I'm sending you the contact info of their VP as we speak, via PM.