Lowefx
Well-Known Member
Lets see.......how do i start my content......Lets start HERE! I was excited to place an order with SC Aquariums out of California. I was excited because this is my first NEW tank and stand I have ever purchased. My previous 10 years were accompanied with used tanks. Originally i was going to place this order back in May but Covid19 delayed my ordering a few months. Steve (owner) was very patient while i kept him up to date on emails.
Fast forwarding to early September, I received my order (tank, stand, and canopy). After taking delivery, there was damage caused by Saja freight during shipping. Luckily to tank damage at all! A good size gouge in the stand and one side of the canopy looked like it was rubbing against a vibrating wall as it made its way across the country to VA. It wore down the moldings and broke some off as well. I reported this to Steve and he was successful in filing a claim with them. When looking over the damage i could not help but notice the terrible quality in the paint. By no means is this SC Aquariums fault! I expressed my issues with Steve and come to find out, he contracts out the stand builds to another company. Due to Covid19, his #1 company had to halt production, so he had to find other manufactures. Well this manufacture that did my stand was sub par. There were runs, fish eyes, dry spots, and even missing areas of paint throughout the stand and canopy. Luckily Steve agreed and helped me out, but i did have to get it all refinished. It needed to be sanded down and repainted...
A few weeks later and in the house, i start filling it up with water. No issues. I am very happy with the tank itself (SC Aquariums hand builds them right there in CA). It has the euro brace up top and plenty of calk to hold it all together!
Canopy: Inside the canopy I am currently running a 6 bulb 48" ATI T5 fixture with 2 Reefbrite Tech LED's. I did modify the canopy with the help of @soulpatch I used some soft-close drawer slides, angle iron, screws, and a bunch of metal drill bits! I still need to seal the metal with a paint to prevent rust. It sits about 6" above the water, and if i ever need to replace bulbs or clean the water shield, i just roll it out!
Stand: With this build I replaced my Bashsea sump for a sump with more features/options, the #Fijicube 36. Replaced my Vertex 150 skimmer with a #Skimz SM167. So far i really like the internal pump to save space and the DC pump is adjustable and quiet! The sump has an area for filter floss, so no more socks to clean. Every chamber has a lid to slow down evaporation and salt creep. Im still running a little cheato and bio-blocks. My #Neptune #Core20 is my return pump from the previous build. Hopefully i can set up the UV light soon, but i always get pulled away. As you can see, im trying to build an equipment board with the little space left over. Its an ongoing project. Also you can see the ATK and 2 #Kamoer X1 V2 dosers.
Tank: Im running 2 @Ecotech #MP40 and a MP60. Stock list include a beautiful Blone Naso with its barbs and streamers, Yellow tang, kohl tang, salfin tang, 2 anthias, threadfin wrasse, clown gobie, clown, diamond sand sifter, and mandarin. Corals: mostly nicer sticks and a few LPS. Im running tropic marin salt now, was using Reef Crystals for over 10 years, but constancy was not there.
Well enjoy my build and thanks for reading!
Fast forwarding to early September, I received my order (tank, stand, and canopy). After taking delivery, there was damage caused by Saja freight during shipping. Luckily to tank damage at all! A good size gouge in the stand and one side of the canopy looked like it was rubbing against a vibrating wall as it made its way across the country to VA. It wore down the moldings and broke some off as well. I reported this to Steve and he was successful in filing a claim with them. When looking over the damage i could not help but notice the terrible quality in the paint. By no means is this SC Aquariums fault! I expressed my issues with Steve and come to find out, he contracts out the stand builds to another company. Due to Covid19, his #1 company had to halt production, so he had to find other manufactures. Well this manufacture that did my stand was sub par. There were runs, fish eyes, dry spots, and even missing areas of paint throughout the stand and canopy. Luckily Steve agreed and helped me out, but i did have to get it all refinished. It needed to be sanded down and repainted...
A few weeks later and in the house, i start filling it up with water. No issues. I am very happy with the tank itself (SC Aquariums hand builds them right there in CA). It has the euro brace up top and plenty of calk to hold it all together!
Canopy: Inside the canopy I am currently running a 6 bulb 48" ATI T5 fixture with 2 Reefbrite Tech LED's. I did modify the canopy with the help of @soulpatch I used some soft-close drawer slides, angle iron, screws, and a bunch of metal drill bits! I still need to seal the metal with a paint to prevent rust. It sits about 6" above the water, and if i ever need to replace bulbs or clean the water shield, i just roll it out!
Stand: With this build I replaced my Bashsea sump for a sump with more features/options, the #Fijicube 36. Replaced my Vertex 150 skimmer with a #Skimz SM167. So far i really like the internal pump to save space and the DC pump is adjustable and quiet! The sump has an area for filter floss, so no more socks to clean. Every chamber has a lid to slow down evaporation and salt creep. Im still running a little cheato and bio-blocks. My #Neptune #Core20 is my return pump from the previous build. Hopefully i can set up the UV light soon, but i always get pulled away. As you can see, im trying to build an equipment board with the little space left over. Its an ongoing project. Also you can see the ATK and 2 #Kamoer X1 V2 dosers.
Tank: Im running 2 @Ecotech #MP40 and a MP60. Stock list include a beautiful Blone Naso with its barbs and streamers, Yellow tang, kohl tang, salfin tang, 2 anthias, threadfin wrasse, clown gobie, clown, diamond sand sifter, and mandarin. Corals: mostly nicer sticks and a few LPS. Im running tropic marin salt now, was using Reef Crystals for over 10 years, but constancy was not there.
Well enjoy my build and thanks for reading!
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