A New Dawn

madweazl

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10 June 2019

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Equipment list:

SCAquariums 150g w/starfire glass (19 Oct 2017) Source: SCA
Custom stand and canopy (26 May 2018) Source: WAMAS member BenA
Synergy Reef TS-44 (18 Jul 2019) Source: Synergy Reef
Avast MR5 reactors x2 (11 June 2019) Source: Avast Marine
Deltec SC1455 skimmer (20 Nov 2017) Source: Battlecorals
Eheim Jager 200w x2 (9 Jun 2019) Source: Amazon
Reeflo Snapper/Dart (22 Nov 2017) Source: Marine Depot
Kessil A360X/WE x4 (26 Oct 2017) Source: used; various sources
LET 48" T5 dimmable retrofit x3 (11 Jun 2019) Source: BRS
T5s 3 Blue+, 2 Aquablue Specials, and a Purple+ (2 May 2019) Source: BRS
Vortech MP40QD x2 (28 Feb 2018) Source: IAAN Aquatics
BRS dosing pumps x3 (14 Jul 2017) Source: BRS
Skimz DLC3 dosing res x2 (3 May 2019) Source: BRS
GHL Profilux 4 (23 Sep 2019) Source: Marine Depot

Fish
Pajama cardinal (24 Sep 2019) Source: Azalea aquariums
Firefish (24 Jan 2020) Source: BRK
Lyretail anthias x (5 Oct 2019) Source: BRK
Diamond Goby (9 Nov 2019) Source: BRK
Hi-fin goby (24 Jan 2020) Source: BRK
Carpenter's wrasse (24 Jan 2020) Source: BRK
Lubbock's wrasse (24 Jan 2020) Source: BRK
Chalk bass (24 Jan 2020) Source: BRK
Blue/green chromis (24 Jan 2020) Source: BRK
Royal gramma (24 Jan 2020) Source: BRK

Inverts
Fire shrimp (9 Nov 2019) Source: BRK
Tiger pistol (9 Nov 2019) Source: BRK

Rock & substrate:

100lbs Marco dry rock (30 Nov 2017) Source: WAMAS member Larry Footer
120lbs Caribsea Fiji/Special grade mix (2 May 2019) Source: BRS

Original post begins here
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I've been wanting to step up to a larger tank, specifically longer and wider than the current 75 gallon but not too big as to become cumbersome. After flip flopping on the length aspect for the last few months, I decided 60" was probably the best option for me. While I was hoping for something 27-30" wide, it was just too cost prohibitive at this point in time. Last week I stumbled across SCAquariums website and noticed their 150 gallon (60x24x24). It was a decent compromise in regard to what I wanted and what I could afford. After sitting on it for a week (that is unheard of self control for me), I went ahead and placed the order this morning and should take delivery in the next two weeks. While I'm beyond excited, the though of all the support equipment I still need makes me nauseous!

I don't really want to maintain two tanks so the 75g will probably come down. I'll need a new sump and skimmer to support the increased volume but everything else can be migrated over to the 150. I'll need at least two more Kessil A360s, a larger return pump (or maybe another Waveline DC6000 to supplement the one I have now), and a new stand/canopy.
 
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madweazl

madweazl

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Tank is scheduled to arrive sometime between 9-5 tomorrow :) Hopefully that is drama free. Glasscages is building the sump I came up with in the original post and I picked up a pair of used XR15 Pros (gen 3) from the Selling Forum earlier today. I hadn't planned on changing lights but they were priced fairly and impulse got the better of me (three more and I'll be set). Also found a member on a local forum that builds custom stands and canopies; he's currently working on drafting something up :) All exciting, except for my checking account...
 
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madweazl

madweazl

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I've had a couple days to look over the tank so I thought I'd provide my initial thoughts in regard to quality. The tank was "crated" decently; it has 1" foam on all sides and the cardboard box it was shipped in was banded together well.

There were a few areas that worried me when the tank arrived but the contents were just fine.

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At $40 from SCA, the lid to the overflow is a total joke. The $17 lid from Modular Marine has a machined lip to keep in place (small lid on the bottom). There is nothing to prevent a rogue snail/critter from pushing the lid off the box). Don't waste your money on this piece.

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The overflow box is siliconed together which I found odd as the tank is large enough that an assembled unit could be siliconed to the back wall as a single structure. While purely cosmetic, the front panel of the overflow overhangs both side panels by about one millimeter (not illustrated well in the picture).

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The silicone was done fairly well; I've certainly seen better but other than this small gap on the front panel (lower right), everything else looks pretty good (haven't thoroughly checked the back yet).

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The glass edges have a nice chamfer but the polishing leaves a bit to be desired. The right half of the front panel was done fairly well (cant feel any knurling) but starting about mid way across the front panel and extending all the way to the left side, you can really feel the knurling.

Right side (visible cut but smooth to touch)

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Left side (easy to see and feel)

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How do I rate it on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best?

Cosmetics - 7
Construction - 8
Value - 10
Customer service & shipping time - 10

At roughly 66% the cost of many other manufacturers, the SCAquariums 150g delivers a pretty nice aquarium for the cost and I'm certainly able to overlook the cosmetic issues for the money saved in this regard.
 
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madweazl

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The Radions (XR15 Gen 3s) showed up yesterday but not without a little drama. They were packed up in the original boxes which was nice but once I opened them, eek, talk about dirty! After looking them over I noticed the lenses were in rough shape with what appeared to be melted areas. After a quick google search I found a post that indicated this could happen if you placed the array light side down on a surface with them on. I plugged them in and they seemed to operate normally so I contacted the seller who promptly stated he would make it right (always refreshing to hear). Not that big of a deal as I wanted to run the wide angle lenses (original owner may still have these lying around the house somewhere) and they're fairly cheap. I tore the lights down and gave everything a thorough cleaning and with some replacement lenses, they'll look good as new.

Cant say what the actual cause was but for you potential Radion users out there, avoid setting them down (e.g. LEDs against a surface) while powered on just in case.

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madweazl

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With all the great sales going on, I had to grab a Deltec 1455 for the new tank. Trying to restrain myself but may have to grab a return pump too.
 
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madweazl

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Picked up a Reeflo Snapper/Dart hybrid too :) Black Friday sales need to disappear before my checking account does.
 

Daltrey

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I feel your pain. Wife has started to grow suspicious off the ups man coming by everyday and has already threatened to take away my iPad, ha!
 
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madweazl

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I feel your pain. Wife has started to grow suspicious off the ups man coming by everyday and has already threatened to take away my iPad, ha!
Thankfully mine couldn't care less (she says, "it's better than the strip club") but I'm the one who has to face the checking account so it keeps me honest enough most of the time. And hey, I actually like Ramen...
 

Daltrey

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Lol, mine didn't care until she couldn't get out the front door. Those buckets of salt and boxes of BRS 2 part really are heavy. My ups guy actually had to break out the dolly. I bet he hates me, ha!
 
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madweazl

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Skimmer arrived today which was quicker than anticipated but the body of the skimmer is cracked.

At first I just thought it was packed poorly because the volute comes installed on the motor block; I figured the box got squished or dropped, hitting the volute, and pushing it into the motor which hit the back of the drain tube.
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When I looked in the box there was an indent where the volute would be which made it seem pretty clear but after I placed the internal cardboard to the skimmer in the box, that just isn't possible.

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Other than this, the box is in pretty good shape. This is the end that holds the skimmer cup.

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It looks like the motor definitely hit the tube and popped the tube out, whatever the cause.

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A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 64 36.8%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 59 33.9%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 14.4%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 26 14.9%
  • Other.

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