Apartment reef

[Nolan Shinn]

This is the SCA 50 gallon system I bought off amazon to go in my new apartment. This is my 5th tank build, but first brand new tank and first time using a cube.

Here’s the tank when it arrived. Well, a little after it arrived. I got excited and started opening boxes before I remembered to snap a few pictures.

Well packaged, and looks to be decent quality considering the price.

 

[Ocelaris]

I love my sca 110. Good choice!

 

[Nolan Shinn]

I love my sca 110. Good choice!

Thanks! I love it so far! How long have you had yours running?

 

[Nolan Shinn]

I made a few modifications to the system before setting it up.
I raised the stand height by 4 inches to bring it up to 34” overall. I like a cabinet between 34-38” tall because I like to stand and watch the tank.

I also used pvc plumbing instead of the included soft plumbing. For no other reason than I’ve always had soft plumbed tanks in the past and wanted to try something new...

I’ll post some better pictures of the aquascape once the water clears... I reused a fair amount of rock from my 150gal reef, for those of you familiar with my other build...

 

[Ocelaris]

Thanks! I love it so far! How long have you had yours running?

It's been up about 2 years and I was the second owner. I just wish it was deeper, bigger etc... It's 60x18x24.

 

[Nolan Shinn]

Patience is a virtue I missed out on. So while I impatiently wait for my tank to come to life, I’ve been going through old tank photos

This one isn’t actually from my tank, but I couldn’t resist sharing this picture I took at the Aquarium of Canada. Someday I’d like to have a species tank for some cuttlefish

 

[Nolan Shinn]

Tank has been cycling away, and I’ve been steadily adding stuff while monitoring levels. Just added an anemone and a little squamosa clam! More pictures to soon! Let me know what y’all think of the setup!

 

[mystersyster]

Nice! I have an SCA 66 and I love the quality for the price.

 

[Nolan Shinn]

Nice! I have an SCA 66 and I love the quality for the price.

Same! I couldn’t believe it! I’ve never had an all in one system before but I’d recommend an SCA tank for anyone looking to do saltwater on a budget. How long have you had yours up for?

 

[Nolan Shinn]

Got my lights all setup and ready to grow coral. These are the same crystal reef LEDs I had on my 150gal. Best leds I’ve had yet.

 

[mystersyster]

Same! I couldn’t believe it! I’ve never had an all in one system before but I’d recommend an SCA tank for anyone looking to do saltwater on a budget. How long have you had yours up for?

I had it in my apartment for about 10 months. I moved to a house so it's been only a few months since getting it set up again.

Crystal reef leds? I'm in WA as well. How are you liking them?

 

[Nolan Shinn]

I had it in my apartment for about 10 months. I moved to a house so it's been only a few months since getting it set up again.

Crystal reef leds? I'm in WA as well. How are you liking them?

Rad!

I really like em. None of the bells and whistles like storm simulations or whatever but they are fantastic work horse lights. Easy to program, consistent and strong with good coral growth and colors.

 

[LEOreefer]

Got my lights all setup and ready to grow coral. These are the same crystal reef LEDs I had on my 150gal. Best leds I’ve had yet.

Sweet tank I also have a sca 50 that’s been up for about 9 months. I ended up getting kind with the shadow reef 16” overflow

 

[Nolan Shinn]

Sweet tank I also have a sca 50 that’s been up for about 9 months. I ended up getting kind with the shadow reef 16” overflow

That’s awesome! Love the softies!
Looks like you get quite a bit more space for rocks without the overflow. To do it again I’d get a tank with external down pipes for just that reason.

 

[Nolan Shinn]

Well I’ve waited long enough for the tank to start getting interesting! The livestock can list stands this:
1 longfin clown
1 snowflake eel
1 Nasso Tang (relax, I’m gettin a bigger tank soon)
1 melanarus wrasse
And a few different LPS,SPS, and Softie species, along with one awesome ultra maxima.

 

[Preme]

That cuttle fish is really cool

 

[Nolan Shinn]

New house, and with it comes a new tank. Back up to 150 gallon. Centerdrilled this time! Always an adventure haha.

Sadly this meant the apartment tank has been taken down. I’ll be starting up a new thread for the 150. Follow my progress there!

 

[Nolan Shinn]

Check out my latest build here:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/seattle-center-drilled-150.525980/