Big tank in a little room. SCA 150

[Pedal Dangit]

I guess it is time to start a thread for my 150 that is going in our little office. Here you will not see much fancy equipment or expensive rare corals, so if you are looking for that type of build just keep scrolling. I'm upgrading from my 40 breeder that is completely full of weed corals and unwanted things that others would say "burn it with fire" . Blue polyps, clove polyps and kenya tree and quick growing montipora. I do very little maintenance on the 40 other then adding top off & kalkwasser, re-filling the auto feeder, and the occasional water change. The 150 will be just a larger scale of this same method I have been using on the 40. Keeping it simple, a small protein skimmer and refugium will be used. I may try a kalk stirrer if I can run it from the garage side. The tank is being squeezed in a tiny office with the back wall conveniently located to the garage. Although I do a lot of welding, I decided to have a steel stand built so I can work on other things like putting in some can lights and cutting an access hole to the garage. The tank has been sitting around for months while we did some major home remodeling projects including all new tile floors. The stand is being built by Crystal Dynamics, still waiting for an update on it... hopefully have that soon. I like doing photo updates so most of the time they will tell the story. Goals for new tank: bucketless water changes / transfer through wall, more fish! stocking wish list: anthias, chromis, and a tang. More open swimming spaces, and a monti tree.

Here is the 40 gallon:

Build Thread - The kitchen tank: 40 g clown breeder

I thought I would start a new thread just for my kitchen tank since my 120 in the family room is postponed indefinitely (other house projects have priority) I will be able to update this thread more frequently as this build comes along. I'm going to go pickup a 40 breeder at Petco dollar...

www.reef2reef.com

and the current project:

 

[Pedal Dangit]

The original, original plan was to have a tank in the family room. However, my wife talked me into putting it in the office. Concerns of light bleed when watching movies was a definite concern for the family room. The ability to have an access hole through the wall to the garage sealed the deal.

 

[Pedal Dangit]

The over flow and sump kit are from exotic marine. I just finished a sloppy job on the silicone, but I found who cares it is just a sump. It's exciting when your new sump is the same size as the current display! Also cut up some rock to sit flat and stable. getting there. just need that stand! oh and still need an electrician to run dedicate line from breaker box.

my attempt at making a rock tree. I hope to bust up the monti and maybe even add some other colors for a dedicated moni tree

 

[Ryan Avery]

Looking good so far! Must have a beer when doing rock work haha! I have a 150 build going myself

 

[Pedal Dangit]

Looking good so far! Must have a beer when doing rock work haha! I have a 150 build going myself

Thank you. Yes, I'm definitely a fan of IPA. Soon this little office is going to be half aquarium man cave, and half work space. My goal is to be able to listen to some music, put my feet up, pour a good IPA and stare at the tank by Christmas. Got the music part done. This inexpensive little sub really sounds good paired with a bluetooth mini amp and small corner speakers.

 

[Pedal Dangit]

Some more photo updates

Had a nice drive to Oceanside yesterday and picked up the stand at Crystal Dynamics. Trent was really cool and let me check out some of the builds they are working on. All I can say is they do some jaw dropping work there. I should have taken more pictures but just this one for my own plumbing reference. The gianormous peninsula tank was crazy.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Thank you. Yes, I'm definitely a fan of IPA. Soon this little office is going to be half aquarium man cave, and half work space. My goal is to be able to listen to some music, put my feet up, pour a good IPA and stare at the tank by Christmas. Got the music part done. This inexpensive little sub really sounds good paired with a bluetooth mini amp and small corner speakers.

Sounds like a great! Looks like your well on your way. Maybe you saw my 150, CDA is making it haha

 

[RGoltz]

Simply at first glance, I like the SCA tanks. At some point I would certainly consider this for my next upgrade to 180 gallons. A lot gets said on R2R about build quality but most of us don’t get a chance to see all the builders. And just like bicycles (I see your alias!) there is a point of diminishing returns. What are your thoughts on the build quality? Can you share some detailed photos?

 

[Pedal Dangit]

Simply at first glance, I like the SCA tanks. At some point I would certainly consider this for my next upgrade to 180 gallons. A lot gets said on R2R about build quality but most of us don’t get a chance to see all the builders. And just like bicycles (I see your alias!) there is a point of diminishing returns. What are your thoughts on the build quality? Can you share some detailed photos?

The quality on this SCA 150 looks pretty legit. The silicone looks smooth and even. The glass and edging look good to me. I think where you notice the difference going with a company like crystal dynamics would be on bigger, more custom builds. I mean they had a giant peninsula tank with top and bottom eurobrace and it must have been over 500 gallons. I can't imagine how much that thing weighed or how you would move it. The only concern I have on this SCA tank is that I can wiggle the small sections on the eurobrace a little like the silicone is soft. ...maybe about 1mm play. I sure hope that is normal.

Got the glass on the stand yesterday. Measured distance from wall and level about 100 times. double check on the level with a puddle on the glass bottom. I was going to just plumb it and then water test the whole thing. Hopefully I can find some more free time to work on the plumbing in the next few weeks.

made holes for electrical cords through the closet stub wall.

 

[Pedal Dangit]

Got some progress made. I forgot how long it takes me to build plumbing. main and secondary drains done. the three glass boxes in approximate locations. Still need to figure out my return lines and refugium plumbing plan.

 

[Pedal Dangit]

So after much deliberation, I decided I would try the marine pure blocks I ordered from BRS. If my leathers don't look happy I guess that will be the first thing I look at. I didn't find out about all these reports of Aluminum leaching until after I bought them. I rinsed well and they are soaking in used water change water with the other rock I plan on using.

 

[Pedal Dangit]

Drains are done.

from garage access hole:

 

[RGoltz]

Looking good. Are you planning to skin the stand or leave it open?

 

[Pedal Dangit]

Looking good. Are you planning to skin the stand or leave it open?

Someday I hope to make some magnetic panels for the stand as well as experiment with some lightweight hood panels.

 

[Pedal Dangit]

So I took some crappy cell phone pics of the 40 today. Yes I know it has blue polyps and bubble algae. and yes I am fine that it is going into the new tank. the monti is out of control. I do worry sometimes the neglectful approach I have to this tank is going to get me in trouble. I just found a small outbreak of aiptasia. I need to get on that asap

 

[RGoltz]

I tried fighting aiptasia with F Aiptasia. Every weekend my daughter and I would hunt them all down and kill them but it was never ending. I added two peppermint shrimp and after that I had just one last round with F Aiptasia. I understand that the shrimp only eat the small aiptasia so I guess that makes sense. What I’m getting at is that, at least for me, peppermint shrimp work.

 

[hebdizzle]

Can you link that access port you’re using?

 

[Pedal Dangit]

Can you link that access port you’re using?

not sure? are you talking about the access hole I cut with a sawzall through the wall? I just marked where I thought the over flow would line up and then cut a hole and trimmed it out and painted it.

Or, are you talking about the vent port? I picked up a AC Infinity fan kit and I put in that flange with some silicone to vent the room into the garage. I'm still working on it but here are some pics.

 

[Pedal Dangit]

OK much needed update: Today is officially start up day! well, last night I guess, but of course you couldn't see into the dust cloud until this morning. I must say, there is a real sense of pride and satisfaction when you glue 100 different pvc fittings and connect various unions and bulkheads and NOTHING leaks! big whew!

 

[Pedal Dangit]

2nd set