official SCA owners thread/club

Benoit Martin · Dec 29, 2018

ccurnick said:
Buy two and piece them together

Hehe, I assumed that would be a bad idea to piece together 2 mats but I guess I was wrong

Devaji · Sep 10, 2019

how about a bump for this thread...
show off your SCA tanks.
anyone have a 120 rimless?
are they still making real wood stands?

Devaji · Oct 19, 2019

been a while how about all you guys with SCA tanks post some updated shots...
and for all the new SCA owners welcome post away.

Reefcowboy · Oct 20, 2019

Devaji said:
been a while how about all you guys with SCA tanks post some updated shots...
and for all the new SCA owners welcome post away.

I couldn't have been happier with my 150 rimless. IMO the ghost overflow is a must not only for better aquascaping but makes the tank look very sleek.
My tank is a year a half old.

Devaji · Oct 20, 2019

Reefcowboy said:
I couldn't have been happier with my 150 rimless. IMO the ghost overflow is a must not only for better aquascaping but makes the tank look very sleek.
My tank is a year a half old.

I agree the ghost or other external overflows would be a must. I am thinking about there 120/150 rimless myself. but want it peninsula!

did you DIY your stand or get the PNP setup?

Reefcowboy · Oct 20, 2019

Devaji said:
I agree the ghost or other external overflows would be a must. I am thinking about there 120/150 rimless myself. but want it peninsula!

did you DIY your stand or get the PNP setup?

I had mine custom made, wanted one that was strong and didn't have a middle divider as cleaning/servicing the sump can be tedious without access.

Havent seen the SCA stands, must say however some of these chinese stands make me nervous.

Going cheap on the stand can cost someone floors, walls, furniture... worth investing or researching a good option IMO

Saltysav96 · Oct 30, 2019

I just sold my 150gallon SCA so i can downsize
(No time for large tank anymore)

I am going to have SCA build me a 50gallon 30x24x16 drilled for synergy shadow overflow

Hope im not making a bad decision with the overflow and tank size choice
Ive been communicating with them all week about the tank.

Jimbo662 · Oct 30, 2019

Savannah16 said:
I just sold my 150gallon SCA so i can downsize
(No time for large tank anymore)

I am going to have SCA build me a 50gallon 30x24x16 drilled for synergy shadow overflow

Hope im not making a bad decision with the overflow and tank size choice
Ive been communicating with them all week about the tank.

I'd also look at the Exotic Marine overflow. The external box sits higher which helps with the water level in the internal box and prevents waterfall noise.

Saltysav96 · Oct 30, 2019

Jimbo662 said:
I'd also look at the Exotic Marine overflow. The external box sits higher which helps with the water level in the internal box and prevents waterfall noise.

I looked at those. Website gave very little info.
I was down to the fiji box or synergy

Then decided synergy and have it centered on back wall.
But im still so unsure

Jimbo662 · Oct 30, 2019

Savannah16 said:
I looked at those. Website gave very little info.
I was down to the fiji box or synergy

Then decided synergy and have it centered on back wall.
But im still so unsure

You can do a search here on R2R and see quite a few threads. They're very well built. Taylor is the guy that runs it and is great to work with.

Saltysav96 · Oct 30, 2019

Jimbo662 said:
You can do a search here on R2R and see quite a few threads. They're very well built. Taylor is the guy that runs it and is great to work with.

I actually just watched their youtube video which might have just changed my mind.

The issue i currently see is they dont offer the template online via PDF like the synergy does.

Steve at SCA needs the template in order to drill the tank.

Jimbo662 · Oct 31, 2019

Savannah16 said:
I actually just watched their youtube video which might have just changed my mind.

The issue i currently see is they dont offer the template online via PDF like the synergy does.

Steve at SCA needs the template in order to drill the tank.

Email Taylor. He's great to work with. Very accommodating.

Brew12 · Oct 31, 2019

Savannah16 said:
I actually just watched their youtube video which might have just changed my mind.

The issue i currently see is they dont offer the template online via PDF like the synergy does.

Steve at SCA needs the template in order to drill the tank.

The exotic marine overflow uses the exact same holes as the Synergy Reef.

I know... I'm switching out my Synergy to the Exotic Marine this weekend on my SCA.

My SCA 187G as of last month.

Saltysav96 · Oct 31, 2019

Brew12 said:
The exotic marine overflow uses the exact same holes as the Synergy Reef.

I know... I'm switching out my Synergy to the Exotic Marine this weekend on my SCA.

My SCA 187G as of last month.

I sent steve the drilling template already for the synergy

The 16"synergy template works for the
20" exotic marine box?
I emailed exotic marine last night asking for a digital copy of the drilling template so i could send to SCA

Brew12 · Oct 31, 2019

Savannah16 said:
I sent steve the drilling template already for the synergy

The 16"synergy template works for the
20" exotic marine box?
I emailed exotic marine last night asking for a digital copy of the drilling template so i could send to SCA

It works for the 20" and the 32". I'm replacing my 16" Synergy with the 32" model.

eschaton · Oct 31, 2019

I just saw this thread. I am about to (in a matter of weeks) purchase SCA's 80 gallon system - basically because I have a very small area to do a tank, and the 32-inch width build fits in the space, while a 36-inch by Waterbox or Red Sea would not.

I have two questions:

1. When it comes to delivery, what should I expect? I don't have a lot of friends who can help me with tank setup, because I'm a busy dad, and not very outgoing. I also live in an urban area, have no driveway, and a lot of steps up into my house. If I tip the delivery folks enough will they at least take the tank up into my entryway?

2. I'm not very mechanically inclined, which is why I wanted an all-in-one system, because doing everything myself on my old build turned out poorly. I've heard the SCA systems have kinda crappy installation directions, though good customer support. Is this true?

fishybizzness · Nov 9, 2019

Happy Saturday everyone!
Quick question, for those of you that ordered the pnp system. I'm trying to find out the thickness of the glass used on the sc aquariums glass sumps. From the pics I've seen it looks like 1/4" plate glass. I would appreciate if anyone can verify this for me. Thanks

Why-Me · Nov 9, 2019

fishybizzness said:
Happy Saturday everyone!
Quick question, for those of you that ordered the pnp system. I'm trying to find out the thickness of the glass used on the sc aquariums glass sumps. From the pics I've seen it looks like 1/4" plate glass. I would appreciate if anyone can verify this for me. Thanks

correct 1/4" plate beveled at the top of each piece, no sharp edges and smooth flow for bubble trap.
I like the sump. I haven't set my tank up yet, but using the SCA sump on a 40 breeder.
I may sell the 50 cube to go towards something larger, longer.

fishybizzness · Nov 9, 2019

Thanks for the quick response! The reason I'm asking is that I have a bunch of 1/4" plate glass and was looking to build my own sump for my new 120 sca. I'm looking at a size of 31x17x16 and was trying to make sure that the glass I have is thick enough. If you don't mind me asking, what are the appropriate dimensions of the sump you have currently?

Why-Me · Nov 9, 2019

I have the sump for a SCA 50 cube it is 19.5" L x 16" W x 13" H outer dimensions
Each chamber width is from left to right 7.5" then 6.25" then last chamber is 6"

Here is the schematic for the SCA 120 PNP sump