40g Breeder Vs SCA 50g Cube

[Kzang]

So I have a 32 biocube, and I want to upgrade. I bought a 40g breeder for $45 from Petco. I love the dimensions.

HOWEVER, SCA aquariums has the tank, stand, return pump, cabinet, and sump...everything except the light (which I have) for only $695 with free shipping.

However, just adding up the costs for the 40g breeder just the sump, return pump, protein skimmer, and overflow for 676. It doesn't include plumbing, cabinet, painting the back, and etc.

I thought it'd be cheaper with getting the 40g breeder for only $45. I can make the stand cheaper, than the nice looking R&J cherry stand for $300. I really thought it would be cheaper doing the 40g breeder, but its not?

I'm completely undecided now. I love the 40g 36x18x16 dimensions, but it is quite more than the 50g cube, since I can get away with just 1 hydra 26 light, and I'd have to buy a second one for the breeder.

Anyone have any thoughts?

(Prices from BRS)

equipment: sicce syncra silent 2.0, x120 eshopps protein skimmer, eclipse s 600 gph overflow, eshopps r-100 refugium 3rd gen.

Also, I have limited tools. The only power tool I have is a drill.

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

Yeah, it can be more expensive, and it could turn out that the SCA will look nicer in the end, but if you want everything done to your liking, it’s a better option to do it all yourself.

I went with a 40B and built my own sump. That cut the cost a fair bit. I only spent $75 to make the Sump, but I could have bought a much nicer looking one.

It’s about your preferences in the end.
Best of luck!

 

[Kzang]

Yeah, it can be more expensive, and it could turn out that the SCA will look nicer in the end, but if you want everything done to your liking, it’s a better option to do it all yourself.

I went with a 40B and built my own sump. That cut the cost a fair bit. I only spent $75 to make the Sump, but I could have bought a much nicer looking one.

It’s about your preferences in the end.
Best of luck!

It definitely will be more expensive. I'm nervous about the plumbing aspect of it. SCA everything figured out, but the dimensions of the 40g breeder is nice. What did you use to build your sump?

 

[Gareth elliott]

So I have a 32 biocube, and I want to upgrade. I bought a 40g breeder for $45 from Petco. I love the dimensions.

HOWEVER, SCA aquariums has the tank, stand, return pump, cabinet, and sump...everything except the light (which I have) for only $695 with free shipping.

However, just adding up the costs for the 40g breeder just the sump, return pump, protein skimmer, and overflow for 676. It doesn't include plumbing, cabinet, painting the back, and etc.

I thought it'd be cheaper with getting the 40g breeder for only $45. I can make the stand cheaper, than the nice looking R&J cherry stand for $300. I really thought it would be cheaper doing the 40g breeder, but its not?

I'm completely undecided now. I love the 40g 36x18x16 dimensions, but it is quite more than the 50g cube, since I can get away with just 1 hydra 26 light, and I'd have to buy a second one for the breeder.

Anyone have any thoughts?

(Prices from BRS)

equipment: sicce syncra silent 2.0, x120 eshopps protein skimmer, eclipse s 600 gph overflow, eshopps r-100 refugium 3rd gen.

Also, I have limited tools. The only power tool I have is a drill.

I am also searching around for a tank around those dimensions.
What i had narrowed down ascending price list.
-Diy euro bracing a 40g so have an actual show tank lol. Diy stand. Diy sump. Total cost around. $350-450 including return and overflow.
-Cobalts new 40g c-vue aquarium and removing the aio compartment. Plus diy stand and sump. $650 give or take
-Cadlights 45g shallow versa $899
- Quote from Local aquarium builder for same dimensions of cadlights $1098. All low iron glass only aquarium included in price.

Now, I do have the tools for a stand build. So these are not included in the costs. Also does not include new circulation pumps, more rock which i will still need.

Minimum tools to do this is a circular saw(hard to be accurate) table saw preferable.
Square
Measuring tape
($175+)

I really just dont want a cube so only kind of looked at them.

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

It definitely will be more expensive. I'm nervous about the plumbing aspect of it. SCA everything figured out, but the dimensions of the 40g breeder is nice. What did you use to build your sump?

I used a 20 long from the petco sale and glass I ordered from a local shop.

I also made my own overflow box (out of glass from the same shop) and drilled it for a bean animal.

Pvc is cheap. It shouldn’t be that much to plumb it. Also not using hydra lights, which cut the cost. Im running a 4 tube t5 fixture that was about $150. Alternatively there are other leds that would cover that tank for similar cost to one hydra 26.