SCA 90 Gallon "Cube" Build

[Bret]

What was the amount of time between paying for the order and the time it showed up at your door?

About three days haha! SCA is only a few hours away from me, so shipping was very quick. Communication with the company was good. I think I paid for it on a Saturday night and it shipped on Monday or Tuesday.

 

[Bret]

Working on building the doors for the stand. Made them out of African mahogany.

Still working through how I want to stain them...

 

[count krunk]

I like the middle stain.

Very nice build so far!

 

[Bret]

I like the middle stain.

Very nice build so far!

Thank you!
I'm going with a little darker application of the middle stain. Hopefully I'll have the stain all applied today.

 

[Bret]

Got some more goodies yesterday.
if anyone in the SF Bay Area/central coast needs a source for poly tanks without the crazy shipping from the online sources, give Mt.Feed and Farm Supply in Ben Lomond a call.

 

[Bret]

Finally making some progress again.
Got the stand back from the powdercoater and finished staining the frames. Hopefully will have time to start plumbing this weekend.

 

[Sbpe]

Like how the stand fits in the corner. Clever design.

 

[Bret]

Like how the stand fits in the corner. Clever design.

Thanks. I wish corner pentagon tanks were more popular, would have been really nice to find a large one that would have fit here.

 

[Sbpe]

Good luck with the build. I'll be following as I'm considering a similar tank size for my future up grade.

 

[Bret]

Lot of work, but got the hard plumbing mostly done today.

 

[Kodski]

As a DIY man myself, I can fully appreciate the amount of thought, time, and effort put into everything you've done so far. You do amazing work and I can't wait to see how you finish it off! I really like your stand design and location you've selected for the tank. It gives you extra room for equipment and ATO reservoir. Are you planning on making one side a control panel?

 

[Bret]

As a DIY man myself, I can fully appreciate the amount of thought, time, and effort put into everything you've done so far. You do amazing work and I can't wait to see how you finish it off! I really like your stand design and location you've selected for the tank. It gives you extra room for equipment and ATO reservoir. Are you planning on making one side a control panel?

Thanks, kodski. Yes working on the control panel as I type this. It will mount in the right cubby area.

This will hopefully be the last tank build for many years, so I told myself I would do everything right the first time, no re-dos, (hopefully) no buying things twice, patients is key, and most importantly no "I wish I woulda done it this way"


I'm basically back in waiting on parts mode. If all goes right, I should be about ready for a wet test next week!

 

[Bret]

Control board mounted!

 

[JumboShrimp]

Very neat and tidy!! ;Cat

 

[Ef4life]

Nice build, I really like how you built the stand into the corner. And your control board looks excellent

 

[Bret]

Very neat and tidy!! ;Cat

Thank you! That was the goal.

 

[Bret]

Nice build, I really like how you built the stand into the corner. And your control board looks excellent

Thanks for the compliment. The corner layout came out really nice. I think it would have looked cramped if I put it flat against the wall. And I’ve got extra storage space now.

 

[GabeM]

Looks great! I am following. SCA makes incredibly strong tanks.

 

[Bret]

Getting closer...

Got the ABS panel cut and glued to the bottom.

Starting on the nightmare of wiring

 

[Bret]

Made some decent progress this weekend. Got the fuge light setup, most of the wiring done, started programming the Apex, and did a full leak test.
Found two issues:
1. Slight leak from both end caps of the UV sterilizer, should be an easy fix with new o-rings.
2. Only getting 400 GPH max out of the return pump (DCQ 10000, should do ~2,800gph unrestricted). I know I have a lot of restriction in the system, but need to get way more flow (shooting for 900 GPH). I think the main issue is the dual 1/2" Locline outlets that came with the tank. I'm going to up those to dual 3/4" and hope that helps, otherwise I might need to look for an even more powerful pump.