Yeah, I've looked at waterbox. I have them in my list, but the 4820 is slightly narrower than what everyone is suggesting, and the 6025 is a bit bigger than I can handle. I actually was planning on a 60, but then I saw one in person with my wife and we both agreed (well, maybe I hesitantly agreed) it was going to be too massive for our current space.
SCA tank reviews
- Thread starter richiev
- Start date
grizfyrfyter
Guest
It's more than the width of the glass. The bead of silicone is very thick.
SupraSaltyReefer
Supporting Member
Overflow is Synergy Shadow V2. I have the same on my CDA. It’s quiet, but it’s made of injected plastic so it’s really thin. I would recommend going with Modular Marine or Exotic Marine Systems overflow instead which is made of cast acrylic.
rygh
Guest
That really surprises me.
I talked to Neptunes when I was buying my tank years ago, and prices were almost identical. (Custom non-refundable pre-paid order)
Supposedly they get a better wholesale deal, plus cheaper shipping to a business, plus they do not mark up tanks because they hope to get future profit in fish/coral.
But I guess times change.
For other prices, it looks like CDA had a great deal on the standard 100G (sold out)
So yes, for normal pricing, ouch, 2X difference is a big deal.
There is one substantial difference:
CDA has a bottom eurobrace, and SCA does not. That roughly doubles the strength of the bottom joint, which has the highest pressure and risk of blowing out.
Very minor difference:
CDA has 1/2" glass, where SCA has 12mm glass, so 5% thinner.
I don't want to say who I specifically got that information from, since it was in a 1:1 conversation with a LFS owner, but that 30% increase was directly from the LFS owner. They don't make money on them is my understanding, and they have to offset the overhead of being involved that way. It's later made up for through livestock discounts, which certainly can add up as well.
In long term horizons it probably can cancel out, or be lost in the other spend, but for me I'm not sure which way I'll go.
rygh
Guest
Very interesting.
I totally believe you, so not arguing. I am just a bit confused on why they would have that large overhead.
I do remember some LFS owners complaining recently about customers that would order a tank then bail out, leaving them stuck with it.
Maybe that factors in now.
Who knows. But that 30% is certainly a big difference, so going direct makes a lot of sense.
Yeah, sucks for all involved. I'm fine supporting some middlemen who provide incremental value, but the trade offs get hard.
Thanks for the thoughts/info. I'm slowly progressing (I'm researching extruded AL stands in the other thread now).
Vhuang168
Guest
Did you price it directly from CDA vs from an LFS for the same tank?
I would try that and check the price for the same tank through a CDA dealer like Neptune to compare. I think you will find that price to be very very close if not the same.
Was the LFS you talked to a CDA stocking dealer? Or someone who will special order the tank for you? The price differential may be a stocking dealer vs a special order store.
H2OPlayar
Supporting Member
Also, if you buy your system through Robert at Neptune, you get a 20% off livestock card for a year to get your tank going. I have been a benefactor of that for sure! I am fuzzy of the details, but a high dollar tank like a CDA, sump, and light I think is what I purchased to get that since at the time Neptune wasn't doing stand construction and I had plans for the self built stand.
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Out of respect for the conversation, I don't want to get into the details too much. If anyone really wants to know I can share over PM. Yes though, it's a CDA dealer. Also yes "It's later made up for through livestock discounts, which certainly can add up as well".
Again, I'm all for supporting LFS. In this particular thread I'm looking at the info on a different manufacturer (SCA) who I'd for sure be buying from remote. In my peninsula tank thread I was putting notes comparing the various options (SCA, CDA tank with or without stand, just getting a Reefer, ...). If I get a Reefer I'm for sure going to try to go through the LFS. If I get a CDA I might go either way. If I get a SCA I'd go direct, but for the a stand for the SCA tank I'll try and find someone local to source the parts or build it.
Again, I'm all for supporting LFS. In this particular thread I'm looking at the info on a different manufacturer (SCA) who I'd for sure be buying from remote. In my peninsula tank thread I was putting notes comparing the various options (SCA, CDA tank with or without stand, just getting a Reefer, ...). If I get a Reefer I'm for sure going to try to go through the LFS. If I get a CDA I might go either way. If I get a SCA I'd go direct, but for the a stand for the SCA tank I'll try and find someone local to source the parts or build it.
I should also note that all my info is based on wanting a non-standard order of a peninsula. If I was getting a tank and stand off the floor the trade offs are certainly different. Particularly because they'd likely have gotten it through a larger shipment and therefore discounted.
Devon
Supporting Member
I would agree with some other peoples opinions above. IMO If this is your dream aquarium with a plan to have it in your home for years to come, I would buy the best possible aquarium. Over the long run the difference in price is minimal. I don’t know much about either company to give you a review.
Go with your gut after gathering all the information you are seeking.
It’s only money!
Good luck
Go with your gut after gathering all the information you are seeking.
It’s only money!
Good luck
Oakland Evan
Guest
I have both a CDA and SCA. Build quality is the same, CDA just offers extra add-on's that SCA does not.