I didn't want to come off as being unsympathetic in that thread, but I am highly confident that it had to do with proper leveling/support of the tank, and not the design or quality of the glass and seams.
It seems like everyone on RC (especially in Tampa) has been really hard on GC. I'm not a spokesman or anything, but I've had several of their tanks (including 2 currently running) that have never had a problem. In fact, all together, I have worked on (worked for 2 different LFS's while in college...one in G'ville, one in Orlando) dozens of their tanks, and I've never seen a problem.
A tank like the one the blew up in the thread above is really long, hence the critical nature of leveling and supporting it. Many reef hobbyists will buy a tank and set it on the stand and think that its good to go. This may work just fine for smaller tanks, or standard sizes from a fish store. This is certainly not the case with larger/custom tanks.
As for GC, their tanks are not the prettiest. Their tanks are among the cheapest. You get what you pay for. Their standard glass is no worse than any other tank manufacturers standard glass. From what I have seen, their "low iron" is almost, but not quite as good, as say a "reef savvy" starphire tank. Their seams typically have excess silicone, but that is an aesthetic issue, not a structural one. More often than not their tanks are "overbuilt" with thicker than necessary glass, or excessive bracing. This again is aesthetic, not structural. I would not hesitate to own another one, unless you are looking for a really pretty, flawless display tank. For frag tanks they are one of the better options out there.
I don't know why there aren't such critical examinations when other tank manufacturers have a tank fail. From personal experience I have heard of only a handful of tanks failing and they were mostly standard perfecto/AG, the rest were home built. If someone loses a standard 75g All-glass, it wouldn't stop me from buying another one. My point is that any tank can fail, and it is generally not by reason of the design/joining of the glass. It is generally due to support issues, and/or excessive lateral hydrodynamic force inside the tank (read: "wave action").
In regard to getting a Marineland tank from Bill, instead of a GC tank. I completely agree. That would be a "nicer" option. Marineland is better in every way, but is also more expensive.
Finally, if something like this does happen locally there are plenty of people that can lend a hand/tools. I have a 65g transport container, pumps, hoses, and about 15 buckets. I am always happy to help a fellow reefer if at all possible.
Thanks,
Ed
