Coral Tank from Canada (1350gal Display Tank) - split

My best wishes for a successful rebirth. Call it the Phoenix build. I am heartbroken for your loss as anyone who has put their heart and soul into a reef undoubtedly is.

Thank you so much for taking us along for the journey and please continue to entertain and educate us with your innovation and experiences.

To you Peter and your build/maintenance team, what you created was a masterpiece. Now you have the grand challenge of one-upping one of the most beautiful aquariums in the world. If anyone can do it, it is you all.

Godspeed and good luck!
 
Wow, what a heartbreaking disaster. So sorry to read about this. Lovely setup. I'm looking forward to reading about the recovery process, and am sure your next setup will be equally stunning. Regards, --Lars
 
Peter, I'm so sorry to read about this tragic loss for you and the team. I first got into the hobby right around the time the tank got wet and I remember stumbling across your YouTube videos some years later before I'd become a member on RC. I'd spend a little time each evening reading your thread from the beginning. I had not checked in here for some time and was alerted to this on another site. While this is obviously a tragedy I'm glad to see that you keeping positive and looking to the future. I'm sure whatever you do tank wise it will be another ground breaking project pushing the boundaries of the hobby and providing all of us with many new best practices.
 
mr.wilson said:
It's an apples and oranges comparison.

I don't recall the details, but I believe Bill's tank has no seams to fail. Concrete tanks are made by creating a silicone gasket, not a bonded right angle seam. The water pressure of the tank pushes the panel against the opening. The panels usually overlap the frame of the opening by 4" or more. Some installer use stainless steel brackets to pull the panel against the inside of the frame.

The bottom of Peter's tank is 3/4" thick. The panel that failed was 1" and the 13' panel is 1.25" thick.

The thickness really depends on water height from the bottom of the panel. Curved panels have a different standard as they are stronger and resist bowing.
Click to expand...

I just read this thread from the beginning to now( I didn't say end because Peter is rising from the ashes!) I'm sorry this happened. When I read what happened it was like getting punched in the stomach!

Now on to the next one! Peter you have a massive head start on this already! All the equipment is still good. You have a great team already. THE TOP MAN TO HELP YOU! And the best support team you could ask for in this forum! Ask yourself what would you have done differently. I remember in one of your posts you mentioned that you wish it would have been deeper. He's your chance!
I'm sure there's other stuff too.

On another note I'm glad that your wife is doing better.

Mr Wilson would it not be better to rebuild the tank in this way? The concrete could be done to match the other stone work that has been done in the basement. It could also be built on site and the acrylic would go thru the door in pieces.

I just got back into this Hobbie and I ran into your thread from a local reef group. The amount of information that has been provided in this thread is insane. Mr Wilson add one to the map for Lexington Kentucky!
 
Wow. I have just spent three days reading/skimming this thread. Peter, I feel like I know you. Your approach to this tank and to life itself has shown so many that it isn't about money, or who has the biggest or the best, It is about what is rite. You seem to have a way of bringing people together who have never seen each other into a community or even a family.

So many have said that that they would help if they could. I have a proposal. With a shipping address, Everyone could send a frag or fish to help the Phoenix rise. They should send you an offer of what they have and you could accept or decline depending on it's compatibility to your tank and tastes.

I would start off with a zoanthid colony. I don't have anything special but it would be an honer to have a small part in the rebuild.

Chris,
Spring, Texas
 
Peter, I am very sorry to hear about the tragic loss of your tank.
I found your Tank very inspiring. I hope you still have enough
love for the hobby to keep going. I'm sure the new tank will be amazing as well.
Thanks for all the effort you put into this hobby!
 
Peter, I have just had to get up and go for a walk...
I just spent the last few hours being inspired and mesmerised by your wonderful open and sincere posts, what you created was without doubt one of the most magical marine environments I have even come to see. To follow your journey into this disaster, reading your posts I honestly felt like I was going to pass out, such a massive and heart-breaking loss, I could feel your emotion coming through in those last few posts.

I have no idea what to say really, other than to tell you that you and your team built a dream, and you have inspired me not only in the way you put together this impressive system but in the way you have openly shared it with the community and then handled the massive loss with such grace.

I hope you are healing up well and I look forward to reading about your plans for round 2. All the very best.
 
You guys have been an inspiration to us all in this community. I'm sorry for all of your losses. Keep your chin up and look forward to the future. I can't imagine losing the fish you have grown to know like children. I hand feed my purple tang daily and it's like we communicate on a more intelligent basis than just "fish". The thought of you losing fish almost brought me to tears. Thank you for the fantastic writeup about the events and remember that we are all here for you if you need it!!
 
Coral Tank from Canada (1350gal Display Tank) - split

Peter, it's been said, grown men don't cry. I got to the third or fourth full page of your March 11th update and must say a few tears were shed.... Your writing style is very effective at putting the reader in the room as you came upon this very sad sight. From your wife thinking intruders to you standing in front of the tank trying to reconcile what you're seeing to then implementing the disaster plan, heavy stuff... Thanks for sharing this event, as it should get the attention of aquarists at all skill levels. This can happen to any and all of us :( I for one, will be reviewing my redundancy and disaster plans, some of which do not currently exist :( Finally, of course, you should rebuild the reef, what else you going to do, raise pachyderms .... :)
 
Brief Update...........

Brief Update...........

When I started to document this journey on Reef Central I was very much a novice and came searching for answers from a knowledgeable caring community. I went out of my way from the very beginning to cultivate a positive culture free from obnoxious behaviours that all too often frequent typical forum conversations.

I am still grieving the loss of our aquarium and trying to adjust to a massive change in circumstance after 5 years of discipline and routine. I have decided to find a fresh starting point by doing a bunch of things that have to be done in the short run.

Before I try and figure out what I'm doing next I have to comment on each and every member of this community that has commented or read this journal from the sidelines. Not one, not one single inappropriate word or phrase has appeared in this thread through the whole lifespan.

What a wonderful testament to just how good this internet culture can be. You can all take a bow. You have all contributed to an experience that is an example of just how high the bar has been set by people from all stations in life from global cultures as diverse as it gets in pursuit of a shared passion for nature and a healthy ecology. The world is a better place for all your contributions and I am very proud to be associated with each and every member of this forum community.

Mr. Wilson, the brothers Grimm and I have been 'cleaning up' from this disaster and even learning from it in spite of the pain of it all. We are removing virtually everything associated with the system for the time being. We have found good homes for all the animals we were able to save. I need a bit of time and space before I make a final decision on whether to embark on Peters Fish Tank 2.0 or call it a day.

If the decision is to continue the journey then I will be looking to this community to participate in the planning of the new venture from imagineering the new environment to helping to select the right equipment and to continue the search for the best practices for the hobby.

For the moment however I just want to say Thank You, Thank you for the wonderful support, Thank You for keeping this community and culture so exceptionally mature and thank you for taking the time to express your support. Judy and I read each and every comment and we thank you for your understanding.


Peter
 
I am terribly sorry to hear about all the troubles, Peter. In spite of all that has happened, I'm glad to see you and your crew have done the best you can and move forward. I couldn't imagine going through all that has happened. I hope and pray for the best for you and the guys. Hopefully you will continue and make a better system since all the experiences and knowledge you have gained will contribute to nothing but a better system. Best wishes on your journey and I hope you will get some reimbursement for the damages caused by the tank failure although the horrible feelings cannot be taken away. I know you were trying to keep the system environment stable and up to par for all your critters and I am sure better things will come your ways for sure. Best wishes and lots of luck. From: Erwin in Miami, FL.
 
nineball said:
When I started to document this journey on Reef Central I was very much a novice and came searching for answers from a knowledgeable caring community. I went out of my way from the very beginning to cultivate a positive culture free from obnoxious behaviours that all too often frequent typical forum conversations.

I am still grieving the loss of our aquarium and trying to adjust to a massive change in circumstance after 5 years of discipline and routine. I have decided to find a fresh starting point by doing a bunch of things that have to be done in the short run.

Before I try and figure out what I'm doing next I have to comment on each and every member of this community that has commented or read this journal from the sidelines. Not one, not one single inappropriate word or phrase has appeared in this thread through the whole lifespan.

What a wonderful testament to just how good this internet culture can be. You can all take a bow. You have all contributed to an experience that is an example of just how high the bar has been set by people from all stations in life from global cultures as diverse as it gets in pursuit of a shared passion for nature and a healthy ecology. The world is a better place for all your contributions and I am very proud to be associated with each and every member of this forum community.

Mr. Wilson, the brothers Grimm and I have been 'cleaning up' from this disaster and even learning from it in spite of the pain of it all. We are removing virtually everything associated with the system for the time being. We have found good homes for all the animals we were able to save. I need a bit of time and space before I make a final decision on whether to embark on Peters Fish Tank 2.0 or call it a day.

If the decision is to continue the journey then I will be looking to this community to participate in the planning of the new venture from imagineering the new environment to helping to select the right equipment and to continue the search for the best practices for the hobby.

For the moment however I just want to say Thank You, Thank you for the wonderful support, Thank You for keeping this community and culture so exceptionally mature and thank you for taking the time to express your support. Judy and I read each and every comment and we thank you for your understanding.


Peter
Click to expand...

Peter,
the thing is, that we all have to thank you for your contributions to this hobby. i have learned so many things from you, even though i am in the hobby for more then 17 years now.
once there was a time when i had to break down a former tank because of a massive algae outbreak. i was really thinking about to stop it completely and not to start the tank again. but after 3 months i started to miss something, i realized, that i cannot live without a reef tank and so i started again.
i was really shocked to read about your disaster and my feelings are with you!
all i can hope now is, that you come back, stronger then before!
as i live in germany the real bad thing is, i can only help you with some words :(

so far, Peter and Mr. Wilson, take your time and then come back:bum:

Michael, near by Berlin in Germany.
 
Peter,

I have been a faithful follower of your project from the outset. The experience, following this exceptional collaborative enterprise has certainly had its ups and downs, with plenty of drama, humor, and interest. You mantra of "best practices" is a concept that I have instituted in my company with fantastic results.

We have all learnt so much and are grateful for you and your team taking your time to share your experiences with us. Best Practices has shown the need for publishing your experiences in a future reference manual on how to do things right.

I am sure the "drama" still has a part to play, but I would like to thank you and your team for sharing this wonderful experience with us all.

We salute you...

Rodd Kippen
Seattle
 
A_CoupleClowns said:
IMO if your "insured", the insurance company works for you. You are paying for their service. If they will not cover another tank in the home, the first thing that needs to be done is find another insurance company that will be able to take care of your specific situation and give you the coverage you need and are paying good money for.
Click to expand...

I'm very new here, but I had found this thread months ago while researching for my 180G build which to me is pretty big. I have had NIGHTMARES just thinking of a leak, so I cannot possibly imagine how Peter is feeling.

I can say I called my insurance company to see if there was additional coverage needed for something like this, and what was or was not covered. They did take the time to talk to their underwriters, and days later called back saying all was covered in terms of damage caused by a failure like this, but with some exceptions. A manufacture defect would not cover the tank, and any damage caused to the house would be, BUT the contents of the tank would fall under "pets", and the max coverage there was $2000. Again, a mere pittance for Peter with this collection. I should note, I'm also in Canada like Peter and there could be different insurance regulations here.

I believe Mr.Wilson commented that the company would not unsure a tank by the SAME manufacturer again.

Again Peter, I'm truly sorry. I oddly heard of this when I made the trip from Kitchener Waterloo to Aquatic Kingdom to look at some fish and when we talked about live rock he brought me over to a tank and explained they had some rock from a 1300G+ tank that had failed in Oakville. My stomach dropped as I knew exactly who it was.

All the best!
 
I remember reading this thread when you first started. It has been an absolute pleasure to see your project grow from a vision to an amazing reality. While I am devastated for your loss, I think the only true tragedy in this situation would be if you didn't use all the invaluable lessons you've learned to start again.

I look forward to seeing the 2.0 version of your tank!
 
Joined the forum just to comment on this thread (i see others have too!). this is so tragic, but I am happy to see so many people showing support and solidarity during this event. there are good people out there and we should stick by each other.
 
Peter,
Your tank was an absolute inspiration to me and words cannot say enough. I hope that you will continue your passion. We all will be looking forward to your future plans. Keep your head up as you have contributed so much to this community.

Tim
 
Hi Nineball,

This sucks eh? really sucks. Have to tell you that your tank certainly was an inspiration to me and a whole host of local hobbyists. We were all rooting for you and watched your videos. And we very much looked forward to the growth and maturity of your tank. Thank you for sharing your journey.

In the short time I've been involved in this hobby, I've observed that big setbacks seem to be very much a part of this hobby. Almost an inevitability. Something does go wrong at some point because we are trying to replicate perhaps the least understood part of our world.

I support your decision to take time away from the hobby and refresh your spirits. As devastating as the tank's failure was, the beauty and happiness it contributed to you and many others who followed its journey over the years surely exceeds that many fold. That is pretty neat.

regards,
Aung
 
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