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

[TX_Reefer]

I am new to this thread and started from the beginning recently. After three days I am only 180 pages deep in the first part of the thread and I couldn't bear it any longer so I had to come over and see what this turned out to look like. I am shocked, to say the least, at the outcome and offer my condolences. I have lost a tank before but obviously nothing of this magnitude or with the effort you put in.

Hopefully it is some comfort that your experience and effort have been overwhelming and your attention to detail have not gone unnoticed. The efforts of yourself and Mr.Wilson have blown me away. The knowledge shared in this thread must have contributed to fellow reef enthusiast's successes and for that I hope you and your team take a large amount of pride.

Anyway, back to reading the remaining 200 pages.

 

[StevieK]

ATM Warranty

ATM Warranty

On their website is states lifetime warranty for aquariums up to 300 gallons and five years for larger aquariums. We filled the aquarium for the first time in March 2010.

So, what's the bottom line ... Is ATM going to honor their warranty?

It has not been 5 years.

 

[DNA]

Originally Posted by mr.wilson
On their website is states lifetime warranty for aquariums up to 300 gallons...

This reminds me of an American made toolbox I bought many years ago.
It had a lifetime guarantee stated in big letters so when it broke I got the document and got ready to claim a new toolbox.

Then I noticed the small print. The toolbox was only guaranteed "for the lifetime of the product".
That meant the toolbox was guaranteed until it broke.
I really dislike deception in business so Plano has been on my blacklist ever since.

A big imported local tank had it's warranty void because the stand was not bought with it.
A much higher quality stand was built on site. This is another example how companies free themselves from their guarantees.

I'm pretty sure there will be compensations.

 

[nineball]

So, what's the bottom line ... Is ATM going to honor their warranty?

It has not been 5 years.

The short answer is no.

The long answer is definitely not.

I have been struggling with how to address this subject in this thread. ATM's response to me was ............ I've been sitting here for 10 mins trying to come up with a word or phrase that could describe their response........and all I can come up with is absurd. First they have no idea who I am or what kind of tank I have. They asked for documentation with pictures and technical information such as acrylic thickness etc. They informed me that the warranty for their tanks was two years unless they install the tank. They did install the tank but again they had no record. Their website says 5 years for tanks larger than 300 Gals and as I know this tank is larger than 1000 gals. Then they asked if the tank was shimmed and could I send pictures to prove it. The tank was shimmed to the custom made stand that they made in Las Vegas. I sent pictures.

Then, and this is where it gets really absurd, from my iPhone pics they determined that the tank had been hit because the panel blew in to the tank and not out. This was a blatant and unprofessional assessment that made no sense at all. The panel was blown out from the tank not in.

In the end they suggested that I should buy another tank from them and they might offer a discount.

So no, ATM will not honour their warranty ...........

Now this is important, I do NOT want to open up this discussion about ATM and their business practices. This community that has developed around this thread has avoided lowering the bar with critical debates about manufacturers that have been unprofessional and or unethical. If you can't find something good to say then just remain silent. I do not want to invite trolls to become part of this community or thread. This is NOT the legacy I want to leave with this build. WE, and I sincerely mean WE, created this wonderful example of a well managed captive marine environment. Lets keep that accomplishment positive for those that may use the information we generated over the last five years to improve the hobby.

Am I upset with ATM? Yes I am.This part of the journey has been extremely disturbing and depressing for me but that stops here with this post. I am not going to have ATM define me or this community's accomplishment. I am not going to discuss this aspect of the build anymore and I need all of you to help me do that. The high road is the better road in this case, especially if we are going to embark on Peter's Fish Tank 2.0.

Peter

 

[Syho]

Thank you Peter for the update. I think I speak for us all when I say I can't wait for the construction to begin! 2.0 is going to be sweet!

 

[maxxII]

Peter,
You are a class act.

Other people.....not so much.

I have followed this from the beginning (lurking mostly), and look forward to watching the new tank go up.

 

[dodgerblew]

Have you narrowed down your choices of future tank builders? A keenly aware tank manufacturer will realize that this will be the best advertisement they can ever dream of having.....and for free!

I truly am excited for the future Peters Fish Tank 2.0 and I'm getting the feeling it's going to happen. The best part will be reading the thread/progress from the start and not catching up on 600-700 posts. I hope you will allow me to send you a frag when it's ready. It'd be kind of like buying a brick in the new stadium

 

[StevieK]

Peter,
You are a class act.

Other people.....not so much.

I have followed this from the beginning (lurking mostly), and look forward to watching the new tank go up.

+1

and i will say again ... a class act

so,

lets talk the Phoenix 2.0

when do we begin ... :hb2:

 

[Reel North]

Well done Peter. Sometimes it's difficult to remain positive in the face of a storm like this. I'm equally impressed by your careful phrasing.

I live in Hamilton and if you need any help with Part 2, I'd be happy to help any way I can.

 

[DNA]

So no, ATM will not honour their warranty ...........

The high road is the better road in this case, especially if we are going to embark on Peter's Fish Tank 2.0.

Peter

We know exactly what this community will think about ATM so let's just leave it out.
Now that you have got this part out of the way neatly, Peter's Fish Tank 2.0 is more real than ever.

There are already some design ideas so it's looking good.

 

[Ricardo Fonseca]

looking forward to your new project.

sending you good vibes from across the planet.

take fun (not care)

 

[klipprand]

Just wanted to chime in briefly on acrylic thickness related to panel length. I have requested a quote from Midwest Custom Aquarium for relatively small 120 gallon aquariums 4'x2'x2'. They would not do less than 1" thickness for a 4' panel. This makes me think on a much larger aquarium like Peter's that the walls thickness should be much greater.

 

[tajaba]

After watching your videos on youtube, I am was kind of depressed to find out that this tank is now dead.......

I wish you the best of luck with the new build! you sir have made this hobby a better place!
all your documentations and ideas probably inspired more people than you would care to know.

just one question: would you ever consider glass instead of acrylic for a tank roughly 1000 gallons? after reading this thread, I became quite paranoid about using acrylic

 

[albano]

I have requested a quote from Midwest Custom Aquarium for relatively small 120 gallon aquariums 4'x2'x2'. They would not do less than 1" thickness for a 4' panel.

Unless you are requesting rimless or crossbrace less, that is beyond ridiculous, especially for a tank only 24" high!... 2 of my tanks 48"x24"x27"h that are over 20 yrs old, filled and refilled too many times to count, that I believe are ~5/8ths, are still in perfect shape.

 

[Fuzzone99]

"So no, ATM will not honour their warranty ...........

Now this is important, I do NOT want to open up this discussion about ATM and their business practices. This community that has developed around this thread has avoided lowering the bar with critical debates about manufacturers that have been unprofessional and or unethical. If you can't find something good to say then just remain silent. "

You sir, are a gentleman. Although we shouldn't be surprised by this given your composure to this point, I must say that you truly are leading by example. I find it unfathomable that the manufacturers "have no idea who I am", and can only hope that they one day have an epiphany as to the magnitude of what you have accomplished, and ultimately what you represent (neither really having anything to do with the vessel itself). I can only hope that all of your hopes for 2.0 are realized upon its completion. Soldier on kind sir.

 

[sbleile]

Peter,
You are a class act; personally, I would just hand it over to my attorney and let them sue ATM.

So what is the plan on the new tank 2.0?
Scott

 

[kkittredge]

2.0. The Phoenix.

 

[kharmaguru]

There's an amplifier manufacturer named Bryston that warrantee their products for 20 years. Anyone who's sent their amp in for repair beyond the 20 years has still received FREE service. That is true integrity and belief in one's product. While their competitors have failed or rebranded or sold and resold, Bryston amps have become the favoured product in sound studios, live music and movie theatres around the world. I can't believe that manufacturers of every ilk have not understood and duplicated this basic competitive advantage, but I digress..

Peter, I was here from the beginning so I truly feel part of it. Thank you very much for the open spirit with which you have conducted this grand experiment.

 

[Osama]

Looking forward to seeing a drop off tank.. Like the idea very much ... Good Luck

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Am I upset with ATM? Yes I am.This part of the journey has been extremely disturbing and depressing for me but that stops here with this post. I am not going to have ATM define me or this community's accomplishment. I am not going to discuss this aspect of the build anymore and I need all of you to help me do that. The high road is the better road in this case, especially if we are going to embark on Peter's Fish Tank 2.0.

Peter

You've got more self-control that I might have in your situation sir!

Looking forward to the next mega build thread...