Large Marineland DD tank failures

[roni]

I've been looking at possibly getting of the bigger Marineland DD tanks but keep hearing the occasional horror story about a tank failure.

Can people please post of any instances they've heard of and general locale (so it's not just the same 1-2 tanks being talked about) as well as how far along once the tank was set up that this happened?

 

[maik1]

Why would you even bother starting with something that you already have little to no confidence in?

Maik1

 

[roni]

It's not that I don't have confidence in the tanks...The problem is I don't know whether the 2 tanks I've heard of with problems are an isolated event or a systemic issue...For example, I don't want to use a GC tank since there have been enough stories about tanks failing to where it's not worth it.

However, if Marineland has had a couple of tanks that were bad among the 1000s that may be out there, there's no more risk then any other big tank. If it ends up being more then that, it worries me.

 

[bankerboy350]

There were a couple of DD tank failures I read about when I was setting my 250 DD up last December. I believe both occured within 6-8 months of setup.

IMO, it appeared to be the stand support. If you go with a custom stand, you need good support all the way around and a top board to hold the frame square. I have 2 x 6's doubled up on the corners and doubled around the top. Plywood bottom and top glued and screwed to the frame. I am going on 9 months with no problems. Not to say I will not have a problem in the future but all is good so far.

The corners and center need to be supported directly on vertical studs if going with wood like I did. Tubular steel is another good option.

The tank just made it through it's first earthquake today.:bounce1:

 

[alton]

One of the reasons I purchased a 300DD was because everybody on here was buying them and I never heard of an issue. Mine has been set up over a year and no issues.

 

[noplay180]

I have a 300dd and have no problem at all built my stand and just make sure it was square. I love it.

 

[gveng]

that's weird, i always hear bad things about glass cages and not marineland.

 

[mrabolli]

Im about to set mine and have the same concerns. Anybody?

 

[elegance coral]

This is the first I've heard of bad DD tanks. I have a 200DD and it seems to be built like a tank. (army tank that is, LOL) The only problem I have is that you can't move much water through it without the water level rising, and the center brace being submerged. I don't like seeing the center brace when viewing the tank from the front. My LFS has the same problem with their 300DD. I'll probably be drilling some more holes in the overflows, but I hate moding a tank like this.

 

[roni]

Didn't mean to worry anyone. In general, I think the stock tanks are pretty awesome. The 2 tanks I personally heard about failing both had mods and from what i've heard, it's difficult to get marineland to do anything other then a stock tank.

I just wanted to make sure that the 2 tank failures I heard about were more the isolated phenomenon rather then a pattern

 

[polywise]

Over this summer, I got my custom clear silicone, 3 sided starfire, single chamber glass supported center overflow, with 4 oversized 2" drain holes from marineland in about a month.

I have not set it up yet, as I am trying to figure out stand and hood design

 

[sacremon]

Just adding another data point. I have had a 300DD set up for little over a year, on their lower end stand. My floor turned out not to be level (there is a difference of about 3/8" in the water level from one long end to the other) yet there have been no issues with leaking from the seams. So if the tank was prone to leak from the seams, I feel that mine would have at this point given the stress on them.

 

[AndyH5512]

A local store owner and I were speaking about the DD series a month or so back. He said a customer with a 300DD woke up to a complete leak from a side lower seal. Everything was lost except the rock. Last I heard, the store owner was trying to see what Marineland would do, as the tank was not quite a year old.

I am interested in the DD series also, however hearing this always causes me to consider other options. I seriously doubt that any manufacturer has a 100% success rate, however. Stands, and how level (or not level) the floor it is placed on all factor in to stress on the seams.

 

[maik1]

I seriously doubt that any manufacturer has a 100% success rate, however. Stands, and how level (or not level) the floor it is placed on all factor in to stress on the seams.

I'm sure you're right but when I was talking to Miracles Aquariums about the way they build their tanks I was told that they over build by probably 100%.

Maik1

 

[hobogato]

have a 250 dd that i bought used. it was over a year old when i bought it and i have had it up a little over four months without issue.

 

[AndyH5512]

Maik1, I have heard nothing but good things about Miracles. They are on my list for considerations as an alternative to the DD. I just have to save a few more pennies, LOL.

 

[maik1]

Maik1, I have heard nothing but good things about Miracles. They are on my list for considerations as an alternative to the DD. I just have to save a few more pennies, LOL.

I can tell you that the only item on my 300G system that I do NOT worry about is the tank!
The PVC fittings, controller, pumps, seasalt....I worry about. But not the tank. That's worth the extra few hundred $.
It's like insurance, Pennies on the Dollar if you think of how much is at stake.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1775327&page=12

Maik1

 

[walvis]

When I first saw a 300DD I knew right away that being the perfect size for my upgrade.
I wanted some custom work done, like being rimless which they didn't offer, so I ended up with Miracles.
They did an outstanding job and I'm glad I did not go with Marineland, come to find out a LFS 300DD display sprung a leak and had to change tanks.

I like to have that piece of mind...HTH

 

[mmaisonneuve]

200 DD Horror Story

200 DD Horror Story

I bought my 200DD back in September 2013"¦.it was my dream tank"¦..until yesterday"¦..Dec 4th

I was upsizing from 2 tanks (30 Gal and a 90 Gal)

Got the 200DD and the Stand and Canopy from Marineland

Thank had been running smooth and everything was perfect, new Dry Rock new sand started the tank and a couple weeks ago I had all my LR moved to the new tank with the fishes and all my 2-3 years old SPS Colony, I had a small cyano outbreak but in the last 10 days it was all gone a perfect"¦.

This is where everything goes wrong:

Wednesday night 22h00 I find water on the floor"¦"¦where is it from"¦"¦bottom Silicone seam in the front gave up"¦..
22h30 I post for help on the Local Forum"¦..
23h00 people start arriving and we move all the water out"¦..
The fishes are put into holding tank with heater and Corals into another Tank with heater"¦.everyone has circulation pump.
By 5 AM on the 5th everything is clean"¦"¦
I go to work"¦.but retreat back home to find all the fish dead"¦.same with the inverts"¦..
Post again for help"¦..people are arriving home and until 7pm we move and clean everything we can"¦..
I go to bed"¦"¦"¦.
Wake up on the 6th The tank with all Live Rock and Corals smells like a tomb"¦.circulation pump and heater are still in place working"¦"¦.

Bottom of the Story"¦"¦We lost everything"¦..and my Daughter for whom I started back into Fish Tank couple years ago is devastated"¦..it was he birthday on the 5th"¦..

I'd say Think Twice with those.....

 

[Dbondaruk]

A fish store I go to has a 200 g marineland tank, it's been there for 5 years, in the middle of the tank it has a gap that's literally 1/4 of an inch.supposably there strong tanks. I would not advise setting a tank up with a 1/4 gap lol.