Not happy with new custom tank

CrayolaViolence said:
FWIW most acrylic tanks are not going to have a bunch of silicone. They used a chemical welding process to meld the pieces together, so there really is no need for silicone in the seams. Personally I would be more concerned with there being silicone because I would want to know why it was needed. If the seams were done correctly there would no need for silicone in the corners.

P.s. I don't know why I thought it was an acrylic tank. When I re-read your post I couldn't figure out why I thought that. If it is...I stand by my seam statement. If that tank is glass and has all those chips in it, send it back. You do not want chips in your glass tank, they are a stress point just ripe for a fracture.
Click to expand...

glass tank
 
Tripod1404 said:
Is that tank acrylic or glass? If it is glass I would be more concerned about the "double" silicone sealing. Silicon does not bind properly to a already-cured silicone. I don't know why they did that but if it is because they tested the tank and realized it is leaking and then made a second silicon sealing above the first one, that is a disaster waiting to happen. Eventually that second seal will peal-off and if there is a issue with the primary silicon sealing underneath, it will show up. This is why people who reseal their leaking tanks put in great effort to remove all of the old silicone before resealing.
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Glass tank. And I don't think theres anything unusual about a double seal 99.99% of tanks use them. The inner fillet is made from the silicone that squeezes out from when the panes are joined. It serves as a secondary seal to protect the primary one that holds the panes together. Atleast this is what I have read.
 
The scratch and poor drilling would have me return that in a heartbeat. I expect little chips here and there when drilling but not like those. Looks like someone got a little quick with the exit
 
I would want a full replacement/refund, IMO. The scratch is on the inside, so that can't really be blamed on shipping. And the chipping around the drilled holes concerns me despite the unsightliness of them. I've seen smoother holes drilled by Do-It-Yourself first-timers.

You have nothing to lose by contacting the builder, so I would do it a.s.a.p.
 
Cut and paste from what they sent me via email.

Good morning David

Sorry for the delay, I was working in the US and on the road yesterday

Sorry for this trouble. What you are referring to scratches I believe are rub marks, do you have any single edge razor blades? Possibly rubbing alcohol? As for the break through it is difficult not to get when drilling by hand, I can send you another set of gaskets so you could have rubber on both sides. Had we knew about the holes before, we would have drilled on our press. Take some 0000 steel wool with a little alcohol and rub gently in circles over the mark, I think you will find the will come off.

Do you have any silicone? If so, a little bead of silicone before pressing the bulkhead into place will ensure there are no leaks

Any questions don't hesitate to call

Have a great day


My response:

Hello,

Well it is infact not a rub mark. It is a scratch. The black mark u see is a dry erase marker underlining the scratch. It catches your fingernail. It is on the inside so it will hold algae.
As far as the bulkhead holes go from what i have seen yes drilling on a press creates a better hole however, these holes seem pretty bad compared to what I have seen others do free hand. It seems like they were rushed towards the end or not much care was put into making them.
 
Nice of them to treat you like a moron too. Like you can't tell what is/isn't a scratch in the glass or to band-aid chipped bulkhead holes with silicone. That tank never should've even made it out the door to you. I wouldn't even trust them to build a replacement one.
 
I would send it back also. And at this point after reading their email response I would like to know what company made this tank. I think this will save all of us some headache in the future. I dont like their response at all!!! "Put silicone on it"...... you have got to be kidding me!?!
 
Yea have to agree, getting to the point they should be named. That was certainly a poor follow up from them. Should NEVER have to patch up a brand new tank. That tank never should have made it out the door.
 
After reading the reply I have to ask.

Did you ask for the holes AFTER the tank was built?

Had we knew about the holes before, we would have drilled on our press.
Click to expand...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
vhuang168 said:
After reading the reply I have to ask.

Did you ask for the holes AFTER the tank was built?




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Good question. And I can totally see where you are going with it. However, if drilling the holes was going to be an issue and threaten the integrity of the tank then they should have declined and stuck with the original build agreement and let the OP drill his own holes or have someone else do it. OR, drawn up a different agreement where the defects and damages caused by drilling holes on an assembled aquarium is understood by the buyer.
Some may say this is obvious, but to a new hobbyist it may very well not be.

Whenever a custom job, of any kind is done, it is vital (and a business should know this) that the details be put into writing, a mock up drawing done, measurements and cuts signed off on by the client, BEFORE the first cut it made.

And maybe this was done by the business...the OP hasn't said. If it was, and they signed off on everything and agreed to it, then consider it a lesson learned.
 
I have seen any holes drilled free hand on YouTube mind you......often by someone for the first time and they came out much better than this. These are professional tank builders this is their job. Is this really what is expected everytime you drills holes free hand with 1/2" glass?
 
Wow! horrible job and poor customer service.
Also, you do not put a rubber gasket on the dry side of the bulkhead!
 
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