Obiwanthegoby's Downsize Build
- Thread starter obiwanthegoby
- Start date
obiwanthegoby
Hair Algae cultivator
Haven't had any problems out of the hog fish. He's pretty shy compared to the goby and the two clowns. He's a hungry customer thought.
obiwanthegoby
Hair Algae cultivator
So..... unluckiness strikes!
The Radion is on the fritz. I think it is a bad power supply. Luckily I had an old 36" quad T5 laying around that I have sat on top for now. Waiting for Ecotech to contact me back.....
The Radion is on the fritz. I think it is a bad power supply. Luckily I had an old 36" quad T5 laying around that I have sat on top for now. Waiting for Ecotech to contact me back.....
obiwanthegoby
Hair Algae cultivator
Better now than with full blown stocking.
Display issues, still no response on a solution to the tank. I have yet to get a ship date either. I was told Wednesday they expected two more days to finish packaging and crating. No reply yet as if it has shipped or what they propose to do about my issue with the tank. At this point I wouldn't recommend them to anyone based totally on customer service AFTER the purchase.
Adam
Display issues, still no response on a solution to the tank. I have yet to get a ship date either. I was told Wednesday they expected two more days to finish packaging and crating. No reply yet as if it has shipped or what they propose to do about my issue with the tank. At this point I wouldn't recommend them to anyone based totally on customer service AFTER the purchase.
Adam
obiwanthegoby
Hair Algae cultivator
also
Aside from the construction issues, The tank was ordered on April 21st with a 3 - 4 week lead time...
It's going on 9 this week....
Aside from the construction issues, The tank was ordered on April 21st with a 3 - 4 week lead time...
It's going on 9 this week....
obiwanthegoby
Hair Algae cultivator
So here are the pictures I've gotten from the builder of the system. Tried calling a few more times today with no answer and still no answer to the email I sent in last week....
obiwanthegoby
Hair Algae cultivator
So more disappointment; tank builder replies Tuesday and tells me the tank will ship wenesday or Thursday an that I will have a shipping number Wednesday night regardless. It's Friday morning, no tracking number, no follow up email, no answer on the tele, and oh yea their voicemail box has been full for weeks...... I could NEVER recommend this company to anyone else.
obiwanthegoby
Hair Algae cultivator
So after almost 10 weeks I have a tracking number on my tank, sump and stand. 3-4 weeks was not a valid eta. So well see how everything arrives and I'll give a good write up on the system and my experience with the builder.
obiwanthegoby
Hair Algae cultivator
Progress.... Stand and lights hung....
obiwanthegoby
Hair Algae cultivator
Tank should be in place in the next day or so. Then have to plumb, and fill.
obiwanthegoby
Hair Algae cultivator
Tank is in. Making progress on the install. Got the basement floor jacks in today... well 1 of them. I have to return the other as it is a tad bent on the end and they will not slide together. I have the light fixture hung and the stand in place. Tomorrow is plumbing day, and possibly setting the tank on the stand day. Here is apicture of the Power module and the stand. as well as the sump.
Once I get everything in and the tank on the stand I am going to take quite a few more pictures and share my feelings on the build quality ect. Until I get more pictures up and taken I think I should wait. But it is in progress guys!!!
Once I get everything in and the tank on the stand I am going to take quite a few more pictures and share my feelings on the build quality ect. Until I get more pictures up and taken I think I should wait. But it is in progress guys!!!
obiwanthegoby
Hair Algae cultivator
try 11.... but yes. I am unhappy. More to come.
obiwanthegoby
Hair Algae cultivator
Tank on stand, ready for plumbing and water.
obiwanthegoby
Hair Algae cultivator
Ok here some pics and some observations -
Front Bottom Edge - Panes aren't 100% square. - glass not cut 100% straight.
Front Left Corner - Panes aren't 100% square. Not far out but not 100%
Top - Shows the side bracing that ended up well over what was spec'ed out before the build
Back Bracing - the 2" that was agreed on. inset to the plane of the top of the side and back panels.
Edge cut at over flow - Not to keen on this, neither side were cut very well.
Overflow seam at bottom of tank. - Seems good. I will fill overflow first to see if everything is water tight. There is a 1/2" piece of white styrofoam insulation board under the tank. It was a tad mess when cutting but it keeps the white of the stand going instead of a blue or pink piece.
Overall impression of the tank -
It has decent build quality. It looks nice but the finishing touches just aren't there.
The plumbing kit - sent missing a bulkhead, the holes for the returns on either side of the overflow tower are not cut for bulkheads but cut for the lock line only. The plumbing sent was generic and not cut for the tank. They threw together a durso, a couple pieces of pipe and fittings and some black flex hose. Not the full cut to system plumbing I thought I was going to receive.
The lamp trees wouldn't work. - They were 6" short of the middle of the tank. I am sending those back. I came up with my own solutions as seen in the pictures.
Silicone - Messy at points doesn't seem to be tooled in and smoothed. Black is a nice touch. Seams seem to be good.
Glass clarity is good. - The front and sides are clear when looking down the sides of the panes you can see from one end to the other without the green tint of normal glass. I am still not a fan of the side braces. PERIOD. After having several conversations with the builders it doesn't seem they are willing to do anything to resolve the issue (I.E. discounting the build, and they never offered to rebuild in 3/4" to go rimless or even a real eurobrace. (I would have paid the upcharge!).)
Glass cuts - Seems a bit "wobbly" Not 100% straight and true. They are beveled and polished on the outside of each pane. The bevels are smooth and true.
Stand - The stand is built from 3/4" and 1/2" plywood, the builder says it is birch, I am not a carpenter so I can not confirm this. The paint is even, and looks glossy enough to think it is plastic. Looks very nice. Heavy duty hinges. Spacious on the inside. I have asked the builders if I can move the front supports back a 1/2" to be able to mount the MP60 controllers, the top off controller, ect. to the panels so they are accessible and visible when the doors are open. I don't believe this will be a problem, will have to level and ensure they are perpendicular with the interior.
Sump - The sump is constructed almost to my exact specs. It is missing the entrance area. In hindsight I am perfectly ok with this as I believe it was an un needed addition that I didn't need and now don't want. It would have been a waste of space.
More pictures and comments to come as the build progresses....
Front Bottom Edge - Panes aren't 100% square. - glass not cut 100% straight.
Front Left Corner - Panes aren't 100% square. Not far out but not 100%
Top - Shows the side bracing that ended up well over what was spec'ed out before the build
Back Bracing - the 2" that was agreed on. inset to the plane of the top of the side and back panels.
Edge cut at over flow - Not to keen on this, neither side were cut very well.
Overflow seam at bottom of tank. - Seems good. I will fill overflow first to see if everything is water tight. There is a 1/2" piece of white styrofoam insulation board under the tank. It was a tad mess when cutting but it keeps the white of the stand going instead of a blue or pink piece.
Overall impression of the tank -
It has decent build quality. It looks nice but the finishing touches just aren't there.
The plumbing kit - sent missing a bulkhead, the holes for the returns on either side of the overflow tower are not cut for bulkheads but cut for the lock line only. The plumbing sent was generic and not cut for the tank. They threw together a durso, a couple pieces of pipe and fittings and some black flex hose. Not the full cut to system plumbing I thought I was going to receive.
The lamp trees wouldn't work. - They were 6" short of the middle of the tank. I am sending those back. I came up with my own solutions as seen in the pictures.
Silicone - Messy at points doesn't seem to be tooled in and smoothed. Black is a nice touch. Seams seem to be good.
Glass clarity is good. - The front and sides are clear when looking down the sides of the panes you can see from one end to the other without the green tint of normal glass. I am still not a fan of the side braces. PERIOD. After having several conversations with the builders it doesn't seem they are willing to do anything to resolve the issue (I.E. discounting the build, and they never offered to rebuild in 3/4" to go rimless or even a real eurobrace. (I would have paid the upcharge!).)
Glass cuts - Seems a bit "wobbly" Not 100% straight and true. They are beveled and polished on the outside of each pane. The bevels are smooth and true.
Stand - The stand is built from 3/4" and 1/2" plywood, the builder says it is birch, I am not a carpenter so I can not confirm this. The paint is even, and looks glossy enough to think it is plastic. Looks very nice. Heavy duty hinges. Spacious on the inside. I have asked the builders if I can move the front supports back a 1/2" to be able to mount the MP60 controllers, the top off controller, ect. to the panels so they are accessible and visible when the doors are open. I don't believe this will be a problem, will have to level and ensure they are perpendicular with the interior.
Sump - The sump is constructed almost to my exact specs. It is missing the entrance area. In hindsight I am perfectly ok with this as I believe it was an un needed addition that I didn't need and now don't want. It would have been a waste of space.
More pictures and comments to come as the build progresses....
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