Opinions on sump.

CrazyEyes

CrazyEyes

New member
Alright so, I really didn't want to do this because I really like to give people the benefit of the doubt. I ordered an acrylic sump from a local company, I then picked up the sump at RAP. I bring the sump to the hotel room. The next day I then put the sump back in the car while attending the show between 10:30am to 1:45pm. Drive back home, bring sump inside, sump is still wrapped up. I then remove my old sump, unwrap the new sump so I could drill it to find it completely covered in crazing. All over the seams, top, bottom, front, back etc. I immediately get into contact with them, I am told they will replace it for free, ok great. So I was told, it should take just over a week. I have sent a few messages to them and have not heard back. Now, I do take responsibility for the crazing as it was more than likely my fault for leaving it in the car, at the time I had no idea and it would have been great for them to maybe give me a little heads up. Sorry for the rant but I'm just about at the end of my rope with these people. Now I just need to figure out if I should continue to bug them or just use this damn thing. Aside from it looking terrible I just want to make sure it's structurally sound. Any thoughts? For now I am going to keep the company hush hush until I am certain they just might not doing anything about it. I know a few might know who made it so it might not matter. Anyways, here is the sump.




 
That looks horrible. Not just the crazing, but the seems at the corners do not even look flush. I personally would not use it. You could always reinforce it with Weldon 16, but if the panels are not sitting even and the weight is not distributed evenly, you risk failure.
 
I used this silicone to seal my acrylic sump, for a piece of mind. I made it myself. LOL . It really bonds well. There is a video somewhere online demonstrating how well this stuff sticks.

 
Mike, the acrylic crazed because of the flame polishing it would be very difficult to stress the acrylic in the car unless the car got north if 172 degrees or you cooled it rapidly with water. As sticky as silicone is, it will stick but it has no structural rigidity. It theoretically will stop a leak but won't stop a seam splitting. Any solvent based product would accelerate the crazing. Using Weldon 16 could theoretically make it worse.
 
Sucks this happen to you. I would do a water test and go from there or like the person previously said I'd take a road trip to the place.
 
Thanks Ali, you know that makes sense actually. If the heat from the car was infact the cause then why wouldn't the middle of the panels be crazed also. This is just along the edges(where he would have flame polished it). I know for 100% certainity that the temp inside the sump did got get north of 174 degrees. I still feel I've been more than fair with these people, I'm giving them until tomorrow afternoon to respond before I post who the builders are.
 
Alright here is the last picture I have of it. I've given them plenty of time to reachout to me. They have failed to respond to any of my messages. I've sent them numerous messages on FB, this includes the owner himself and his wife. I've sent him a few text messages, I've called them, I've also sent them a couple emails and yet I hear nothing. So look everyone, the company is Critical Tanking. When I originally mentioned I was having a sump built by them I had another member on here send me a PM and tell me he too has heard quite a few negative reviews about them. (will remain unnamed unless he wants to chime in, but I will say this member is a very respected member on here). My final thoughts are simple, if you need acrylic work done, I highly suggest another company. There are plenty of local companies who I know for certain do outstanding work. I'm also not stating everything they build has the same outcome, just might want to rethink using Critical Tanking for anything you might need/want. Thanks everyone.

 
Ali I really appreciate your comments and opinions on the matter. It honestly makes me feel a little better, I now know I probably didn't cause the crazing. Now I am just going to suck it up and save up for a bigger sump down the road. I'd also like to state that, my goal of this post is NOT to ruin their business but maybe have them reconsider their practices a bit. One more question for Ali, do you not flame polish? I've got a sump that you personally built and it looks gorgeous.
 
Nope, sumps usually just hand polished and tanks get a full sanding and polish so they are practically seamless. Flame polishing induces stress caused by rapidly heating the acrylic. It looks good but it weakens it so much that it will craze without anything touching it. I guarantee that if you used windex on it, it will probably crack the acrylic all the way through.
 
Soooooooo, should I just maybe throw this useless box in the trash? Ali, would it be possible to get a quote from you? I just need a 17" x 17" x 16" box, no baffles or anything.
 
That looks terrible & doesn't look safe to use. I can't believe someone would make that & sell it. You can see the burn marks along the edges. Also a shame he tried to blame you for leaving it in the car.
 
Yeah Idk what to do. A part of me wants to just take a chance because I honestly can't afford another sump at the moment and these people have still not gotten back to me. I really just hope someone will see this and rethink about using them.
 
Not trying to beat a dead horse but, I posted this on another forum and, one of the members recently purchased a tank from them and they mentioned that there were quite a few bubbles present in the seams. So to me this sounds like they did a **** poor job prepping the acrylic panels. Sorry to keep dragging this out.
 
Ali :D said:
Mike, the acrylic crazed because of the flame polishing it would be very difficult to stress the acrylic in the car unless the car got north if 172 degrees or you cooled it rapidly with water. As sticky as silicone is, it will stick but it has no structural rigidity. It theoretically will stop a leak but won't stop a seam splitting. Any solvent based product would accelerate the crazing. Using Weldon 16 could theoretically make it worse.
Click to expand...

Great information there. However, I will have to disagree in regards to your statement about flame polishing. Flame polishing can be done safely and without causing severe stress to the acrylic. Yes, I totally agree. Sanding, polishing and buffing is definitely safer. It is more labor/time consuming thus more expensive, but a I would say that 95% of your aquarium sumps out there are flame polished.

Crazyeyes, I am sorry about your experience in regards to that sump. Did you happen to get the sump directly through them or did you go through a lfs?
What are the dimensions of the sump?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

DjPhato
Pericelis tectivorum, the GIANT Predatory Flatworm
Replies
5
Views
237
DjPhato
DjPhato
P
DIY Hang on back Sump Tank
Replies
14
Views
3K
kharmaguru
kharmaguru
rrrrob
Thoughts on Purigen?
Replies
11
Views
540
alejandrodia
A
T
New 55g setup. Advice for fish appreciated
Replies
6
Views
271
Uncle99
Uncle99
J
My dream of a fleece roller
Replies
2
Views
391
SantaMonica
S
Back
Top