Could I get opinions on this seam defect?

Entomophage · Feb 10, 2020

I posted the above on my build thread, but re-posting the pic here to hopefully get some more feedback. I'm fairly certain that these bubbles are new, and I don't like the way the silicone looks around them either

Thoughts? I'll be keeping a close eye on it for any progression. The tank is on month one of a five year warranty. Should I just contact the manufacturer now, or are these bubbles fine long term as long as there's no growth/change?

Thanks in advance!

fishguy242 · Feb 10, 2020

hi yes i would contact and send pics,expect replacement ,happy reefing

Scrubber_steve · Feb 10, 2020

I think you need some more photos to get feedback.
I can't quite get a useful grasp of the problem with that one photo

Cheers

vetteguy53081 · Feb 10, 2020

Replacement all the way. No excuse snd poor quality control

Sashaka · Feb 10, 2020

IMHO, you paid for a tank without defects, so you should get a tank without defects. Even if the tank never has an issue, you deserve to get what you paid for. If the tank does have a leak down the road, it could be after the 5 year warranty is up. I would contact the manufacturer and ask for a replacement for peace of mind. It's a pain, I know, but if a problem comes down the pike, you'll be glad you took the time now to change things out and not after two or three years when the tank has been up and running and is full of fish and corals, and then starts leaking or worse.

lilgrounchuck · Feb 10, 2020

What brand tank is that? I’m asking because some will say that if bubbles run 1/4 length of the seam or less it’s normal (I disagree, you shouldn’t have any bubbles.). When I started my tank I went through four tanks, two from two different stores from the same manufacturer and they all had bubbling along all four seams. I took them all back and went with a different manufacturer. The retailer had no issues with returns, but the manufacturer said everything was fine.

lilgrounchuck · Feb 10, 2020

FYI this was one of them. I don’t necessarily think I’d be worried about the ones in yours from an integrity standpoint, but you bought paid for product and shouldn’t have to accept something with a defect. If you don’t make headway with the manufacturer try working with your retailer.

fishguy242 · Feb 10, 2020

yeah thats a blowout waiting to happen

GabeM · Feb 10, 2020

Thats an SCA with 12mm glass? I wouldnt worry about those specs as the glass is almost twice as thick as it needs to be. I would keep an eye on them.

Before I got my SCA I scoured the internet for reports of leaks or blowouts with nothing to be found.

Entomophage · Feb 10, 2020

GabeM said:
Thats an SCA with 12mm glass? I wouldnt worry about those specs as the glass is almost twice as thick as it needs to be. I would keep an eye on them.

Before I got my SCA I scoured the internet for reports of leaks or blowouts with nothing to be found.

Yep! Exactly right. It's an SCA 80 gallon 32"x24"x24" 12mm glass. One of the things I love about the tank is that (at least by specification) it's overbuilt. I'm going to at least contact them with some photos today to start the convo and then monitor over time.

After seeing some other folks' examples of seam bubbles that have held water for years I feel a little better, but to be honest I'd be losing sleep if mine looked that bad

shred5 · Feb 10, 2020

lilgrounchuck said:
FYI this was one of them. I don’t necessarily think I’d be worried about the ones in yours from an integrity standpoint, but you bought paid for product and shouldn’t have to accept something with a defect. If you don’t make headway with the manufacturer try working with your retailer.

Marineland aquarium?
I have seen allot of them with that issue.

lilgrounchuck · Feb 10, 2020

For what some of these companies charge it’s not too much to ask for them to replace it if it’s a worry, especially when a blown panel could mean big bucks in loss of livestock and damage. I definitely wasn’t resting easy with mine and that’s why I dumped it and went acrylic.

Entomophage · Feb 10, 2020

I'm going to see what the manufacturer says. I bought from them direct. The bubbles are small enough right now that if they don't show any signs of growth or spreading I can probably live with it.

lilgrounchuck · Feb 10, 2020

Unless you’re obsessive (which I’m starting to think is common in this hobby) and even though it won’t be a problem, and your tank blooms into the most beautiful reef ever, all you’ll be able to focus on is that little bubble on the seam until you slowly descend into madness.

Entomophage · Feb 10, 2020

lilgrounchuck said:
slowly descend into madness

That took a dark turn

As long as the bubbles in my seam aren't growing I'll never notice them. If the manufacturer tells me it's nothing to worry about, and there's no growth over time I can rest easy. I'd probably just glance at it every week as part of maintenance.

I'll update here when I hear back from SCA!

ca1ore · Feb 10, 2020

Absolutely inquire of the manufacturer, but those are pretty minor bubbles in the silicone. My guess is they were always there you just didn’t notice. I don’t think I’ve ever had a glass tank that didn’t have a small bubble or two somewhere.

mfinn · Feb 11, 2020

They seem pretty small compared to the sand particles.
At this point I doubt they will want to do anything.
What I would do is send them pictures now, then maybe take pictures in exactly the same manner, cropping and camera, every 6 months.
Document it. It the bubbles appear to get bigger, then you may have a claim.
With a 5 year warranty you do have some wiggle room.

DaneGer21 · Feb 11, 2020

The first few pics is nothing. Can you be picky, absolutely. But those tiny defects have no issues IMO. But again, if you want to be picky you have every right as a customer

ADAM · Feb 11, 2020

I wouldn’t worry about those personally.

I would slightly worry if they were really close to the water edge. With magnetic or handheld scrapers it is inevitable that the average reefer is going to hit the silicone, more than once, over the life of the tank.

I doubt another tank from the same manufacturer would be much different. Maybe the bubble(s) in a seam where they aren’t easily noticed, but the process of the tank build would be the same.

lilgrounchuck · Feb 11, 2020

shred5 said:
Marineland aquarium?
I have seen allot of them with that issue.

No, it was an Aqueon 40B. I went through two each from two different Petco's during the $1/gal sale and they all had the same issue. It's been years since I last bought one, but I had never had any issues with those tanks in the past. I guess I either had really bad luck or their QC has gone straight down the drain.