Cracked Tank - Need Advice

Davehla · May 31, 2016

Hi everyone,

So my best friend got a brand new custom 90 glass glass tank about 10 months ago. He came home today to three huge cracks in the side and his living room flooded. He is about ready to give up the hobby and I am trying to stop him......

My question to all of you is, should the manufacturer of the tank replace it since it is less than a year old?

He had it made by a custom shop here in Los Angeles and cost over $15k for the whole system... He got TOP of the line everything....

Let me know what you think!

Dave

Desmond · May 31, 2016

I would say he should definately ask for a refund or a new tank. The only thing to consider is did any rockwork fall on the tank to cause the crack. From looking at the picture this is a manufactuering flawn as the glass seems to have gone not anything hitting it to cause the damage. There could have been a small crack from the start which eventually gave out. If it was me i would be contacting the maker of the tank !

ReeferBob · May 31, 2016

A lot of tank makers will not honor the warranty unless you also use an approved stand. Most likely this maker will ask to see the stand as if it was unlevel could cause that type of break. It looks like a stress crack to me. First stop should be the maker to see what they have to say.

jsker · May 31, 2016

I agree with @ReeferBob and looking at the picture the stand I not level to the wall. Now if the stand was built and installed by a cabinet shop then the cabinet shop should bare some of the blame. what about the home owner policy?

Davehla · May 31, 2016

Thank you for the replies, he paid a custom design/install company to build, manufacture and design it. He has a call into them today and I will let you know what they say.

Desmond · May 31, 2016

Please do keep us posted would like to see the outcome of this especially with the amount of money he spent!

twilliard · May 31, 2016

Broke from stress, sorry such tragedy happeded.

the pane of glass in the back (front pane of overflow, bottom corner) had no where to go which blew out the side panel.

Aquarium Art · May 31, 2016

Are you sure a rock didnt fall and hit the glass? (I dont want to put the blame on anyone, I'm just saying, these things happen) It doesnt have to smash it but a light tap when there is an incredible amount of pressure on a corner can do this. I do agree that the glass failed but it could have been "helped" by any number of things in the aquarium.
Is it reinforced on the bottom?
Was your friend running a "standing wave" you see these types of isses with that as well.
Regardless of the situation, I would be ashamed if one of the aquariums I built failed in just 10 months. I have some going strong at the 16 year mark(knock on wood) and over engineer every single one.

AZDesertRat · May 31, 2016

Did the company install it? If not he may have a fight on his hands as they will say it was not plumb and level or the stand was not perfectly flat under the tank or it was not placed on foam etc.

ReeferBob · May 31, 2016

Is that partition glass or acrylic?

Davehla · May 31, 2016

It was a glass tank.

No high rocks, he was a minimalist aquascaper with all the rocks in the center.

I went over there today for a salvage mission and we were able to save most of the coral, but he lost all his fish.

I'll update you all again when he hears back from the design company.

ReeferBob · May 31, 2016

Glass tank yes but was that back partition acrylic? If so, that would be a big no no and probably the reason the glass failed.

Sharvey103 · Jun 1, 2016

A standard manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty. Most custom built tank manuafacturers I have contacted have only a very limited 90 day warranty. The issue would/might be is how was the tank supported and was the stand paired with the tank from the manufacturer.

danielh · Jun 1, 2016

I would have immediately called the manuf and given them heck if they didn't want to compensate me somehow.

erinmegan85 · Jun 1, 2016

Yikes! I would think it would depend on if the manufacturer had any kind of warranty. With the amount of money he spent I would hope they would offer to do something.

FL_Reefer · Jun 1, 2016

So sorry to see this happen but it is clear this tank was not level front to back IMO. Sorry again, I hate seeing things like this.

915MANG · Jun 2, 2016

Looks like a tank issue and not rocks. Hopefully everything goes well, was he able o save his corals/livestock?

danielh · Jun 2, 2016

FL_Reefer said:
So sorry to see this happen but it is clear this tank was not level front to back IMO. Sorry again, I hate seeing things like this.

Ah yes, I see that. The back of the tank isn't parallel to the wall!

FL_Reefer · Jun 2, 2016

Any word from the people who installed the system?

DrayB · Jun 2, 2016

by the way that all the cracks seem to spread from one point, which seems to start where the partition is, i would say it was a stress fracture caused by the partition. it does look to be caused by some form of outward pressure from that exact point.