Custom tank recommendation?

[Fishfinder]

Im looking to have a new tank built. Any suggestions that you have experience with? I'd like some options. Thank you

 

[Brew12]

Im looking to have a new tank built. Any suggestions that you have experience with? I'd like some options. Thank you

What size tank are you looking for?

 

[Fishfinder]

350 gal. 96x30x28

 

[David29price]

I'd like to hear more about this too. I am going to be building a 96x30x30 this coming winter. Trying to decide on which manufacturer to go with. The other day I saw a fantastic company, very similar to Reef Savvy which drilled their teeth directly into the glass so you have zero clearance on the tank side for your overflow. Was very slick. Now I can't find the link anywhere to it. Anyone know who it is making these tanks?

 

[Fishfinder]

@David29price let me know who you choose. we are building almost the same tank

 

[David29price]

@Fishfinder likewise! I've been really struggling with who to pick. A lot of people are saying Miracles out of Canada but they won't honor any warranty if wave makers are used.... Really shocked by this. Every reef tank is going to have wave makers of some sort. I hear Glass Cages is very nice. I've been trying for hours to find the builder who has the teeth cut into the glass. Was absolutely beautiful but can't find the link and don't know how I found it or how I lost it!

 

[Epicreefster]

Shoot me a pm if your interested in referrals, I build large custom systems and occasionally just tanks and your close enough to pickup or deliver. I wouldn't recommend the teeth cut into the glass. Any good glass shop can make the piece of glass, puts too many potential points of failure in the sheet as a crack can form if a tooth were broken and well those teeth must be thin and fragile, and hard to clean. External overflows are great tho.

 

[Troy V]

Last year I had Planet Aquarium build me 3 custom tanks, 1-60"x30"x31" and 2-36"x30"x25". They did an exceptional job, and the price was far less than I was expecting. Even though I ended making the 60"x30"x31" a eurobraced hybrid glass/acrylic, because I was concerned the weight of the Gigas clam could fracture a glass bottom. I also went with Coastal Stands, that way Planet Aquarium would honor their warranty.
Just another avenue for you to explore. Good luck!!

 

[Fishfinder]

Thank you, planet aquariums requires going through a dealer

 

[ReeferBud]

@Fishfinder likewise! I've been really struggling with who to pick. A lot of people are saying Miracles out of Canada but they won't honor any warranty if wave makers are used.... Really shocked by this. Every reef tank is going to have wave makers of some sort. I hear Glass Cages is very nice. I've been trying for hours to find the builder who has the teeth cut into the glass. Was absolutely beautiful but can't find the link and don't know how I found it or how I lost it!

I have a Miracles tank and the warranty says nothing about not being covered if using wavemakers. Where did you hear that?

http://www.miraclesaquariums.com/Miracles_Warranty.pdf

However, your comment made me remember a conversation I had with Derek and he seemed particularly interested in whether I was going to use MP40s or MP60s and said that tanks were failing (not necessarily referring to Miracles tanks) because of the use of wavemakers and the dynamic forces put on the sides of tanks.

Regardless, based on my experience, I would not buy another Miracles tank, even though they are less expensive than most other manufacturers.

 

[Ty Hamatake]

.
Regardless, based on my experience, I would not buy another Miracles tank, even though they are less expensive than most other manufacturers.

Was there a specific reason?

 

[Bandomo]

@Fishfinder likewise! I've been really struggling with who to pick. A lot of people are saying Miracles out of Canada but they won't honor any warranty if wave makers are used.... Really shocked by this. Every reef tank is going to have wave makers of some sort. I hear Glass Cages is very nice. I've been trying for hours to find the builder who has the teeth cut into the glass. Was absolutely beautiful but can't find the link and don't know how I found it or how I lost it!

The company you're referring to is called Tankme USA. I know exactly the tank you're speaking of regarding the teeth cut directly into the back pane of glass. It looks absolutely beautiful! The only reason I would skip that option is for safety reasons. I'm not referring to stress fractures, the glass is cut by water jets and its absolutely flawless. My main concern is, it's to easy for the weir to get blocked and easily flood the floor. A large fish, sheet of nori, or maybe the plastic bag when temperature acclimating a new fish. It look stunning, just not practical.

 

[ReeferBud]

Was there a specific reason?

Yes, several specific reasons:
- too many errors vs what was specifically requested in the design. Things like drilling the wrong size holes in the sump, missing the drain sump piece, which was then sent with the wrong sized holes!
- missing a specific feature that I ordered and paid for
- incorrect height of stand
- absolute terrible communications and delivery. Never got the tracking number and then the tank was to be delivered to the wrong address, which I had to then coordinate with the freight company to correct the error

I will acknowledge that they were responsive is trying to correct all these error but the experience just left a sour taste in the end

 

[Ty Hamatake]

Yes, several specific reasons:
- too many errors vs what was specifically requested in the design. Things like drilling the wrong size holes in the sump, missing the drain sump piece, which was then sent with the wrong sized holes!
- missing a specific feature that I ordered and paid for
- incorrect height of stand
- absolute terrible communications and delivery. Never got the tracking number and then the tank was to be delivered to the wrong address, which I had to then coordinate with the freight company to correct the error

I will acknowledge that they were responsive is trying to correct all these error but the experience just left a sour taste in the end

Wow, I won't pretend to know what it's like to run a business making tanks, but all of those errors seem to be pretty major and obvious mistakes. Hopefully you're happy with it now, but I can totally see not wanting to go through that again. Thanks for the heads up!!

 

[Fishfinder]

Does anyone have experience with Living Color Aquariums?

 

[MaddyP]

Miracles, AGE, and Planet are excellent choices. If you want to step up the quality (and price), Reef Savvy and Crystal Dynamics are some of the best looking tanks I've ever seen.

I urge you to dismiss Coast 2 Coast as a consideration. Personal experience has proven their quality to be severely lacking and service/communication as sub-par.

 

[S-t-r-e-t-c-h]

Does anyone have experience with Living Color Aquariums?

I used to work for one of their sister companies. They do absolutely phenomenal work but expect to pay through the nose. As far as I know, they only make acrylic tanks. For the size that you're considering, I'd highly recommend glass instead.

If you are looking for a 5,000 gallon cylinder tank, they are a top notch choice though.