Does a bulletproof reef tank exist?

Bustyraker · Jul 5, 2017

I had a 120 gallon tank bust a seam 2 years ago and I've been paranoid about leaks ever since. I now have a 105 gallon DSA aquarium but they went out of business shortly after I bought it and the warranty is worthless now. I will be moving in a year and want to upgrade at the same time. Is there a such thing as a tank that you don't have to ever worry about seams or acrylic leaking?

So far I've been looking at a Red Sea reefer 525 xl or maybe even something from Reef Savvy? I want to stay in the 2-3k or less range for tank and stand. Any suggestions?

brandon429 · Jul 5, 2017

Paul B has 45 yr seams must find the tank brand

Psymon · Jul 5, 2017

Nothing is certain. The best you can do is plan ahead.
Put measures in place to deal with such an issue...
Drainage
Raised flooring
Aquarium controller with Settings to let you know.
Redundancy
Backup plans

Cory · Jul 6, 2017

The best bulletproof tank is an acrylic tank. Its 5x stronger than glass

stunreefer · Jul 6, 2017

Cory said:
The best bulletproof tank is an acrylic tank. Its 5x stronger than glass

I've seen more than a few (read: dozens) acrylic tanks fail over the years. Here's a phenomenal 1,350-gallon acrylic display that let loose.

Still, I hear that all the time in LFS's, likely due to them selling mass-produced glass aquariums, most of which are the minimum glass thickness possibly used.

A properly built glass aquarium (especially a hybrid with CNC'd acrylic top and PVC bottom) is hard to beat in my book.

Mark Gray · Jul 6, 2017

I know the feeling I had a 55 split th bottom front seam, water hit the ceiling

Carlos Danger · Jul 6, 2017

I hear it all the time on Tanked how most of their tanks are bullet proof. Some of their tanks are pretty thick acrylic though, so maybe. I think it was Marshawn Lynch's tank that was bullet proof.

Cory · Jul 6, 2017

stunreefer said:
I've seen more than a few (read: dozens) acrylic tanks fail over the years. Here's a phenomenal 1,350-gallon acrylic display that let loose.

Still, I hear that all the time in LFS's, likely due to them selling mass-produced glass aquariums, most of which are the minimum glass thickness possibly used.

A properly built glass aquarium (especially a hybrid with CNC'd acrylic top and PVC bottom) is hard to beat in my book.

Thats too bad. Acrylic is supposed to be stronger as in impact resistant, but as far as panels coming apart glass or acrylic is about the same, provided glass is using strong silicone.

AdamNC · Jul 6, 2017

Carlos Danger said:
I hear it all the time on Tanked how most of their tanks are bullet proof. Some of their tanks are pretty thick acrylic though, so maybe. I think it was Marshawn Lynch's tank that was bullet proof.

My LFS has a traded in tank from ATM. I think it's a 350 gallon and wow is that some thick acrylic. It had an MP40 on it when it came in with both spacers removed, the inside and outside one. I ended up buying the MP40 and had to order new spacers.

tony'stank · Jul 7, 2017

AdamNC said:
My LFS has a traded in tank from ATM. I think it's a 350 gallon and wow is that some thick acrylic. It had an MP40 on it when it came in with both spacers removed, the inside and outside one. I ended up buying the MP40 and had to order new spacers.

ATM built Peters rank in Toronto. It split a seam just before the five year mark. ATM refused to honor their warranty

AdamNC · Jul 8, 2017

tony'stank said:
ATM built Peters rank in Toronto. It split a seam just before the five year mark. ATM refused to honor their warranty

Was that the 1500 gallon L shaped one in the basement? Or was that someone else.

tony'stank · Jul 8, 2017

AdamNC said:
Was that the 1500 gallon L shaped one in the basement? Or was that someone else.

It was the 1500gallon L shaped tank

Bdog4u2 · Jul 8, 2017

If it holds water it can leak. Large tanks holding thousands of lbs of water with incredible amounts of flow equals they gonna leak sometimes

Flippers4pups · Jul 8, 2017

stunreefer said:
I've seen more than a few (read: dozens) acrylic tanks fail over the years. Here's a phenomenal 1,350-gallon acrylic display that let loose.

Still, I hear that all the time in LFS's, likely due to them selling mass-produced glass aquariums, most of which are the minimum glass thickness possibly used.

A properly built glass aquarium (especially a hybrid with CNC'd acrylic top and PVC bottom) is hard to beat in my book.

Oh ya, ATM's debacle that did a number on Ninball. Tragic and disgraceful on ATM's part. Such a huge loss!

Flippers4pups · Jul 8, 2017

I swear that back in the day, Oceanic made the best tanks ever. They were built like a battle tank, thick glass and heavy as can be. Nearly indestructible.

Had a 200 gallon, 6ft built by them. Took six grown men to lift it.

IvanW · Jul 8, 2017

AGE well made and solid. I have a 450 gallon. Last one by an unnamed builder was a disaster.

Whipples · Jul 8, 2017

Bustyraker said:
So far I've been looking at a Red Sea reefer 525 xl or maybe even something from Reef Savvy? I want to stay in the 2-3k or less range for tank and stand. Any suggestions?

A Reef Savvy tank at 525XL dimensions will likely be 2-3K alone before shipping. Check out Miracles/Crystal Dynamic, or SCA Aquariums (in that order) if you want similar dimensions for something more affordable but a higher quality stand than Red Sea's offerings.

Bustyraker · Jul 9, 2017

Flippers4pups said:
I swear that back in the day, Oceanic made the best tanks ever. They were built like a battle tank, thick glass and heavy as can be. Nearly indestructible.

Had a 200 gallon, 6ft built by them. Took six grown men to lift it.

My 120 gallon that split a seam was an Oceanic. I agree that thing was a beast! I think the only reason that it leaked was because of its age and had been moved several times. I wish I could have found another one. Took 4 of us to move it into my house. My DSA which is almost the same dimensions was moved easily by 2 of us.