Red Sea Seam Issues - (please read before voting)

[Aquavaj]

I wouldn't base any statistics on seam failures based on unsubstantiated ownership on R2R. I do think there is a known issue. It is for sure crappy stands. I also (personally) think not deploying a eurobrace is a party foul. This IMHO. I went pure safety with my 96x36 peninsula and have both euro and glass cross bracing. I have insurance and have even met with my insurance company about my love for tanks, so I am covered. That still doesn't mitigate the fact I would prefer to not have to deal with 3K sq ft of hardwood issues on my first floor. Plus the legalized claw-back insurance companies can do with premiums vs. claims. My stand is as shown below, 15 steel uprights:

I don't think we can really attribute these failures to the stand. There was a seam failure on a RS tank recently on here where it was on a non-RS stand. Not sure if it was diy or custom made but it was built with no hanging front panel. Also 2 other big box manufacturers, Waterbox and IM, make large rimless tanks and do not have the amount of seam failures as RS seems to have. I remember seeing a Waterbox build thread awhile back where the stand is basically put together with dowels and those cam locks like RS too.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I don't think we can really attribute these failures to the stand. There was a seam failure on a RS tank recently on here where it was on a non-RS stand. Not sure if it was diy or custom made but it was built with no hanging front panel. Also 2 other big box manufacturers, Waterbox and IM, make large rimless tanks and do not have the amount of seam failures as RS seems to have. I remember seeing a Waterbox build thread awhile back where the stand is basically put together with dowels and those cam locks like RS too.

@Aquavaj , The problem with people putting RS tanks (I have 2) on regular stands is in many cases people think that the front panel should be resting on the stand. That in itself is a problem, the front (even on the max) is floating. We know the stands are issues, they addressed it, poorly, but addressed it. I haven't seen that tank in question, but, I know my Reefer's stand is a ticking time bomb, it's not square, for from it with a floating front panel. It's wild how different the tanks are built from the Max to the Reefer. The max even has a lower cross brace. Nothing on the reefer. Anyway. I am no fanboy, but, these tanks and stands are ticking bombs. As are many of the other import turn key solutions. 4 weeks and my custom tank will be here... Not that I am watching a clock or anything

 

[Solo McReefer]

There has been a lot of conversation lately about Red Sea aquariums and faulty seams that sometimes lead to catastrophic failures. But it's difficult to reach a consensus because the conversation often gets muddied with crosstalk. Please only vote for the category that suits YOUR experience. Do not use "I know a guy" logic to vote. I would like this to be as accurate a representation as possible (of the user experience from our membership), so please spread the word and have people vote.

As far as I have seen

It was a stand issue

Not enough support on that front cross member

Causing the silicone to leak or seam to burst

It also seems to me, that the present generation of stands are beefy and robust

 

[Kjames]

I have a Reefer XL 425, serial number 18936 that has developed a bad seam along the bottom of the right side. Just reported it to RedSea today.

 

[2Plus2]

red sea reefer 200 G2+, only 6 months so I don’t think I can’t for much but no issues so far.

 

[2Plus2]

I have a Reefer XL 425, serial number 18936 that has developed a bad seam along the bottom of the right side. Just reported it to RedSea today.

how old is the tank?

 

[2Plus2]

The vote set up isn’t done properly, when those who don’t own or ever owned a red sea shouldn't have any value or count towards a selection.

Red sea has sold more units than any other brand listed or mentioned, it will seem like more people have had issues because more people own the brand.

1% of 100,000 sold = 1,000 faulty units
1% of 10,000 sold = 100 faulty units

Lots of variables, this vote yields nothing useful.

 

[JNalley]

The vote set up isn’t done properly, when those who don’t own or ever owned a red sea shouldn't have any value or count towards a selection.

Red sea has sold more units than any other brand listed or mentioned, it will seem like more people have had issues because more people own the brand.

1% of 100,000 sold = 1,000 faulty units
1% of 10,000 sold = 100 faulty units

Lots of variables, this vote yields nothing useful.

This is why option 3 is there... The only 2 options that matter are 1 and 2, and it's easy enough to determine their percentages. What I didn't want was people to look at the poll first, and then cast a vote through that lens. This is setup to not show results until vote, and not be able to change the vote. It's the best that can be done with such limited polling parameters in the forum software.

As it stands right now, out of 104 owners, 29 of them have had seam failures if everyone voted honestly. That computes to 27.8% of Red Sea customers having seam problems so far. Though, the data set isn't large enough to really draw that as any kind of conclusive number.

 

[SimbaAnto]

This is why option 3 is there... The only 2 options that matter are 1 and 2, and it's easy enough to determine their percentages. What I didn't want was people to look at the poll first, and then cast a vote through that lens. This is setup to not show results until vote, and not be able to change the vote. It's the best that can be done with such limited polling parameters in the forum software.

As it stands right now, out of 104 owners, 29 of them have had seam failures if everyone voted honestly. That computes to 27.8% of Red Sea customers having seam problems so far. Though, the data set isn't large enough to really draw that as any kind of conclusive number.

Guess there should be a option for having Redsea for 3+ years and having issues. Because that constitutes more leak issue than who is having the tank just for an year or so

Out of 34% option 1, how many had the tank for 3+ years matters .

 

[ReeferSamster]

This happened to me a few years ago. Here is my experience with their warranty. I was a few days away from warranty expiration. They wanted a video and photos of it, and replaced everything except the sump.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/b...r-right-front-glass-red-sea-reefer350.891012/
WIth that said, I had generation 2. I think they sent me a generation 3. It is beefier. Stand and tank.

 

[JNalley]

Guess there should be a option for having Redsea for 3+ years and having issues. Because that constitutes more leak issue than who is having the tank just for an year or so

Sure, but it would probably actually move the number in favor of seam failures tbh. I would have loved to use Survey Monkey or some other survey site for this poll, but I feel like people probably wouldn't have wanted to click the link and take the time. But If I had the confidence they would, I would have had a series of questions and branching questions that would have helped to sort the data better.

 

[Kjames]

5 years this past April

 

[Peanut]

@Aquavaj , The problem with people putting RS tanks (I have 2) on regular stands is in many cases people think that the front panel should be resting on the stand. That in itself is a problem, the front (even on the max) is floating. We know the stands are issues, they addressed it, poorly, but addressed it. I haven't seen that tank in question, but, I know my Reefer's stand is a ticking time bomb, it's not square, for from it with a floating front panel. It's wild how different the tanks are built from the Max to the Reefer. The max even has a lower cross brace. Nothing on the reefer. Anyway. I am no fanboy, but, these tanks and stands are ticking bombs. As are many of the other import turn key solutions. 4 weeks and my custom tank will be here... Not that I am watching a clock or anything

MAX red sea tanks come with lights....every model is available as MAX. I think what you're talking about is the difference between their Reefer and their Reefer-S

 

[Peanut]

This is why option 3 is there... The only 2 options that matter are 1 and 2, and it's easy enough to determine their percentages. What I didn't want was people to look at the poll first, and then cast a vote through that lens. This is setup to not show results until vote, and not be able to change the vote. It's the best that can be done with such limited polling parameters in the forum software.

As it stands right now, out of 104 owners, 29 of them have had seam failures if everyone voted honestly. That computes to 27.8% of Red Sea customers having seam problems so far. Though, the data set isn't large enough to really draw that as any kind of conclusive number.

would love to see a poll that differentiated models
a) I own a RedSea Reefer and it leaked
b) I own a RedSea Reefer-S and it leaked


I thought I saw a spreadsheet someone had of the models that failed but I can't seem to find it now. Anyone got a link?

 

[chip shop]

Had the Red Sea max,reefer 250 &350 all for over 5 years with no issues

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

MAX red sea tanks come with lights....every model is available as MAX. I think what you're talking about is the difference between their Reefer and thier Reefer-S

I have never seen a reefer built like a Max. Can you show me a Reefer with the 3 sided euro with the full weir across the back? The stand is a huge difference also. Plus, my Max had glass on the interior bottom corners, my like my new custom built tank. Stand was 2020 vs. the particle board stands of the Reefers. I will say the Max doors are pretty lame though. I had a first series post the timer/fluorescent lighting. So I had the grooved skin. I replaced the grooved skin with an OEM from RS. Surprise to me, they made some slight adjustments to how the newer smoothed skinned version attach to the 2020. I posted a series of pictures on R2R some time back. Either way, I am confused about a reefer being built similar in nature to a Max.

 

[Peanut]

I have never seen a reefer built like a Max. Can you show me a Reefer with the 3 sided euro with the full weir across the back? The stand is a huge difference also. Plus, my Max had glass on the interior bottom corners, my like my new custom built tank. Stand was 2020 vs. the particle board stands of the Reefers. I will say the Max doors are pretty lame though. I had a first series post the timer/fluorescent lighting. So I had the grooved skin. I replaced the grooved skin with an OEM from RS. Surprise to me, they made some slight adjustments to how the newer smoothed skinned version attach to the 2020. I posted a series of pictures on R2R some time back. Either way, I am confused about a reefer being built similar in nature to a Max.

This is the reefer-S. it has 3 sided euro, aluminum stand, etc etc.

reefer-s - Supersized premium reef-ready systems

These reef tanks provide deeper and wider dimensions to create your dream reefscape: 68cm (26.8”) wide, with a massive depth of 65cm (25.6”).

redseafish.com

Its the only redsea I would consider.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

This is the reefer-S. it has 3 sided euro, aluminum stand, etc etc.

reefer-s - Supersized premium reef-ready systems

These reef tanks provide deeper and wider dimensions to create your dream reefscape: 68cm (26.8”) wide, with a massive depth of 65cm (25.6”).

redseafish.com

Its the only redsea I would consider.

How long has this been available for purchase?

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

This is the reefer-S. it has 3 sided euro, aluminum stand, etc etc.

reefer-s - Supersized premium reef-ready systems

These reef tanks provide deeper and wider dimensions to create your dream reefscape: 68cm (26.8”) wide, with a massive depth of 65cm (25.6”).

redseafish.com

Its the only redsea I would consider.

Peanut, I had no clue. I’ve never looked into anything new from them even though I have 2 well, 1 now and this one is a month or two from coming down. I will say that with my Max S500, if I had the rear pumps facing forward and up that when the water would hit the front edge of the front euro, that the water would wick up the brace and through that black metal trim and then down the front of the display. It’s the reason I had to reskin the stand. I would have a puddle of salt on the floor if I let the tank just run for weeks at a time between extended maintenance days. Ultimately I gave the tank away and kept the stand. It works perfect for a lowboy. While I loved the rear weir, ultimately it was an alter universe for pests back there. I built a filter to prevent peppermints and others from getting down the drains. I constantly was putting stuff back there to rid it of pests. Putting a roller on the tank actually helped prevent pests making it into the display from there though.

 

[fadijohn]

I would assume this is less of a problem on smaller models. My Max Nano (20g cube) will be 4 years old this coming January 2025. No issues.