Red sea tank crash!!

[MnFish1]

Depends on the insurance. I asked usaa and they said it would be covered no extra anything needed.

BTW - I meant to mention this. Whenever communicating with your agent or the company make sure you get it in writing as to whether it's covered or not. It's good proof to have in situations like this.

 

[duckdodgers]

In general you are correct. However, each policy is different. Some cover damage - others you need a specific rider on your policy (i.e. you have to tell them you have xxx gallon aquarium for any damage to be covered). Additionally, some policies cover the tank itself and the stand if its broken - as well as equipment. Livestock, without a special policy I've never heard being covered.

Which tank do you have? Was it a Gen 1 or 2? Redsea may not want to be as helpful as you used a custom stand. Hopefully they and your insurance will give you some answers and results quickly - as its

In general you are correct. However, each policy is different. Some cover damage - others you need a specific rider on your policy (i.e. you have to tell them you have xxx gallon aquarium for any damage to be covered). Additionally, some policies cover the tank itself and the stand if its broken - as well as equipment. Livestock, without a special policy I've never heard being covered.

Which tank do you have? Was it a Gen 1 or 2? Redsea may not want to be as helpful as you used a custom stand. Hopefully they and your insurance will give you some answers and results quickly - as its obviously a stressful situation...

It was a gen 1 and I'll know answers this week

 

[Lavey29]

Depends on the insurance. I asked usaa and they said it would be covered no extra anything needed.

True, some insurance companies are better and more inclusive then others. USAA has a good reputation. Allstate let me down after 35 years with them and no claims.

 

[JoJosReef]

Sorry to hijack your thread about insurance, but hoping to learn from this case.

The seam break was at the small white streaks in the bottom seam? Were those bubbles in the seam?

I thought the seam issue was from the tank overhanging the stand to make it flush with the doors. It looks like there is no overhang of the front glass on your stand, though. Is there any speculation as to why your seam ruptured?

Thanks!

 

[GlassMunky]

True, some insurance companies are better and more inclusive then others. USAA has a good reputation. Allstate let me down after 35 years with them and no claims.

That sucks man. USAA has been amazing. I HIGHLY recommend them to anyone who’s eligible (military families and children)
We’ve filled 2 claims for water damage on our house in the 5 years we’ve been there and our rates have never gone up.

 

[duckdodgers]

Sorry to hijack your thread about insurance, but hoping to learn from this case.

The seam break was at the small white streaks in the bottom seam? Were those bubbles in the seam?

I thought the seam issue was from the tank overhanging the stand to make it flush with the doors. It looks like there is no overhang of the front glass on your stand, though. Is there any speculation as to why your seam ruptured?

Thanks!

I'm not sure I built it flush with no overhang all the seals were good until the other day

 

[Lavey29]

I'm not sure I built it flush with no overhang all the seals were good until the other day

But do you see the bottom seal damage in the full tank picture you posted? When was this picture taken relative to the failure?

 

[FernBluffReef]

I had a pipe on upstairs toilet fail and they denied it. It was under the toilet in the sub floors. My insurance would laugh at a tank leak.

My insurance co tried to do the same with a water pipe that failed in my case infloor (infloor heating).

They tried to call it part of the system that failed which pretty much all homeowners insurance exclude repairing the failing system such as a burst water heater or in our case the tanks but generally cover the resulting damages - so long as the failure was a “sudden event” (not a slow leak over time - which it sounds like yours could have been - unclear). For the most part all policies are based on the same templates else you would not be able to get a mortgage.

End result, my insurance company lost / had to reverse their denial fighting tooth and nail all the way and had to pay a very very large bill.

That said not all claims are large enough to fight the insurance companies for. My point is a common loss mitigation strategy for some insurance companies is to deny first and leave it up to the consumer to prove otherwise.

 

[Lavey29]

My insurance co tried to do the same with a water pipe that failed in my case infloor (infloor heating).

They tried to call it part of the system that failed which pretty much all homeowners insurance exclude repairing the failing system such as a burst water heater or in our case the tanks but generally cover the resulting damages - so long as the failure was a “sudden event” (not a slow leak over time - which it sounds like yours could have been - unclear). For the most part all policies are based on the same templates else you would not be able to get a mortgage.

End result, my insurance company lost / had to reverse their denial fighting tooth and nail all the way and had to pay a very very large bill.

That said not all claims are large enough to fight the insurance companies for. My point is a common loss mitigation strategy for some insurance companies is to deny first and leave it up to the consumer to prove otherwise.

No mine was sudden. We were gone for 3 days and came home to a sagging garage roof from upstairs water. Insurance denied the claim for the reasons you state even though their inspector said it was a sudden event. I filed a complaint with the Department of Insurance and all of a sudden they paid the small 5K claim and then dropped me after 35 years.

 

[FernBluffReef]

No mine was sudden. We were gone for 3 days and came home to a sagging garage roof from upstairs water. Insurance denied the claim for the reasons you state even though their inspector said it was a sudden event. I filed a complaint with the Department of Insurance and all of a sudden they paid the small 5K claim and then dropped me after 35 years.

Glad they covered in the end. We had to take to the state more than once for ours as the claim was much larger. Our policy was also canceled in the end but was ultimately covered. Like yours after roughly 40 years with the same company

 

[Lavey29]

Glad they covered in the end. We had to take to the state more than once for ours as the claim was much larger. Our policy was also canceled in the end but was ultimately covered. Like yours after roughly 40 years with the same company

What a bunch of BS for the way they treat long time customers with no claims. I'm glad yours got resolved to.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I would never own one of their tanks. I don’t give a hoot if the new ones are better or even the best tanks on planet earth. I am also beyond entertaining any reasonable argument that these failure rates are anywhere near ‘normal’ or being blown out of proportion. They should be recalled.

Just my opinion and maybe only worth what you paid for it but, if had one it would be empty by morning.

 

[Tamberav]

I'm not sure I built it flush with no overhang all the seals were good until the other day

People are commenting on what appears to be bubbles in the seam.

Sorry for the loss, your tank was beautiful.

 

[aquaman67]

I am sick for you. That’s awful.

I’m sorry this happened and I hope you can recover

 

[BillFish Coral Lover]

When I moved into my home I was adamant to add my tank to the policy I've been here 4 years

Then they’ll have to pay for damage that the water caused, as previously stated, but nothing else unless it’s in writing.

 

[BillFish Coral Lover]

BTW - I meant to mention this. Whenever communicating with your agent or the company make sure you get it in writing as to whether it's covered or not. It's good proof to have in situations like this.

Good idea, but they won’t do it. It’s a contractual relationship, period. Not like when you’re at the store and they have something erroneously stamped 70% off and they have to honor it, because they said it. Insurance is all down to the writing agreed upon by the parties. If it’s there, you’re golden. If it’s not, you’re cooked.

That said not all claims are large enough to fight the insurance companies for. My point is a common loss mitigation strategy for some insurance companies is to deny first and leave it up to the consumer to prove otherwise.

Absolutely. They will rubber stamp every document “denied” every time. It’s only if you fight to the death that they will budge. That’s how they make their money, denying one claim at a time. It doesn’t matter that they know they’re liable, they’ll deny as a matter of business.

But do the math. Is it really worth it at the end of the day? Research the company’s record to the extent you can. Some insurers are scrupulous, others less so, but they will likely raise your premiums.

My mother had three major water losses in two years. Yes, the insurance company had to pay for abatement and restoration, with all new wood flooring, but they canceled her soon after for “other reasons”. And now, many years after, she still can’t get water damage coverage without paying an arm and a leg, so she doesn’t have it.

 

[MnFish1]

Good idea, but they won’t do it. It’s a contractual relationship, period. Not like when you’re at the store and they have something erroneously stamped 70% off and they have to honor it, because they said it. Insurance is all down to the writing agreed upon by the parties. If it’s there, you’re golden. If it’s not, you’re cooked.

sorry - I don't understand - I'm not sure what you mean by 'they won't do it'. I agree you have 2 contractual relationships. One between you and the insurance company, and 2 with your agent. If you have documentation that you asked your agent to make sure that your policy contains something that would cover aquarium damage, he or she says 'they will', and they don't you may have a cause of action against the agent's errors and omissions policy. We bought our first house, and requested an extra flooding rider due to the neighborhood. The insurance agent listed that it was present. Unfortunately, a 10 inch rain happened 2 weeks after moved in - with about 2 feet of water in about 1800 sq feet of our house. The agent ended up having to cover the damage, since it was clearly stated that supposedly the insurance had been put into place. If we had not had that conversation documented, there would have been no reimbursement.

 

[Lavey29]

People are commenting on what appears to be bubbles in the seam.

Sorry for the loss, your tank was beautiful.

Yes this typically indicates a problem is developing and would afford you time to take appropriate action prior to a significant event but the OP has not responded to this. I'm curious when the photo was taken in relation to the failure. It would be nice to have that timeline of weeks or months so you know how quick you need to react.

 

[JoJosReef]

Yes this typically indicates a problem is developing and would afford you time to take appropriate action prior to a significant event but the OP has not responded to this. I'm curious when the photo was taken in relation to the failure. It would be nice to have that timeline of weeks or months so you know how quick you need to react.

What is the recommended course of action? Drain tank and replace? Have the silicone redone? Or put a big glob of silicone covering the corner between front and bottom glass?

 

[Aquavaj]

What is the recommended course of action? Drain tank and replace? Have the silicone redone? Or put a big glob of silicone covering the corner between front and bottom glass?

No matter what course you take after I would immediately drain it first. If it's still under warranty then start a claim with RS. Even out of warranty I'd try to make a stink with them to see if they'll throw you a bone but I wouldn't expect too much.
If you want to try and salvage the tank then a complete disassemble would be ideal. Redoing just the front panel or running a bead over is asking for another failure.