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Marcoss 
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 Topic: Cracked Tank
Posted: August 12 2015 at 6:40am |
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So, I was in the process of making my tank bare bottom when I noticed a giant crack expanding from a bulkhead out a few inches.
I'm attempting to work with the manufacturer but things are getting heated and I'll have to take a more drastic approach...
So, I'm curious to know if any of you if its repairable. I have read that a ton of people cut out a perfect piece of plexi to line the bottom of the tank and glue in place. But my concern is that the crack is originating from the bulkhead.
If you know if anyone can fix this, I'd love to contact them. I realize the fix will be costly but if it's more than a couple of hundred it may not be worth it.
Thanks!
Marcos
Will attach images once at a desktop.
Edited by Marcoss - August 12 2015 at 6:41am
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RedSea Max S400 - 90G Rimless Frag Tanks x2 - 185 Lookdown Bin
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Krazie4Acans
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 7:13am |
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Replacing the bottom glass is the only way to truly fix it. I've done
the plexiglass fix on a couple of smaller tanks but I'm not sure I would
trust it on a larger tank. If the crack is coming from the bulkhead
hole I would say that it is definitely a manufacturing defect and if
it's still under warranty then it should be replaced. However, that will
be hard to prove since they will probably claim that you improperly
installed or tightened the bulkhead. Catch 22 there. It's probably not
worth the headache of worrying about when the tank will start leaking
and I would just buy a new tank and then fight to get a replacement
while your tank and corals are safe.
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My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water Tank Thread:
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Marcoss
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 7:48am |
Hi Krazie,
Great advice. I was thinking the same thing. And you hit the nail on the head with them trying to blame me on over tightening the bulkhead. I actually had issues with the bulkhead originally and have it documented though, so I have a pretty strong case. Its crazy how cut throat some companies get when it comes to avoiding being wrong. There are several cases of the bulkhead cracking on these tanks.
It was advised by a sales rep that I placed too much weight in the tank causing it to crack. Its the dumbest response I have ever heard.
Do you know of any glass/tank builders that can swap out the bottom piece? Or is it such a big fix that its not even worth it?
All the live stock is safe. I caught it when it was just a drip and was able to empty it out. It did cause some water damage beneath the tank though so thats another issue....
Thanks!
Marcos
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RedSea Max S400 - 90G Rimless Frag Tanks x2 - 185 Lookdown Bin
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Marcoss
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 8:36am |
Hi,
As stated, here are some images. Its hard to tell, but you can see that the crack started at the bulkhead or made its way to the bulkhead. I am assuming it was the bulkhead as the cut was not super nice initially.
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RedSea Max S400 - 90G Rimless Frag Tanks x2 - 185 Lookdown Bin
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Lyscer
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 8:44am |
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Is this on your cadlights tank? If so the 1 negative thing that seems to be consistent about cadlights from what I have read is that once you buy the tank their customer service is horrible with getting things repaired. Good luck!
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Marcoss
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 8:57am |
You hit the nail on the head. Its been very hard to get anything done with them. They said they guarantee the seems, and said that I cracked the tank. When I said it was hand tightened, and when I told am not strong enough to even twist it to break it, they said I loaded it with too much weight. huh; its a tank and should have a ton of weight in it. It probably has close to 9-12 lb. per gallon due to the rocks, etc. If it cannot handle 900+- lb. then they built it wrong.
At this point, I am just trying to see what makes the most sense. Waste money and involve an attorney (sounds dramatic but its about more than the tank now) or just repair it. The tank itself is $700 so I have to figure out which route makes the most sense.
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Krazie4Acans
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 10:10am |
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Aquarium Creations does replace glass on tanks (may not be cost effective). That's the only place I know of. The crack clearly originated at the hole for the bulkhead as can be seen by the feathering on the end of the crack in the main tank area. What caused it is anyone's guess but I wouldn't let that deter me from doing everything I could to get the manufacturer to replace it. I try to get them to buy into the position that you did everything right and not that either side did anything wrong.
If that doesn't work ask them what the torque spec on the bulkheads are for their tanks and where that is provided to the customer? That usually gets them. Good luck and sorry you've had issues with the tank.
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My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water Tank Thread:
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Marcoss
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 2:07pm |
Krazie, that's brilliant. I am very persistent. I would share my emails of how persistent I am but may need to keep them confidential at a later date.
I really like your idea about providing the specs. If I get my tank repaired/replaced, I will owe you a beer/coke.
Thanks!
Marcos
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RedSea Max S400 - 90G Rimless Frag Tanks x2 - 185 Lookdown Bin
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Krazie4Acans
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 2:24pm |
If they don't tell you how to not do it right then they really can't complain when they say you did it wrong.  I'll take a frag tank!  
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My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water Tank Thread:
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Marcoss
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 2:31pm |
Exactly, I advised them of that and am waiting to hear back.
If things don't go well, I might have a reef in a frag tank. :(
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RedSea Max S400 - 90G Rimless Frag Tanks x2 - 185 Lookdown Bin
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Reefboy4life
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 2:52pm |
that sucks, now i'm worried i tightened the crap out of both my one inch bulkheads on my 90 cube i had no clue you were supposed to just hand tighten 
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90 gallon mixed reef
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Marcoss
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 3:04pm |
Are you being facetious or did you really tighten them with some tightening device? Sorry, its hard for me to identify sarcasm in writing. I thought the same thing on tightening them super tight (before I got the tank) and was ripped a new one by a hobbyist. I worry I am too weak for my hand tightening to even work though.
I would think that if it was tightened too tight that it would have cracked then and there, and not later on. But what do I know...
Edited by Marcoss - August 12 2015 at 3:05pm
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RedSea Max S400 - 90G Rimless Frag Tanks x2 - 185 Lookdown Bin
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Reefboy4life
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 3:28pm |
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no i'm serious i tightened it as tight as i could with a wrench, i hope it will be ok because it would be a nightmare if the tank cracked or the bulkhead, i could change them out but that would be a nightmare as well, not as bad of one though.
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90 gallon mixed reef
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Marcoss
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 3:33pm |
Hmm. I would think if it was too tight it would have cracked. But then again, I am being told I cracked my tank from over-tightening it...months later...
I don't know how glass works. In my mind, I would think if it was going to crack it would have by now. But then again, maybe its "soft" now, per se, and a slight bump can damage it.
I'm sure some wizard will chime in on this...
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Marcoss
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 3:34pm |
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Just thought of something. You could have cracked your actual bulkhead and not the glass too. The bulkhead could fail instead of the glass. In my case it was the glass and not the bulkhead.
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love2skiutah
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 3:37pm |
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Bulk Heads do not need to be that tight. I did mine as tight as I could go with my hand and then used a tool and cranked them another 3/4 turn. I guarantee I could have tightened the nut another 2 or 3 full turns, but you shouldn't need to.
Edited by love2skiutah - August 12 2015 at 3:37pm
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Reefboy4life
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 4:20pm |
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Not trying to jack the thread but if you were me would you just leave it be or get new bulkheads and redo it witch will suck
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90 gallon mixed reef
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Marcoss
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 4:30pm |
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I'm curious to know what others will say. I would assume that leaving it as is would be the best route to take since you don't know if its really broken. I think if it showed signs, I would fix it. But the my first tank ended up cracking so I don't have the experience to give this advice. Haha.
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relethg
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 5:40pm |
Hi Marcos, If I remember correctly your vendor supplied bulkheads had not been properly cut to length, just like my tank. It took a lot of work on your part to get them to cover that.
It is my opinion you could not over tighten the bulkheads to the point of cracking the glass. Glass cracking from being squeezed between two plastic fittings it ridiculous. The fitting will fail under little toque well before the glass would crack. If you applied lateral force to the fittings that would be worse, but again the fitting would fail first. This is 3/8" glass.
Cadlights is making excuses so they don't need cover the tank under warranty (chicken ****). I would tell them you are going to document this failure with the facts you have and let everyone know Cadlights would not cover under warranty on every online forum you can find. This would be after I tried to work this out with them using Krazies suggestions.
Glenn
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Sarnack
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 8:46pm |
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I agree with Glen and I'm so sorry for you Marcos. I'm in the process of selling my motorcycle to get a tank started, and until this post I was set on the Artisan II 70 gallon. Needless to say I'll be looking for another vendor, so add that to your ammo for their horrible customer service that doesn't match their premium pricing.
Edited by Sarnack - August 12 2015 at 8:54pm
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