My Disaster 180gl on the Floor X2

asonitez · 08/21/2009, 06:19 PM

Hi!
As you guys can See I've been asking lots of questions and now I am finally prepped to start my build of a 125 after my disaster. I have almost everything I need so this will hopefully go fast! This build started from Disaster though.

The Disaster #1
I purchased a 180 Gallon custom built tank from a Guy in my area. Non Reef Ready. Strange dimensions too 56" long 24" deep 30 Inches High! I got the whole thing for 500 bucks.

I lived on the 9th floor. But we got it moved in somehow.

I got right to setting it up. Mixed my salt water added my rock and one day while waiting for my Fiance to get off work I noticed the overflow sounded weird. (CPR Overflow) Heading out to the living room I was greeted to about 60 gallons of water on the floor and the rest POURING out of the tank. I got Electrocuted Quickly donned some gloves and Boots yanked wires out of sockets and Literally had a break down as I emptied a 180 Gallon tank as fast as I could. While emptying the tank I sprained an ankle and my back and I completely ruined my hardwood floors on the 9th Floor of my apartment building. $600 later and a contractor to come our and redo my damaged warped floors. (no pics)

The Disaster #2

The guy that built the tank came out stripped out the silicone inside of the tank realized the back wall had popped a seam b/c of water pressure. We Resealed the tank and Braced the back with lots of Wood/silicone and about 50 screws. I filled it up and YAY no leaks for 1 whole month with FW! So I set it up! It looked like this in its prime!

I started stocking it!

THEN IT POPPED THE SAME EXACT SEAM!
The after-math...

I Decided to Quit.

asonitez · 08/21/2009, 06:26 PM

I Abandoned the Tank, My Lease was up and so I moved to a bigger apartment. I was so fedup and angry. I had lost everything almost. All of my Fish went into that small 55 Gallon Qurantine tank. I lost 80% of my corals. SPS all RTN'ed and died. Frags got lost. Rock was moved out into bins and W/E inverts I could save made it into the 55 gallon with the fish. It took me almost 7 hours of cleaning mopping emptying to Clean the mess. My floors all warped again. When I moved I got back no security deposit really. Well I lie. I got back 72$. After we moved I was pretty depressed and turned off of reefing. I had lost close to 1200 dollars in corals, some expensive fish, and I had damaged some electronics due to shorting out etc.

As you all probably know once a reefer always a reefer. Thursday afternoon acting on a tip from my LFS owner I was able to secure a 125 Gallon RR AGA in pristine condition with a Custom Stand for 325 dollars. So Alas my adventure begins again. !!!!!

eggerstout · 08/21/2009, 06:33 PM

I hope you have better luck this time

asonitez · 08/21/2009, 06:34 PM

My Equip List

Lighting -

IceCap Pendents w/ 14 Phoenix 250w HQI Bulbs on IceCap Ballasts Bought @ IceCap's Headquarters in NJ

Skimmer -

MSX250 bought locally

Controller

ReefKeeper 2

Ozone

Coralife O3 controller & 500mg/hr Ozone Generator w/ Dryer

Return

Mag12

Circulation

4X Hydor Koralia 4's (Too much?)

Rock

180lbs of Cured Fiji & Kaelini

fufu · 08/21/2009, 07:07 PM

Dang that sucks, I think if the guy who built that tank with braces it wouln't lead to such a weak seam. Wish you luck on the new start...Your wife must be p*ss.

justinmcleod · 08/21/2009, 07:08 PM

I can understand your frustration, living in an apartment and reefing presents unique challenges, to say the least! Looks like it was a great tank and I am sure you will have a chance to start anew, which is always exciting! Plus, I just picked up a Phoenix 14K HQI for my nano and really like it, so your tank will look great!

asonitez · 08/21/2009, 07:19 PM

My wife(to be) was extremely supportive actually. She was mad at the tank builder and we lost her fridmani pseudo. She loved him like a child. She supported me to get a new tank because she couldn't bear to see my gear and no tank. My 2 yearold also kept asking me daddy where fishies. He has his own fish a betta in a 2.5 gallon tank named chiming wing because when he was 19 mos he tried to feed it by putting a chicken leg in it's tank.

sanababit · 08/21/2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by asonitez
He has his own fish a betta in a 2.5 gallon tank named chiming wing because when he was 19 mos he tried to feed it by putting a chicken leg in it's tank.

Now this made my day, hahahahaha, what ever happened with the guy that made the tank, did you confront him?

sana

fufu · 08/21/2009, 09:13 PM

I dont think confrontation would do any good, it did hold water in the beginning.

Henry Bowman · 08/21/2009, 10:12 PM

PLEASE, purchase a decent tank and stand from a reputable vendor.

NeveSSL · 08/21/2009, 10:24 PM

Whats the saying... Fool me once you're the fool. Fool me twice, shame on me. I would have NEVER trusted that guy again after the first seam busted.

Sorry you had to go through all of that! And definitely get a good tank from someone different next time.

Brandon

asonitez · 08/21/2009, 10:44 PM

Ya i got a factory tank this time

hehe ChickinWing is munchies(my sons) pet betta. He lives on the kitchen table in a 2.5 gallon with 2 bamboo trees and neon blue gravel lol. The things been living for quite some time now and munchie loves him. He only started eating at the kitchen table on his booser b/c he says chikinwing eats with him.. hehe.. I'm starting him early. Next up a nano 12gallon reef o.O

NeveSSL · 08/22/2009, 11:39 AM

If he'll eat at the kitchen table for a beta, imagine what you can get him to do for a nano reef?

Brandon

maroun.c · 08/22/2009, 12:35 PM

Unless the bracing/glass thickness wasn't appropriate I would check the stand and the tank positioning on the stand. A non level stand could cause increased pressure on some side of the tank.
Also a tank that dones't sit flat on the stand because of non straight support being it the stand or the cover of it could also cause pressure on one side. so that could be the culprit.
It could also be your flooring that is not really well leveled that caused it. As that stand and aquarium was doing fine (unless you know otherwise) in the previous owners house.

asonitez · 08/22/2009, 07:41 PM

I can't wait till monday for my new tank,

pmrossetti · 08/22/2009, 07:57 PM

Get acrylic.

coral_lagoon · 08/22/2009, 09:27 PM

Man that sucks bro. Sorry to hear about that..

rifishguy · 08/22/2009, 09:35 PM

Good luck

H.Veras · 08/22/2009, 10:22 PM

your kid made my day hahah... sorry to hear about that....

Eltrex06 · 08/22/2009, 10:39 PM

man that sucks... wickedly bad luck. Anyway, feed the addiction!!!!! good luck to you and your new tank.

asonitez · 08/24/2009, 07:43 AM

Tank gets delivered today... Im excited... today is gonna be a long work day. I went to the shore this weekend and saw tons of RED macro algae. I was thinking of collecting some for my sump. I didn't know if it was safe though. I also saw about 1.2 billion Little Black Snails and hermit crabs. I'm hoping to finish off my stand this week and get the sump in there so I can go back and collect some crabs and snails (for my sump only)

Megabite · 08/24/2009, 08:06 AM

Good luck with the new build. THe second time would have thrown me over the edge. Hell, the first one might have done it.

Octopus8 · 08/24/2009, 08:07 AM

Good luck with the new aquarium.
You're way more persistent than I am. Two aquarium floods and I would probably take up something dry like Zen Sand Gardening.

tydtran · 08/24/2009, 01:49 PM

Your willingness to stick with it after those two disasters is amazing. Looking forward to seeing your updates.

BTW, where on the jersey shore do you see so much wildlife. I would definitely like to collect some for my fuge if you let me know where you go.

seapug · 08/24/2009, 02:16 PM

wow. terrible story. I've heard many horror stories about custom built tank disasters. Interestingly, they always seem to involve busted seams because of water pressure. Leads me to believe that many "custom aquarium builders" are nothing more than handymen with a glass cutter and caulking gun thinking they've found a new calling.

I just hope the guy gave you your money back and has since found a new profession.

Glad to hear you're back in the hobby. New tank sounds like it's going to be nice.

08/21/2009, 10:12 PM	#10
Henry Bowman Reefing since '87 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Allegheny Mountains of VA Posts: 2,162	PLEASE, purchase a decent tank and stand from a reputable vendor. __________________ Have a good'un Current Tank Info: 90 gl SPS dominant / upgrade in the works

08/21/2009, 10:24 PM	#11
NeveSSL Got tubes? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 6,759	Whats the saying... Fool me once you're the fool. Fool me twice, shame on me. I would have NEVER trusted that guy again after the first seam busted. Sorry you had to go through all of that! And definitely get a good tank from someone different next time. Brandon __________________ I am proof that post count is not directly proportional to "reef IQ". Zip Ties = Reef Duck Tape Geek it till it MHz!!! Current Tank Info: 180g Build in Process

08/22/2009, 11:39 AM	#13
NeveSSL Got tubes? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 6,759	If he'll eat at the kitchen table for a beta, imagine what you can get him to do for a nano reef? Brandon __________________ I am proof that post count is not directly proportional to "reef IQ". Zip Ties = Reef Duck Tape Geek it till it MHz!!! Current Tank Info: 180g Build in Process

08/22/2009, 12:35 PM	#14
maroun.c Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Lebanon Posts: 6,111	Unless the bracing/glass thickness wasn't appropriate I would check the stand and the tank positioning on the stand. A non level stand could cause increased pressure on some side of the tank. Also a tank that dones't sit flat on the stand because of non straight support being it the stand or the cover of it could also cause pressure on one side. so that could be the culprit. It could also be your flooring that is not really well leveled that caused it. As that stand and aquarium was doing fine (unless you know otherwise) in the previous owners house. __________________ 390 G mixed reef build Current Tank Info: 390G mixed reef

08/22/2009, 10:22 PM	#19
H.Veras Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: bay area, ca Posts: 1,024	your kid made my day hahah... sorry to hear about that.... __________________ 90g tech series. Current Tank Info: 90g tech series

08/21/2009, 06:19 PM	#1
asonitez Floodicus Maximus Flooris Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,643	My Disaster 180gl on the Floor X2 Hi! As you guys can See I've been asking lots of questions and now I am finally prepped to start my build of a 125 after my disaster. I have almost everything I need so this will hopefully go fast! This build started from Disaster though. The Disaster #1 I purchased a 180 Gallon custom built tank from a Guy in my area. Non Reef Ready. Strange dimensions too 56" long 24" deep 30 Inches High! I got the whole thing for 500 bucks. I lived on the 9th floor. But we got it moved in somehow. I got right to setting it up. Mixed my salt water added my rock and one day while waiting for my Fiance to get off work I noticed the overflow sounded weird. (CPR Overflow) Heading out to the living room I was greeted to about 60 gallons of water on the floor and the rest POURING out of the tank. I got Electrocuted Quickly donned some gloves and Boots yanked wires out of sockets and Literally had a break down as I emptied a 180 Gallon tank as fast as I could. While emptying the tank I sprained an ankle and my back and I completely ruined my hardwood floors on the 9th Floor of my apartment building. $600 later and a contractor to come our and redo my damaged warped floors. (no pics) The Disaster #2 The guy that built the tank came out stripped out the silicone inside of the tank realized the back wall had popped a seam b/c of water pressure. We Resealed the tank and Braced the back with lots of Wood/silicone and about 50 screws. I filled it up and YAY no leaks for 1 whole month with FW! So I set it up! It looked like this in its prime! I started stocking it! THEN IT POPPED THE SAME EXACT SEAM! The after-math... I Decided to Quit. Last edited by asonitez; 08/21/2009 at 06:28 PM.

08/21/2009, 06:26 PM	#2
asonitez Floodicus Maximus Flooris Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,643	I Abandoned the Tank, My Lease was up and so I moved to a bigger apartment. I was so fedup and angry. I had lost everything almost. All of my Fish went into that small 55 Gallon Qurantine tank. I lost 80% of my corals. SPS all RTN'ed and died. Frags got lost. Rock was moved out into bins and W/E inverts I could save made it into the 55 gallon with the fish. It took me almost 7 hours of cleaning mopping emptying to Clean the mess. My floors all warped again. When I moved I got back no security deposit really. Well I lie. I got back 72$. After we moved I was pretty depressed and turned off of reefing. I had lost close to 1200 dollars in corals, some expensive fish, and I had damaged some electronics due to shorting out etc. As you all probably know once a reefer always a reefer. Thursday afternoon acting on a tip from my LFS owner I was able to secure a 125 Gallon RR AGA in pristine condition with a Custom Stand for 325 dollars. So Alas my adventure begins again. !!!!!

08/21/2009, 06:33 PM	#3
eggerstout Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 67	I hope you have better luck this time

08/21/2009, 06:34 PM	#4
asonitez Floodicus Maximus Flooris Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,643	My Equip List Lighting - IceCap Pendents w/ 14 Phoenix 250w HQI Bulbs on IceCap Ballasts Bought @ IceCap's Headquarters in NJ Skimmer - MSX250 bought locally Controller ReefKeeper 2 Ozone Coralife O3 controller & 500mg/hr Ozone Generator w/ Dryer Return Mag12 Circulation 4X Hydor Koralia 4's (Too much?) Rock 180lbs of Cured Fiji & Kaelini

08/21/2009, 07:07 PM	#5
fufu Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 432	Dang that sucks, I think if the guy who built that tank with braces it wouln't lead to such a weak seam. Wish you luck on the new start...Your wife must be p*ss.

08/21/2009, 07:08 PM	#6
justinmcleod Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: D.C. Metro Area Posts: 101	I can understand your frustration, living in an apartment and reefing presents unique challenges, to say the least! Looks like it was a great tank and I am sure you will have a chance to start anew, which is always exciting! Plus, I just picked up a Phoenix 14K HQI for my nano and really like it, so your tank will look great!

08/21/2009, 07:19 PM	#7
asonitez Floodicus Maximus Flooris Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,643	My wife(to be) was extremely supportive actually. She was mad at the tank builder and we lost her fridmani pseudo. She loved him like a child. She supported me to get a new tank because she couldn't bear to see my gear and no tank. My 2 yearold also kept asking me daddy where fishies. He has his own fish a betta in a 2.5 gallon tank named chiming wing because when he was 19 mos he tried to feed it by putting a chicken leg in it's tank.

08/21/2009, 09:13 PM	#9
fufu Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 432	I dont think confrontation would do any good, it did hold water in the beginning.

08/21/2009, 10:44 PM	#12
asonitez Floodicus Maximus Flooris Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,643	Ya i got a factory tank this time hehe ChickinWing is munchies(my sons) pet betta. He lives on the kitchen table in a 2.5 gallon with 2 bamboo trees and neon blue gravel lol. The things been living for quite some time now and munchie loves him. He only started eating at the kitchen table on his booser b/c he says chikinwing eats with him.. hehe.. I'm starting him early. Next up a nano 12gallon reef o.O

08/22/2009, 07:41 PM	#15
asonitez Floodicus Maximus Flooris Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,643	I can't wait till monday for my new tank,

08/22/2009, 07:57 PM	#16
pmrossetti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali. Posts: 3,199	Get acrylic.

08/22/2009, 09:27 PM	#17
coral_lagoon Pushrod Powered Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Down The Corkscrew , CA Posts: 1,263	Man that sucks bro. Sorry to hear about that..

08/22/2009, 09:35 PM	#18
rifishguy Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Westerly RI Posts: 283	Good luck

08/22/2009, 10:39 PM	#20
Eltrex06 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 38	man that sucks... wickedly bad luck. Anyway, feed the addiction!!!!! good luck to you and your new tank. __________________ Its not a hobby... its an obsession Current Tank Info: 30g Mixed Reef

08/24/2009, 07:43 AM	#21
asonitez Floodicus Maximus Flooris Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,643	Tank gets delivered today... Im excited... today is gonna be a long work day. I went to the shore this weekend and saw tons of RED macro algae. I was thinking of collecting some for my sump. I didn't know if it was safe though. I also saw about 1.2 billion Little Black Snails and hermit crabs. I'm hoping to finish off my stand this week and get the sump in there so I can go back and collect some crabs and snails (for my sump only)

08/24/2009, 08:06 AM	#22
Megabite Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 702	Good luck with the new build. THe second time would have thrown me over the edge. Hell, the first one might have done it. __________________ Orly ~O.R.C.A. Member~ -------------------------- A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. Current Tank Info: Former: 180AGA & 70W Rimless / Tunze PHs, 3-250 HQI 14K DT, 2- 150 20K HQI Radium ST/ 9 - PowerBrite LED's DT, BK Skimmer, ACIII, etc.

08/24/2009, 08:07 AM	#23
Octopus8 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: SW Florida Posts: 271	Good luck with the new aquarium. You're way more persistent than I am. Two aquarium floods and I would probably take up something dry like Zen Sand Gardening.

08/24/2009, 01:49 PM	#24
tydtran Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 853	Your willingness to stick with it after those two disasters is amazing. Looking forward to seeing your updates. BTW, where on the jersey shore do you see so much wildlife. I would definitely like to collect some for my fuge if you let me know where you go.

08/24/2009, 02:16 PM	#25
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	wow. terrible story. I've heard many horror stories about custom built tank disasters. Interestingly, they always seem to involve busted seams because of water pressure. Leads me to believe that many "custom aquarium builders" are nothing more than handymen with a glass cutter and caulking gun thinking they've found a new calling. I just hope the guy gave you your money back and has since found a new profession. Glad to hear you're back in the hobby. New tank sounds like it's going to be nice. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.