Welp, that's it! I'm done!

[Abaddon]

I had an amazing tank: 65g high with reef rock, anemones, corals (a few Aussie ones that were sweet), some exceptional fish (a few that would eat from my hand), I designed and built the refugium by hand, I upgraded from T5 to 250wx2 halides, and everything was going nicely. And then the front seam split yesterday. I trashed the tank and took the fish and rock to the store. I'm done. Washing my hands of the hobby for awhile.

I learned a lot of good stuff, like never buy anything from Deep Blue ever again. It wasn't the tank that was wrong. The stand had a design flaw that allowed too much weight to be over too big a span. I just wish I had caught it before the mess happened.

It's very sad. I'm just going to take some time to get my head together over this mess. It's not the money or the time. It's the suffering of the fish from the entire situation. I had insurance on the office in case something like this happened so I'm covered. It's just ridiculous I should even have to tell others about it.

I also wanted to take a second to say thanks to all those on here who have helped me out as I went along. It's been fun.

[Floowid]

Thats a real bummer. I'm sorry it happened. I will save you the "buck up little camper" speach, or any cheerleading, and just say that I hope you return to the hobby when the time is right.

[dzfish17]

Thats really messed up, sorry to hear about youre misfortune. Maybe youll jump back in after awhile.

Dave

[Aegir]

"YOU WILL BE BACK" muhaha

[zachfishman]

Sorry for your misfortune. Enjoy your break from the hobby, you'll be back

[tynman]

that stinks... sad to see you go... It has happened to me too but I didnt have insurance..

[jhoff]

Sorry for your loss. Did the seam on the tank or the sump split if it was the tank what make was it? Hope to see ya back...

[Abaddon]

To say it's deflating doesn't really cover it. I worked DAILY (even on weekends) to make sure the water quality was as close to pure sea water as you could get. I put a camera on the tank so clients could enjoy it (and many did). We looked over the tank and the stand was built incorrectly. Other folks should REALLY check their stands for this type of shoddy workmanship! I'll take pictures when my heart comes back up from my shoes.

What's really crappy is that knowing the stand was the problem, my mind is telling me to start looking for a bigger tank and reinforce the stand. Hah! It truly is a sickness. I got out of the hobby about 15 years ago because I needed a break and I had this tank up for less than a year but I'm already hooked again. It's sad but funny. I'm sure I'll be back. I'm just going to take some time off and think about things. I've got to get my head around the fact that at this time two days ago I had an amazing reef tank with some exceptional rock and corals and now I have nothing my a wet floor and a broken heart.

[scubasteve06]

I am really sorry to hear that. On the other hand taking a minute (or second) to step back and think about it, will give you all the time in the world to come up with an even better tank, stand, design, aquascape, equipement list, layout etc. etc. than before. I know it's gotta suck as I look at my fish as my family and I have only had 2 die in my almost year in the hobby (one jumped, one eaten) and it hurt a lot. I hate being the epitome of snorkel bob's attack saying most aquarium fish die within a year which is so far from the truth in all reality. Anyways I hope that you can get everything you've ever wanted down on paper and make it a reality next time...here's to you coming back withing the year!!!

Do I smell a New Year's Resolution to get a new tank???

[Abaddon]

That's what I'm going to do. I'm keeping the stand, glass tops, and the halides and already redesigning the refugium in my head. It really is a sickness.

[PEPECUN]

Sorry about the disaster buuut.... promise you !! You'll baaaack !!
Regards from Cancun, Mexico...!!

Pepe

[poolkeeper1]

Originally Posted by Abaddon

That's what I'm going to do. I'm keeping the stand, glass tops, and the halides and already redesigning the refugium in my head. It really is a sickness.

I thought you said the tank broke because the Stand was junk!! But your going to keep it???
Bill

[iap]

^ what he said

[scubasteve06]

Go to the DIY forum and either search or ask for the DIY stand template. It is what I used for my 125g and I even reinforced it although it was not needed at all.

[rebelson]

Sorry to hear the bad news.........