Derek's Custom 180G SPS Reef Tank

[Darryl_V]

Im feeling for ya brother...sometimes this hobby can really test you and make you wonder if its all worth it.  Guaranteed when its all done though you will be happy......just gotta climb that hill.

 

[spyd]

So.... Going to be dropping off the tank for repairs this weekend. First, I was told they would come pick it up and would need a couple people to help.... No problem... Then, I was told, oh they can't help move it because it is too heavy for the older guys but they would come and I would have to get it loaded up. They told me to pick the time and they would be here. Okay, so I lined up 4 of my buddies to help load it up for Sunday morning.... Well, now they say oh we can't come by to pick it up because they don't have anyone available but I can drive to Milton and pick-up their van then drive it all the way back, load it, then drop it off myself... What a joke!!!!

I am 2 seconds away from dropping off the tank and asking for my money back because it is a joke... So I arranged a truck and will drop it off. All of this because THEY failed to do a leak test. I guess I should have stuck with Miracles...

 

[Darryl_V]

Wow...just wow.  How dicouraging and complete B.S....

 

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

Mine at miracles is ready for pickup Tuesday ...been a longtime ..2 months ..but I kept adding more as the weeks went on

 

[unibob]

I would drop off and take money back. Stick it to the man!

 

[spyd]

I am VERY tempted!! Believe me!

 

[teebone110]

Maybe you can get them to change out the starphyre eurobracing while they are fixing things  :

 

[reeffreak]

and just  think you paid them to do all this , I would take it to them and get money back and never return or speak of said builder after all  that , just crazy

 

[Duke]

agree, i would be some pissed off if i were you. You'll always be worrying about the tank for as long as you have it also. 180G of water wouldnt be good on the floor. Even when the current leak is all fixed up imagine what that weak corner seal thats holding water fine this month does when it lets go in 6 months while no ones home at your house. Coming from professional aquarium builders you would expect it to not need water testing, even still it 100% should have been.. they do this for a living.. how many new tanks at miracles do you think they take apart and reseal after finding a leak when they water test it.. im betting like practically zero.

 

[unibob]

+1.

I could build you a tank that leaks : ) haha let me know when you will drop it off.

 

[reeffreak]

agree, i would be some pissed off if i were you. You'll always be worrying about the tank for as long as you have it also. 180G of water wouldnt be good on the floor. Even when the current leak is all fixed up imagine what that weak corner seal thats holding water fine this month does when it lets go in 6 months while no ones home at your house. Coming from professional aquarium builders you would expect it to not need water testing, even still it 100% should have been.. they do this for a living.. how many new tanks at miracles do you think they take apart and reseal after finding a leak when they water test it.. im betting like practically zero.

Exactly , chances are your custom build wasnt cheap and this is what a professoinal company sends you haha I wouldnt be tempted to take it back I would be all over taking it back and sticking right up someones a$$ , Dukes right 180 gallons all over your floor is not a joke , something your insurence company will not pay for , I REPEAT THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT so if its a mian floor you have the tank on and you have a full basment you  could potentially be  looking at 10s of thousands of dollars damage all because some crappy builder . I would go straight to miracles or NAFB and be done with it .

 

[spyd]

Tough call on the builder. In their defence, I have seen a lot of nice tanks come out from their shop. I have also seen a lot of nice tanks come from Miracles.  On the other hand, I have seen about 3 or 4 Miracles tanks now that have leaked and caused significant damage. The difference is customer service. With Miracles, they build you a new tank and look after all carpet replacement, etc. I would like to have seen Atlas at least pick-up the tank, repair it, and bring it back to me. Instead, I am the one looking after all the work, other than the repairs.... Thank goodness it was only a pin hole leak because I am not sure how they would have handled it with a destroyed basement... Tank goes back on Sunday.

 

[Darryl_V]

Dave Jelly had a 250g miracles tank burst at the seam....so it does happen to miracles.  Difference like Derek said is that they brought him a new tank right away, similar to his old one but still not the same.  Although I still think Dave wasn't all that impressed with busted tank anyway.

 

[spyd]

I'm getting the tank back tomorrow night. Fingers crossed that it is completely leak free now. In the mean time, I decided to pull up a chunk of the carpet in the basement where the tank is going to be and tiled the floor in that area instead. This way, any splashing of water will hopefully land on the tile and not the carpet. Plus, if we ever decide to change out the carpet, I will not have to attempt to move the tank... That would be disasterous.

I also plumbed in my water changing tank directly to the system. I figure why not use it as a sump. Doesn't hurt to have more water in the tank. Also, I can just turn a few valves, take it offline, drain it, fill it with new salt water and open it up again. No pumps or buckets. I have a 1 1/2" bulkhead at the bottom that is plumbed down to a piece of hose. So to drain, I just put the hose into my floor drain and turn the valve.... Lazy is good!!!

So once the tank comes tomorrow, I will start filling it right away and get it going! Hopefully, I will have it running by the end of the weekend... All depends on how quickly my RO unit pumps out the water for me and how much time I have.... Pics to follow. I should have some tonight of my sump / refugium setup.

 

[Camps23]

A proper water change setup like you have equals a successful reef over the long term of the tank. Everyone get lazy and busier overtime. Especially with young ones at home. Good call doing it right from the start.

 

[davesolo29]

glad to hear your tank will be home tomorrow.
on a side note.... it will not be the home for a blood shrimp.  I have not seen it in 2 weeks now.  I presume the worst.
sorry man.

 

[spyd]

No problem Dave. It happens. Thanks for housing it for me for all this time.

 

[spyd]

Tank is in place....again!!! Time for round 2. It has been leak tested for 6 days and should be good to go! The tank will be re-plumbed today. It won't take long at all as everything is all ready done. I just need to glue in a few couplings and screw a few threaded fittings in and call it a day.

Sand and dry rock tomorrow and begin water filling again. Hopefully, the system will be running by mid week.

 

[spyd]

So, here's a few shots of the setup. All plumbing is complete, minus one joint.  I just need to level the tank / stand tonight once my muscle wife comes home to help me out. Once that is done then it is back to putting in the sand and setting up my dry rock and getting this tank finally filled up and running. Leak test came back clean so we should be good to go without any more inconveniences!

The 2nd pic shows my entire fish room setup. The tank at the top is my water change tank and will act as a sump as it is plumbed into the system. Below that is my sump. The skimmer is just a loaner... Thanks again Phil for your patience!!!  I have no clue when Vertex is going to decide to produce some more Alpha Cone 200's but it sure would be nice if they can get going on them!!!! To the left is my refugium with a 6" DSB. Under my fuge is my 30G RO/DI top off tank. I will be moving over my Elos ATO once I have moved everything over from my existing setup.

The last pic is of my softener complete with a whole house de-cholorinator (and chloramine eliminator) so both us and the fish can enjoy the non-smelly water. My RO/DI unit will be mounted above the softener on the wall. I also went out and picked up a UPS (battery back-up) that is good for a couple hours in case of a black out. I will only have the return pump connected to it to keep the battery under as little load as possible.

So that's it in a nut shell. My next pictures will actually have sand, rock and some water in it.... FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  ;D

 

[unibob]

Holy deep sand bed! Haha looks awesome. Can't wait to see this ones progress.