Failed tank (picture intensive)

[bgi]

The trick is getting the police interested. Some departments are useless while some are aggressive. Duluth is great. They tracked down a deadbeat contractor for us. We got our money back.

The issue you may run into on this is:
1) What does the seller owe mojo? (I don't see anything legally - I'm no lawyer)
vs.
2) What does the seller owe the manufacturer? (I see a tank)

[Daytona955]

In this it would seem that bgi would be correct. The seller owes the company a tank and it is up to them to send him a bill for the tank. They would realisticly be the ones that would need to prosecute. Sorry I did not read this more carefully the firt time, I was only about half awake.

[akula]

oh I just figure that leaning on the seller that you are going to report him to the police for selling stolen goods might be motivating enough to get the seller to cough up a refund of whatever mojo paid. thats what Im thinking. again if the guy has a professional license of some sort they become real interested in not losing that license/permit when it come to keeping their record clean. even something as unrelated as a real estate license can be jammed up over a complaint of unethical behavior. up north some counties require contractors to have county permits to work in the county. in that case it is common for someone to report to the county that the contractor is unethical, the county can make inquires into complaints about the contractor and pull his operating permit in that county. surrounding counties keep an eye on each others "band" list and revoke more permits for the surrounding counties. very quickly when a local contractor gets close to being band he will correct whatever the situation is in order to have the complaint recinded. when peoples pocket book gets threatened, they tend to think differently. its blackmail but the leverage is useful. mojo says he is happy to cut the tank into smaller frag tanks. thats fine. If mojo got the tank for a real good OBO amount, then cutting it up may just be the easier choice rather than repairing the tank or going after the crooked seller.

[jesspaul]

Just my two cents and I am not a lawyer but:

dump the tank or cut it up for small fuges - unless you want to spend every hour wondering if the tank you built from the pieces cracked while your away or asleep. Tanks are cheep compared to the fish and corals and carpet they protect.

Forget the manufacturer - he got suckered but sueing across state lines is not worth the effort, you have to sue in the defendents home county, I think.

If you belive you were sold stolden goods go to the police otherwise your in the wrong too. If I remember the ad for the tank correctly it nearly peged my 'fishy business' meter but the price wasn't rock bottom. For all you know the seller damaged the tank and then dumped it.

[ckreef]

Seems to be two issues here:

1) Stolen Tank: Many people have chimmed in on this and there is no need for me to voice my opnion.

2) Tank Failure: The simple fact of the matter is --- you altered the tank --- period.

When you alter a tank you then assume full responsibility for the structural integrity of said tank --- period.

There is not a tank manufacturrer in the world that will up hold the warrenty of an altered tank regarless of who was the original owner.

For everyone reading this --- if you alter the tank it's your responsibility --- period --- and there is no need to debate this fact.

Please NOTE: Just trying to state the obvious for all future tank altering people.

[mojo]

jesspaul: "If you belive you were sold stolden goods go to the police otherwise your in the wrong"

I have talked to the manufacturer, and they know the situation. I have made two attempts to contact the seller. The seller won't return my calls. If the manufacturer knows, I have disclosed everything, and they want nothing to do with it, then the case is closed. There's no reason to go to the police or get involved in legal matters.

ckreef: You're absolutely right. I personally think that it was a fault in workmanship, but since I altered the tank (significantly, at that), there's only one person that can held responsible at this point - me.

Everybody- I do appreciate the condolences. However, please note that I will not be sueing anybody, going to the police, or returning stolen merchandise; I had resolved the situation before posting just for this reason. I posted this only to tell my story and give an example of what can happen.

[reefcam]

MyReef Daytona....once the top is altered in such a severe way no one would warranty a product. It went from a full top wth 3/4" thick support around the entire top with 2-3 opening to a euro bracing with no center brace. Any acrylic mfg would not warranty a product that has been altered so severely. Once you start drilling on acrylic tanks, I would say 99% of mfg void the warranty....just as if you buy a glass tank and it shatters while you are drilling a bulkhead hole.....

I was just about to comment that the top looks thick enough and may have been a glue joint. Then Andy pointed out the modification to Euro bracing.

I have a feeling your front may have bow just enought to give it enough stress.. James, Envision Acrylic, recommends using at least 1" thick acrylic for the sides (at least the front and back) if you want euro bracing for a large tank.

Jim

[Mafiaman]

Originally Posted by mojo

but since I altered the tank (significantly, at that), there's only one person that can held responsible at this point - me.

To bad what happened with the tank, But I find it very refreshing in these times of law suit mainia when people take responsibility for thier own actions

kutos to you!!

[akula]

yah but in the long run the crooked seller got the better deal (extra cash in his pocket from the sale). I doubt many people would be happy to know they were sold hot goods without them knowing about it. its an unfortunate situation from many angles. luckily it is a rare occurance.

[MyReef]

The one thing we have to remember....no one can prove if it was a stolen product. I would think if it was stolen, the mfg would have been more interested...don't you think. So let's set back and look at the original intent of the posts....not about stolen property, but the tank blowing out.

[seehorse]

top support is definately critical but as someone posted earlier, the bottom seam looks like it came apart clean. i've burst 2 tanks while testing and both times, the seams remained intact while the failure (catastophic in both cases) was similar to what you got across the front pane. If the bottom seam came apart cleanly, that would indicate a possible material or manifacturer defect but since there seems to be a little "gray" area about the thing, you're likely out of luck...except for the fact you did it in your basement. I did get your PM and will respond shortly.