Failed tank (picture intensive)

[mojo]

Well, my plans for a big tank took a turn for the worst this weekend. Here's the story:

I got the tank from a post here (http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35503) about two months ago. The tank was still shrinkwrapped, sitting on the foam and pallet it came on. I brought it home and put it in my basement while I worked on the stand, sump area in my basement, and several hundred pounds of aragocrete.

After talking to several people on reefcentral in the large tanks forum, I decided to build a 1.5"x2" angle frame from hardened steel and then route out the top to all but 3". It appears that this was my fatal mistake.

It finally came down to testing the tank with the pumps and plumbing I had planned. I did it in the basement, just in case I did have any leaks. Good thing I did, too.

I had started by filling it about 90% full. After about an hour of setting up the pump and getting everything where I wanted for testing (I wasn't sure if the overflow could handle the ~5500gph @ 6' of my Sequence pump...), I finally climbed up on the ladder and continued to fill the tank and primped the pump.

After a few seconds, I heard "creak", looked up at my friend in a "uh oh" panic, and then had ~280 gallons of water covering my legs and feet, until I was pushed off the ladder. It was a catostrophic failure - it emptied in about 3 seconds. The water filled my 15'x40' basement to about 2-3" deep.

I started sweeping the water out with a wide broom while my dedicated friend started carrying everything outside. All in all- a bunch of things got wet, and it seeped a little into the adjoining rooms, but we were able to clean the majority of it up within a couple of hours.

After cleaning up, we were able to inspect the tank. It appears it broke along the bottom edge, then cracked all the way up to the top.

I talked back and forth to the manufacturer (http://www.aquariumsforyou.com/), who naturally claimed no responsibility. I also talked to Andy from MRC, and his assessment was that it was caused from inadequate support along the top, due to my frame. So it appears it was my own doing. Yes, it was an open design, but apparently, TOO open:

So now I'm left with a stand and a some equipment that would be overkill for my current 75g tank (that would have been replaced). I'm not sure what I'll do at this point, since the majority of my investment is broken in my basement. I was able to laugh at the situation even a minute after it happened, but it still hurts to have this kind of setback.

Full pictures can be found at http://www.chrishorne.com/gallery/BigTank

The lesson? Test your tanks before doing anything to them.

[kellymm]

i think is was a weak glue joint along the bottom seam that let go first

[Mafiaman]

Cut the tank back along the three side ( bottom, left and right) Then replace the broken piece and add two front to back braces on the top.

So maybe all is not lost.

[wasabi]

i have never seen a tank of that size with so little top support. i have a 24 inch deep 335 gallon that has 8 inches of 3/4 inch material . is the top cut out of one piece, or is it several pieces?

[wasabi]

if it was me i would post this tank on the main forum and ask for opinions.....you should be getting a new tank as a warranty.

[bgi]

Mojo, did the top bow out prior to the lower joint failure? Do you remember? The break at the bottom looks like a clean break, like the acrylic on the top and bottom didn't even come close to welding together. Can we see a close-up of the seam that failed (close than photo 5)? I'm no expert, but I really doubt a good seam would snap and leave one piece of acrylic clean like that. Either way, the tank is repairable.

[mojo]

kellymm: That was my first thought. I took plenty of pictures (follow the link above) and sent the to both the manufacturer and to Andy. The manufacturer blamed it of course on the top piece. Andy pointed out that because some of the acrylic came with the joint, that it was most like pressure and not the joint.

Mafianman: I never thought about that. I'd be a bit scared to do that myself, and doubt it would be cheap to have done. What I might do, though, is cut the tank in half (horizontally), and end up with two 84x26x18 frag tanks....

Wasabi: The top used to be three rather small holes (about 12x12"). I routed it back to a 3" lip all around the top. The top is comprised of a single piece. I tried going to the manufacturer for warranty, but without filling it up first as a test, I have no proof either way. What hurts me even worse is that the guy I bought it from was supposed to send it back and didn't- he really didn't even own the tank.

bgi: I did have a chance to check the bowing before it let loose. It bowed maybe 1/16" at the top, until it met the steel frame, and around 1/8" in the center/middle of the front. I agree about the clean break, but the acrylic people I've talked to (Andy and another acrylic guy I know), said that the clean break is expected on failure and that the rest of the break shows that the joint *was* strong enough. That was my contention with the manufacturer, but of course, after modification, they won't touch it. I don't know about repairable. Maybe I'll get some opinions first.

[akula]

contact seehorse/star aquarium. he may be able to give you a bid for a repair. he is an ARC sponsor.

[Mafiaman]

Originally Posted by akula

contact seehorse/star aquarium. he may be able to give you a bid for a repair. he is an ARC sponsor.

I was just going to suggest the same thing.

http://www.staraquarium.com/

[Flipturn88]

Sorry about the setback Chris. Atleast it broke before you added any livestock, if that helps at all .

Kayla

[THE HIT MAN]

sorry to see that happen!!!

[erikhydo]

You said that there was not enough support on the top? I cannot see that in the pictures. It also looks like the front edge was not supported on the stand. Is that the case? Is the stand top designed to allow overhang?

[tobbob]

megabummer...I feel your pain

[Daytona955]

Do you have a copy of their warranty? I am somewhat familiar with law, both civil and criminal (more criminal) and maybe between the combined efforts of the reef club we can come up with something. Please post it if it came with the tank. Ya know their web site does have a 100% service guarantee! Sounds like false advertising to say the least.

[Ray1214]

At the very least you would think that perhaps a very very good deal on a new tank or something to that effect. It sure does seem fishy that clean break like that. If I am mistaken, it looks like the bottom seam gave and weakened the pane enough for a catastrophic failure.
I guess I am a bit confused. The frame you refer to is the stand frame right? Or am I missing something. I just don't see how the stand, unless it was really really uneven could have caused a brittle stress fracture without a weakened point to be begin with. It could even not be the aquarium manufacturer's fault, just bad acrylic. But it doesn't seem like the not bracing the top wasn't the issue since it looks propagated from the bottom.

Ray