Bad Seal/Seam on new acrylic aquarium?

Brian Goldstein · Apr 5, 2019

Hey Reefers-

I really need your advice on an acrylic tank I recently purchased. It was made custom by a really good shop in LA. I am new to acrylic tanks so I am not sure what is normal and what isn't in terms of crazing and bubbles.

The tiny bubbles you see in the seams have been there since day 1. Now I'm noticing what looks like strips of air or glue along the seam. I am not sure if this was there already, or its recent. Is this sort of thing normal? I am going to contact the manufacturer tomorrow.

Thanks everyone,

Brian

Brian Goldstein · Apr 6, 2019

anyone??

I went ahead and drained my tank just to be safe..

Brian Goldstein · Apr 6, 2019

Brian Goldstein said:
Hey Reefers-

I really need your advice on an acrylic tank I recently purchased. It was made custom by a really good shop in LA. I am new to acrylic tanks so I am not sure what is normal and what isn't in terms of crazing and bubbles.

The tiny bubbles you see in the seams have been there since day 1. Now I'm noticing what looks like strips of air or glue along the seam. I am not sure if this was there already, or its recent. Is this sort of thing normal? I am going to contact the manufacturer tomorrow.

Thanks everyone,

Brian

fyi , the hazy stuff on the glass is the plastic wrap it was wrapped in

homer1475 · Apr 6, 2019

While I've never owned an acrylic tank, the few I have seen do not have anything in the seams like your posting. The seams are always "seamless" with nothing in or around them. No bubbles, crazing, air gaps, etc.

One of those seams looks like they used glue to adhere the panels together? It should be chemically welded (melted) together with solvent.

Brian Goldstein · Apr 6, 2019

homer1475 said:
While I've never owned an acrylic tank, the few I have seen do not have anything in the seams like your posting. The seams are always "seamless" with nothing in or around them. No bubbles, crazing, air gaps, etc.

One of those seams looks like they used glue to adhere the panels together? It should be chemically welded (melted) together with solvent.

Your guess is as good as mine lol... but I agree that it doesn't look like it should be there. Then again, I know acrylic tanks naturally bow a little bit, which could entail some bubbles/crazing.

Brian Goldstein · Apr 6, 2019

anyone else want to chime in?

Ditto · Apr 6, 2019

I agree that is not normal you should not be seeing any bubbles. Did the company who made you the tank say anything? Not sure I would trust it.

Brian Goldstein · Apr 6, 2019

Ditto said:
I agree that is not normal you should not be seeing any bubbles. Did the company who made you the tank say anything? Not sure I would trust it.

Thanks for the reply. No, they did not. It was made by advanced acrylics.

Brian Goldstein · Apr 6, 2019

Thought posting in tank emergency would at least get me more than 1 reply lol. Kind of disappointing. Anyways, going to email the manufacturer with the same photos I posted. I am not in the mood to get into an argument with these guys to have to try and explain myself.

ca1ore · Apr 6, 2019

Probably not a structural problem but sloppy.

Brian Goldstein · Apr 6, 2019

ca1ore said:
Probably not a structural problem but sloppy.

Well, I didn’t pay top dollar for “sloppy” work

ca1ore · Apr 6, 2019

Of course not. You sure those bubbles aren’t just under the protective film? Hard to tell from the pictures.

Brian Goldstein · Apr 6, 2019

ca1ore said:
Of course not. You sure those bubbles aren’t just under the protective film? Hard to tell from the pictures.

The fine/smaller bubbles are inside the actual black acrylic .. but the small crazing is right at the seam. I also have no idea what the glued looking section is. I was under the impression I shouldn’t see this.

ca1ore · Apr 6, 2019

Maybe the lack of replies is because it’s really hard to tell from the pictures. I’m not sure I see any black acrylic? Many of those bubbles do look like they’re just under the film. When acrylic tank makers give you a black back panel (maybe that’s what you mean), it is just a thin piece - usually 1/8” or even 1/16” - that is welded on after the main sides of the tank is built. Not unusual for there to be bubbles under that; after all it’s the back.

Brian Goldstein · Apr 6, 2019

ca1ore said:
Maybe the lack of replies is because it’s really hard to tell from the pictures. I’m not sure I see any black acrylic? Many of those bubbles do look like they’re just under the film. When acrylic tank makers give you a black back panel (maybe that’s what you mean), it is just a thin piece - usually 1/8” or even 1/16” - that is welded on after the main sides of the tank is built. Not unusual for there to be bubbles under that; after all it’s the back.

Well if pictures are bad, people could ask?

I’ll take more pictures. I emptied the tank.

Brian Goldstein · Apr 6, 2019

Here are pictures without water in the tank.. A bit of a glare, but did my best.

Mastiffsrule · Apr 6, 2019

While I don’t not think with the number of bubbles I could see means you are heading for a failure, but you bought a new tank. Sometimes bubbles do appear in the process.

You mentioned you do not want to get in a fight with them, but have you given them an opportunity to addres your concerns. I would wait to see what they say.

Brian Goldstein · Apr 6, 2019

Mastiffsrule said:
While I don’t not think with the number of bubbles I could see means you are heading for a failure, but you bought a new tank. Sometimes bubbles do appear in the process.

You mentioned you do not want to get in a fight with them, but have you given them an opportunity to addres your concerns. I would wait to see what they say.

I have not emailed them yet. I am in the process of writing the email now. From the advice I've gotten from a few different forums, it seems like the bubbles really shouldn't be there. The small bubbles lined around the entire perimeter of the tank doesn't seem normal either.

The reason I said I don't feel like getting in an argument is because I have a feeling they will just say "its normal to have some crazing or bubbles" ...and I'm not experienced enough in acrylic to where I could really argue a strong point unless I have some guys chime in that really know what they're talking about... but you're right, I should hear what they have to say first.