Speedys_Reef
New Member
I currently have a Red Sea 250 that I purchased in 2019. I have heard all the issues with their tanks and have been looking to get out of this tank for some time. After a lot of research I set my goals on the CADE 1500 S2/P. After saving for some time I finally pulled the trigger this July during their summer sale(not a clearance sale) and purchased my tank from algae barn.
I received my tank on July 18th. None of the crates appeared too be damaged(bottom of the pallets were damaged but crate was fine). Algae barns instructions are to accept any shipment unless catastrophic damage is found. So I accepted the shipment. Algae barn also “claims” that they open every crate and “inspect” thoroughly both the tank and stand for damage before shipping out. Any damage found during decrating should be sent to them as soon as possible.
I removed the lids on both the stand crate and tank crate to inspect. I immediately found obvious damage to the stand sub floor(not sure how algae barn missed it. It’s dang near impossible) . There was a crack on the floor that was painted over or attempted to be covered with some sort of silicone or glue. I immediately took pictures and informed algae barn as this was rather disappointing paying top dollar for some rather blatant damage and cover up from the manufacturer. Sadly this was just the beginning.
I did my best to inspect further but saw no other obvious damages. So I began the process of moving the tank inside. These things are heavy took four men to complete. During my installation of the plumbing I noticed my plumbing did not match what I ordered. I was missing check valves for the return lines despite everything fitting like nothing was missing. So I again messaged algae barn. In addition they provide metal hose clamps for the return lines tubing. I inquired to a few other reefers that have CADEs to see what their experience was with these metal hose clamps. Most were positive. One reefer mentioned to me that the old models came with those hose clamps that they have since moved away from them and now provide plastic ones. Strange… I thought. I pressed on with the install following the gallery aquatica recommendation of just using zip ties instead.
Upon filling the tank and sump I had a leak in the stand. Took awhile to find but I found it. It turns out CADE firmly mounts the glass sump up against the center brace on one side of the stand. There is a screw head in that center brace that the sump is pressed up firmly against with zero padding. I had a crack at this location. HUGE design flaw. Again I took pictures and emailed algae barn.
Took algae barn a few days they wanted more pictures, but eventually I got a phone call. I went back and forth about what it would take to replace the sump, the plumbing, and they wanted to send me some pods, media, and bacteria for the cracked and poorly repaired floor. I agreed at first till later in the conversation I brought up how I thought it was a big design flaw having the screws and sump like that. I gave suggestion to how to mitigate that in the future. The response I got was even more disappointing. I was informed that my tank was an older design which is why it didn’t have updated plumbing and bracing along with additional padding for the sump. Per the reps comments the broken sumps were super common on the older designs which what I was sent. The rep told me they ran the sale to clear out some older inventory.(Wish I had known.) What!?!?!?! I just bought this system how could it be an old design. I looked at the serial number, sure enough plain as day the manufacturing date. This tank was made in 2021!!!!!!
So what would you do at this point?
Well I asked algae barn for a new system not the 3yr old broken one or a depreciation discount. Algae barn denied both options. Algae barn is claiming and standing firm that the tank is stored in a temp controlled warehouse, thus it is not old. Apparently, Silicone doesn't degrade in their warehouse. As an engineer that does rigorous qualification for the shelf life of products specifically with the aging of plastics and rubbers this is a complete lie. What temperature is it stored at and what humidity all these things affect shelf life? It’s a well known fact the silicones stored dry are more prone to brittleness/cracking and in general the silicone become less elastic after being stored in these environments. Where’s their data for this? They tout their 2yr warranty(which I have no doubt the tank will last), but then they are out and responsibility free. If all this were true nothing stored in a temp controlled warehouse would have a shelf life.
The sump weighs 150lbs and per their recommendations requires either the main display tank to be removed from the stand to replace or a disassembly of the stand with the tank on it, which even they admitted comes with risks. They have no formal instructions on how to replace the sump. So if something bad happens they have zero responsibility. I would be assuming all the risk. It also requires two people and several hours to do per their recommendations. The only thing they have offered for all these headaches is a new sump(to replace my broken one), some check valves(which I will have to plumb in), pods, media, and bacteria. That’s it for receiving a 3yr old tank that arrived broken(not because of shipping but because of a poor design and a manufacturing damage cover up) and missing parts.
I am fully aware that retailers need to clear out inventory. However, I think it’s pretty well understood business practice that if the inventory age exceeds reasonable expectations especially with products containing silicone which does degrade over time. The buyer should be informed of this or at the very least call it clearance or old inventory clear out sale.
Not sure where to go from here. Curious what you all think or would do if this happened to you?
Has anyone else had this happen? My Red Sea was made less then year before I received it maybe I was just lucky....
One last thing. Algae Barn claims this specific tank is one of their best selling and highest movers. Makes you wonder how old the other tanks are that they are selling.
I received my tank on July 18th. None of the crates appeared too be damaged(bottom of the pallets were damaged but crate was fine). Algae barns instructions are to accept any shipment unless catastrophic damage is found. So I accepted the shipment. Algae barn also “claims” that they open every crate and “inspect” thoroughly both the tank and stand for damage before shipping out. Any damage found during decrating should be sent to them as soon as possible.
I removed the lids on both the stand crate and tank crate to inspect. I immediately found obvious damage to the stand sub floor(not sure how algae barn missed it. It’s dang near impossible) . There was a crack on the floor that was painted over or attempted to be covered with some sort of silicone or glue. I immediately took pictures and informed algae barn as this was rather disappointing paying top dollar for some rather blatant damage and cover up from the manufacturer. Sadly this was just the beginning.
I did my best to inspect further but saw no other obvious damages. So I began the process of moving the tank inside. These things are heavy took four men to complete. During my installation of the plumbing I noticed my plumbing did not match what I ordered. I was missing check valves for the return lines despite everything fitting like nothing was missing. So I again messaged algae barn. In addition they provide metal hose clamps for the return lines tubing. I inquired to a few other reefers that have CADEs to see what their experience was with these metal hose clamps. Most were positive. One reefer mentioned to me that the old models came with those hose clamps that they have since moved away from them and now provide plastic ones. Strange… I thought. I pressed on with the install following the gallery aquatica recommendation of just using zip ties instead.
Upon filling the tank and sump I had a leak in the stand. Took awhile to find but I found it. It turns out CADE firmly mounts the glass sump up against the center brace on one side of the stand. There is a screw head in that center brace that the sump is pressed up firmly against with zero padding. I had a crack at this location. HUGE design flaw. Again I took pictures and emailed algae barn.
Took algae barn a few days they wanted more pictures, but eventually I got a phone call. I went back and forth about what it would take to replace the sump, the plumbing, and they wanted to send me some pods, media, and bacteria for the cracked and poorly repaired floor. I agreed at first till later in the conversation I brought up how I thought it was a big design flaw having the screws and sump like that. I gave suggestion to how to mitigate that in the future. The response I got was even more disappointing. I was informed that my tank was an older design which is why it didn’t have updated plumbing and bracing along with additional padding for the sump. Per the reps comments the broken sumps were super common on the older designs which what I was sent. The rep told me they ran the sale to clear out some older inventory.(Wish I had known.) What!?!?!?! I just bought this system how could it be an old design. I looked at the serial number, sure enough plain as day the manufacturing date. This tank was made in 2021!!!!!!
So what would you do at this point?
Well I asked algae barn for a new system not the 3yr old broken one or a depreciation discount. Algae barn denied both options. Algae barn is claiming and standing firm that the tank is stored in a temp controlled warehouse, thus it is not old. Apparently, Silicone doesn't degrade in their warehouse. As an engineer that does rigorous qualification for the shelf life of products specifically with the aging of plastics and rubbers this is a complete lie. What temperature is it stored at and what humidity all these things affect shelf life? It’s a well known fact the silicones stored dry are more prone to brittleness/cracking and in general the silicone become less elastic after being stored in these environments. Where’s their data for this? They tout their 2yr warranty(which I have no doubt the tank will last), but then they are out and responsibility free. If all this were true nothing stored in a temp controlled warehouse would have a shelf life.
The sump weighs 150lbs and per their recommendations requires either the main display tank to be removed from the stand to replace or a disassembly of the stand with the tank on it, which even they admitted comes with risks. They have no formal instructions on how to replace the sump. So if something bad happens they have zero responsibility. I would be assuming all the risk. It also requires two people and several hours to do per their recommendations. The only thing they have offered for all these headaches is a new sump(to replace my broken one), some check valves(which I will have to plumb in), pods, media, and bacteria. That’s it for receiving a 3yr old tank that arrived broken(not because of shipping but because of a poor design and a manufacturing damage cover up) and missing parts.
I am fully aware that retailers need to clear out inventory. However, I think it’s pretty well understood business practice that if the inventory age exceeds reasonable expectations especially with products containing silicone which does degrade over time. The buyer should be informed of this or at the very least call it clearance or old inventory clear out sale.
Not sure where to go from here. Curious what you all think or would do if this happened to you?
Has anyone else had this happen? My Red Sea was made less then year before I received it maybe I was just lucky....
One last thing. Algae Barn claims this specific tank is one of their best selling and highest movers. Makes you wonder how old the other tanks are that they are selling.
