OK People with Red Sea Reefer Failures... Convince me not to....

[Rainer W]

Sorry if this is a dumb question but is v2 different from G2?

I'm not sure if there's a difference; it may be the same as the G1. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have typed v2 at all. A Google search indicates that the G2 version came out around 2022. I had ordered the RS250 new and it was delivered to the store in July 2019. It has the V3 sump and V3 ATO reservoir (see attached). The front glass is 12mm and the sides/rear glass is 10mm thick. Hope that helps. There is still a tiny (0.3mm or 0.012") gap between the empty tank and the top of the stand in the middle of the front span where I'm able to insert some paper a few inches into the underside of the bottom glass).
This set-up is being replaced by a tank and stand from Planet Aquariums; also 36"L but a several inches wider at 24". To maintain some semblance of a budget, I'm keeping the RS sump and other stuff.
The leaking RS250 tank and stand (keeping sump) will be available soon. Just gotta move it to the garage and I still want to figure out where it's leaking from. I'm located in the NW suburbs of Chicago. Send me a message if you want it. It might make a decent terrarium.

 

[Drflashpoint]

I have a separate post about this also. But:

My tank failure was on arrival. Likely shipping mishandling. Pictures attached. Main tank and sump cracks. Unfortunately we didn’t notice until we signed for delivery. We checked tank sides and the bottom that we could see. Signed and on unloading discovered the sump in its separate box as pictured. Definitely impact spot.

Anyway, I too am concerned with RS and their failure ratios. I’m glad you’ve tried to dive deep and separate the anecdotes from verified issues.

Do you think this is an ongoing trend?

 

[Rainer W]

I'm not sure if there's a difference; it may be the same as the G1. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have typed v2 at all. A Google search indicates that the G2 version came out around 2022. I had ordered the RS250 new and it was delivered to the store in July 2019. It has the V3 sump and V3 ATO reservoir (see attached). The front glass is 12mm and the sides/rear glass is 10mm thick. Hope that helps. There is still a tiny (0.3mm or 0.012") gap between the empty tank and the top of the stand in the middle of the front span where I'm able to insert some paper a few inches into the underside of the bottom glass).
This set-up is being replaced by a tank and stand from Planet Aquariums; also 36"L but a several inches wider at 24". To maintain some semblance of a budget, I'm keeping the RS sump and other stuff.
The leaking RS250 tank and stand (keeping sump) will be available soon. Just gotta move it to the garage and I still want to figure out where it's leaking from. I'm located in the NW suburbs of Chicago. Send me a message if you want it. It might make a decent terrarium.

Well, the lower front seam failed. This wasn't obvious until the remaining water evaporated. See attached. Keep in mind that this is one of the smaller RS250 systems (G1) that are around 3ft long. Reusing the sump, pumps, lighting, etc. but will never buy another RedSea.

 

[Devaji]

I have a separate post about this also. But:

My tank failure was on arrival. Likely shipping mishandling. Pictures attached. Main tank and sump cracks. Unfortunately we didn’t notice until we signed for delivery. We checked tank sides and the bottom that we could see. Signed and on unloading discovered the sump in its separate box as pictured. Definitely impact spot.

Anyway, I too am concerned with RS and their failure ratios. I’m glad you’ve tried to dive deep and separate the anecdotes from verified issues.

Do you think this is an ongoing trend?

I had that happen with a RS350. as the driver was pulling away I was running after with in a panic waving my hands.
he cam back and saw the damage and noted it on the bill.
RS shipped out a new tank.

 

[LARedstickreefer]

I’ve got a 170 and see two questionable spots in the lower front seam. They aren’t spreading, but this is enough to send me to IM for my next tank/upgrade.

Why risk it?

 

[Devaji]

I’ve got a 170 and see two questionable spots in the lower front seam. They aren’t spreading, but this is enough to send me to IM for my next tank/upgrade.

Why risk it?

you'll love IM tanks. I replaced the 650P with the 200P ( litters to gallons there )

 

[LARedstickreefer]

you'll love IM tanks. I replaced the 650P with the 200P ( litters to gallons there )

I just setup a 15 Nuvo Fusion for my bedroom and definitely like it.

 

[braaap]

I have a separate post about this also. But:

My tank failure was on arrival. Likely shipping mishandling. Pictures attached. Main tank and sump cracks. Unfortunately we didn’t notice until we signed for delivery. We checked tank sides and the bottom that we could see. Signed and on unloading discovered the sump in its separate box as pictured. Definitely impact spot.

Anyway, I too am concerned with RS and their failure ratios. I’m glad you’ve tried to dive deep and separate the anecdotes from verified issues.

Do you think this is an ongoing trend?

That is still covered under shipping damage. Even if you signed. If they don't refund you or ship a new tank then file a credit card claim.

 

[Ky_acc]

So I've read the myriad of threads here about Red Sea Reefers failing and ruining the world. I currently have an old school 90 gallon reef tank that has the overflow (this was from WAY before people drilled their tanks) that has caused issues to the point where I fear the stand's integrity is in question. Time to upgrade to a new tank. I love the look of the Red Sea Reefers (who doesn't?) and begin looking for a tank.

The new one's seem overpriced. I check the used ones and come across the threads here. Uh Oh! Red Sea Reefer tanks fail and destroy the earth, one apartment at a time. Some say it is the seam from the factory...others blame indiscriminate tank cleaning...still others claim their tank wasn't level or that the stand itself was bowed... all interesting claims from people who have never actually seen the tanks in question...

But the biggest commonality in the threads is that everyone "knows a guy" who had a Red Sea Reefer catastrophic failure. I spent an hour reading through and came across 4 legitimate, verifiable, stories of people with FIRST HAND experiences, and two of those were catastrophic, and only one had a photo.

Meanwhile, others refer to "hundreds of instances" but I don't really see hundreds of instances. There are thousands of reports of people seeing the Loch Ness Monster, after all. (Pictures or it didn't happen!) Since the next part of the story is a complaint on how Red Sea won't honor their warranty, I assume these people got photos, because no one is honoring any claims without photos.

I've been in the hobby for 30 years, with 20 of those at the pro-level. I've seen tank failures. If Red Sea is that bad, I would think that reputable dealers like BRS would drop them (Isn't BRS all about standing behind their hobbyists?)

Long story short - I want to hear your first hand accounts of buying a Red Sea Reefer that had a catastrophic failure. Not a tank with a bubble in the seam, or a story about a friend of a friend or a guy who was deleted on FB. Let's see these compiled into one thread. Please don't reply with your opinions on why you wouldn't buy one, or why you shouldn't get a used tank, or your opinion on whatever.

Let's show that Red Sea Failure footage!

Convince me, through your own first hand account, why I shouldn't buy one.

I have had a reefer 625 G2 since the G2s were released.

In my opinion they made quite a few big upgrades that should mitigate the failure issues seen in the past, notably thick armored seams, and additional support on the larger models (I.e., and aluminum support bar was added to the front of my 625 which the old model didn’t have.

I think Red Sea knows failures are bad for business and likely made many changes with the G2s to make sure that doesn’t continue to be a problem.

Just my 2 cents, but I still feel very comfortable with my 625 G2 after 2 years

 

[VintageReefer]

I have had a reefer 625 G2 since the G2s were released.

In my opinion they made quite a few big upgrades that should mitigate the failure issues seen in the past, notably thick armored seams, and additional support on the larger models (I.e., and aluminum support bar was added to the front of my 625 which the old model didn’t have.

I think Red Sea knows failures are bad for business and likely made many changes with the G2s to make sure that doesn’t continue to be a problem.

Just my 2 cents, but I still feel very comfortable with my 625 G2 after 2 years

The issue is they made these changes realizing the g1 was a flawed design and when people have g1 failures they tell ‘em to kick rocks or throw them a tiny credit. Few people we’re actually treated properly. And they didn’t reach out to registered g1 owners who spent thousands to warn them and be proactive

 

[LARedstickreefer]

That is still covered under shipping damage. Even if you signed. If they don't refund you or ship a new tank then file a credit card claim.

This is another one of those annoying policies, right up there with 2hr DOA for corals when a sick coral is going to die sometime afterwards and seller throws their hands up (“policy is policy”).

It’s very uncomfortable making a delivery driver sit there while you struggle with packaging and inspection looking for something BEFORE you sign. I for one am a pretty private person so am uncomfortable right from the start…

-Matt

 

[Borat]

i know a guy who knows a guy who read a story about another guy..

Seriously, it reminds me of those stories of uncontrollable Lexus cars that could not have been stopped by its owners back in 2009-2010). It only happened in the US - which was strange as well.. None of those owners could explain why they didnt try to turn off the ignition key, hit hand break or push break harder or simply switch the gear to neutral.. That craze faded into nonexistence after a few years - as if nothing happened.

I suspect that existing seam failures are caused by people who have obsession with keeping the glass clean even near seam. Those seams are simply not designed to withstand that form of abuse for very long and inevitably fail. If you dont do that (slam glass cleaner blade into seam) - your tank is probably good for many years to come..

I have reefer 425 for over 5 years now - cant complain!

 

[Northern Flicker]

i know a guy who knows a guy who read a story about another guy..

Seriously, it reminds me of those stories of uncontrollable Lexus cars that could not have been stopped by its owners back in 2009-2010). It only happened in the US - which was strange as well.. None of those owners could explain why they didnt try to turn off the ignition key, hit hand break or push break harder or simply switch the gear to neutral.. That craze faded into nonexistence after a few years - as if nothing happened.

I suspect that existing seam failures are caused by people who have obsession with keeping the glass clean even near seam. Those seams are simply not designed to withstand that form of abuse for very long and inevitably fail. If you dont do thay - your tank is probably good for many years to come..

Why would you suspect that?

I am sorry but that is just a really bad take - the causes of the seam failures for RS have been well documented. If it was user error, why did RS respond by changing stand design and silicone?

Not to mention that nicking silicone while cleaning glass, in theory, should not actually have any effect on the seam's ability to hold.

As for OP - there are many seam failure posts....many of these people have likely left the hobby, as the effect of 20-80 gallons of saltwater on your floors, drywall and trim is very destructive and expensive.

If you have even a tiny bit of doubt, just go with a different brand for peace of mind. Red Sea is a luxury brand that sells you on an "ecosystem' and is in no way a requirement to have a high end tank, even if instagram makes you feel otherwise.

 

[Ziggy17]

I had a 300XL. Seamed failed. I posted here, with pictures. They replaced it with a G2 +. Took a month to get here. Lost fish, lost coral because of it.

Does this mean the seam is failing?

This started about a month ago (that I can remember), it’s the bottom seam on my Red Sea Reefer 300 XL version 1, about 3 years old.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Ziggy17]

SO it has been 24 hours. Most said some from of "You should believe rumors - trust me" with one first hand account. Kind of surprised with the "if you have to ask, it must be true" approach - one of the things I love about message boards is the ability to hear user's experiences in order to grow the hobby. But giving rumors a place to breed and grow hurts the hobby.
I'll go back to my example - there have been thousands of loch ness monster sightings, (including 4 already this year). By the reasonings I am seeing in this thread - why risk visiting Loch Ness - it must be true if you have to ask! Let me say that I have been there, first hand, and it is beautiful - don't let the vast numbers of "I know a guy" rumors to prevent you from visiting...

Thanks so much to those who have truthfully offered help - I really do appreciate it.

A whole 24 hours….. Because some of us have nothing better to do than stalk R2R on Father’s Day weekend hoping that someone asked a question that I may possibly be able to answer. Read my thread and get a life.

 

[Northern Flicker]

A whole 24 hours….. Because some of us have nothing better to do than stalk R2R on Father’s Day weekend hoping that someone asked a question that I may possibly be able to answer. Read my post, and get a life.

Agreed, as if a sounding horn had been blown and OP expects all affected RS users to assemble like the avengers! lol

Here's a good read for OP: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/red-sea-fail-very-harsh-but-truthful-imo.991608/

I think there is an even longer thread somewhere with 60+ pages but it didn't come up when I googled it.

From what I can tell, it seems that the G2 tanks and stands have been less problematic. I know my local LFS won't sell them anymore because this cost them a lot of time and money and customers.

 

[VintageReefer]

@avianman you are free to believe what you want. Go buy a used g1 if you’re so confident. Probably some good deals to be found and you can help someone out who needs to get rid of it

19 first hand experiences on the forum who happened to be online to see the thread. I’m sure there are some members who had an issue and quit the hobby and the forum and can’t vote. Plus the people who aren’t on the forum which have to be factored for

Red Sea Seam Issues - (please read before voting)

There has been a lot of conversation lately about Red Sea aquariums and faulty seams that sometimes lead to catastrophic failures. But it's difficult to reach a consensus because the conversation often gets muddied with crosstalk. Please only vote for the category that suits YOUR experience...

www.reef2reef.com

How many do you need to be convinced?

 

[Spare time]

I like my fiji cube tank


You could check those out

 

[braaap]

This is another one of those annoying policies, right up there with 2hr DOA for corals when a sick coral is going to die sometime afterwards and seller throws their hands up (“policy is policy”).

It’s very uncomfortable making a delivery driver sit there while you struggle with packaging and inspection looking for something BEFORE you sign. I for one am a pretty private person so am uncomfortable right from the start…

-Matt

I had my tank from IM delivered freight. The driver was more than willing to wait. He understood. But I understand how you feel.

 

[Troylee]

i know a guy who knows a guy who read a story about another guy..

Seriously, it reminds me of those stories of uncontrollable Lexus cars that could not have been stopped by its owners back in 2009-2010). It only happened in the US - which was strange as well.. None of those owners could explain why they didnt try to turn off the ignition key, hit hand break or push break harder or simply switch the gear to neutral.. That craze faded into nonexistence after a few years - as if nothing happened.

I suspect that existing seam failures are caused by people who have obsession with keeping the glass clean even near seam. Those seams are simply not designed to withstand that form of abuse for very long and inevitably fail. If you dont do that (slam glass cleaner blade into seam) - your tank is probably good for many years to come..

I have reefer 425 for over 5 years now - cant complain!

So you’re insinuating that all these people scrape the glass under the sand? The majority are the front lower seam under a couple inches of sand… I highly doubt that’s the issue with a scraper.