Question about the quality of my custom aquarium

[frydaddy]

which baffle was wrong on the sump? guessing either the 2nd or 4th from the left?

 

[n240sxle91]

which baffle was wrong on the sump? guessing either the 2nd or 4th from the left?

The 4th from the left. It was supposed to be 10", and they made it 11.5".

 

[frydaddy]

what was the plan for the middle chamber?

 

[stewy14]

Just wanted to update everyone. I talked to the owner, and he didn't feel the seams were done poorly, and he didn't have a real answer as to why the dimensions were off other than when they're building custom stuff sometimes they need to make changes on the fly. I said I would have appreciated a phone call to discuss the changes because I would have made different choices based on that info. He didn't take ownership over any of the mistakes, but he did say that if I returned the aquarium and sump he would refund me. However, he would not make me a new tank. He was NOT a jerk about any of it, but again he didn't take responsibility for any of the errors.

I'm grateful he's willing to refund my money, but I still think his response was wrong. He should have told me that it wasn't built to the dimensions I asked for, and that he would make it right. Instead, I got to feel like this was my fault, I was being too picky, and he was doing me a favor by allowing me to drive 3.5 hours away to return everything. Again, I am grateful he's willing to take it back. He could have been a complete jerk about it, but he wasn't. That being said, he also wasn't accepting any responsibility for all the errors they made.

We left it that I would think about it some more before making my decision. I'm currently waiting for some quotes to come in before making my final decision.

what! if he refunds u, can't you just tell him to make the tank again for a bit more or less than 3400? and I think after this, you should try out a more reputable company this time, planet aquariums? Im sorry what happened! hope everything goes your way!

 

[n240sxle91]

Gotta be difficult, huh?!

Joking aside it’s a cool shape.

And if I was in your shoes, once I found another company I would be driving that tank back to return it.

If they couldn’t build it to spec, they should have told you in advance. If they can build it to spec, and made mistakes, they should be owning up and taking responsibility and apologizing and making the situation right.

It’s good the owner is accepting the refund but that tells me “I’d rather lose you as a customer than work to make you happy”

Yeah, I picked the shape because my plan is to have a couple of chairs about 5 or 6 feet away to sit and view the tank. If I used a 90 degree angle for the inside of the "L" you would get more glare and distortion when you're in the chairs. By having the main panels angled towards the seating the glare and distortion would be minimized. Not perfect, but a lot better than the 90 degree angle.

I agree with everything you said. If you can't do it, say so from the beginning. If you can do it, but didn't, own up to it and make it right. His reason for not wanting to make it right is that he believes he didn't do anything wrong. He doesn't want to make me a new tank because he believes I'm being too picky about this one, and I would just be picky about the next one. From his perspective I understand that, but the trouble with that is he's not right. He made several mistakes, but doesn't want to own up to any of them.

 

[n240sxle91]

what was the plan for the middle chamber?

First chamber is for my filter roller, second chamber is for skimmer and algae scrubber. I could cut a section out of that baffle to effectively make it 10", but for $3400 ($3000 for the tank/$400 for sump) I don't think I should have to.

 

[frydaddy]

could always put the skimmer on a stand, but i agree, for that price you shouldn't have to.

 

[n240sxle91]

what! if he refunds u, can't you just tell him to make the tank again for a bit more or less than 3400? and I think after this, you should try out a more reputable company this time, planet aquariums? Im sorry what happened! hope everything goes your way!

When I talked to him I told him I'd like him to make me a new one that followed my original plan. I would then drive to him and return the original tank and sump when the new ones were ready. I even told him I'd give him a few hundred more for his trouble. He said he'd return the money if I return the tank and sump, but he didn't want to build me another tank because I might not be happy with it and we'd be right where we were before.

 

[n240sxle91]

could always put the skimmer on a stand, but i agree, for that price you shouldn't have to.

Yeah, I could do that, and I did in my old sump. The problem with that is the detritus builds up there and adds to the maintenance of cleaning the sump. If I end up keeping the everything I'll just cut a section out of that baffle.

 

[stewy14]

When I talked to him I told him I'd like him to make me a new one that followed my original plan. I would then drive to him and return the original tank and sump when the new ones were ready. I even told him I'd give him a few hundred more for his trouble. He said he'd return the money if I return the tank and sump, but he didn't want to build me another tank because I might not be happy with it and we'd be right where we were before.

u could try planet aquariums?

 

[n240sxle91]

u could try planet aquariums?

Yeah, I was just looking at their website. Looks like I need to go through a dealer to order a custom tank from them. I will try calling one that isn't too far away and see what they say.

 

[stewy14]

c

Yeah, I was just looking at their website. Looks like I need to go through a dealer to order a custom tank from them. I will try calling one that isn't too far away and see what they say

thats great! could I just ask why an L shape tank?

 

[n240sxle91]

thats great! could I just ask why an L shape tank?

Yeah, couple of reasons. I've had a lot of aquariums (last one was a 360 gallon), but they've all been boxes. I'm kind of bored with a regular rectangle. Since this is going into a corner I decided on either an L, or a corner pentagon. I went with the L over the pentagon because my plan is to divide the tank into two with a thin piece of acrylic. If you look at the plans I posted earlier you'll see a faint line that goes diagonally from the inside of the L to the back corner. This was going to be something I would add after the fact, and not something the builder was going to do. This thin piece of acrylic would have a bunch of 2" holes cut in it to allow water to flow through it. It would also allow the smaller fish through, but keep my Majestic Angel on the large side of the aquarium. I would then have a reef on the short end of the L. The thin piece of acrylic wouldn't/shouldn't be too obvious because it will be at an angle that's hard to see from the front of the aquarium. I tested this theory in my 360 and it seems to pan out lol Hopefully I'll get to a point where I can see how well it works in real life lol

 

[Extremeengineer]

It’s good the owner is accepting the refund but that tells me “I’d rather lose you as a customer than work to make you happy”

Exactly, which also makes me question what would possibly make you think about keeping the tank? You don’t like the workmanship, the dimensions are wrong, you aren’t going to get support moving forwards, obviously, so surely it must be worth a tank of gas to wash your hands of this and move on? When you were offered a full refund, and nothing else, I feel like the immediate response should have been what time can I drop the tank off.

 

[n240sxle91]

Exactly, which also makes me question what would possibly make you think about keeping the tank? You don’t like the workmanship, the dimensions are wrong, you aren’t going to get support moving forwards, obviously, so surely it must be worth a tank of gas to wash your hands of this and move on? When you were offered a full refund, and nothing else, I feel like the immediate response should have been what time can I drop the tank off.

That actually was my immediate response, but like everything in life, a kneejerk reaction can be a big mistake. He suggested I think about it before making my mind up, and I agreed. So far I have only got one quote back, and that was from Fish Tanks Direct. They want $9500. That's not including shipping. If all my quotes come in that high I will be left with two options. Give up on the L shape that I want, or deal with it. If I go with the "deal with it" option I will for sure be asking for a hefty discount. If he doesn't like that plan I will just return it. Best to keep options open until you know for sure which route you're gonna take.

 

[Extremeengineer]

He doesn't want to make me a new tank because he believes I'm being too picky about this one, and I would just be picky about the next one. From his perspective I understand that, but the trouble with that is he's not right. He made several mistakes, but doesn't want to own up to any of them.

Given that, again, why possibly keep the tank? Your posts and initial outlay don’t come across as a save a buck at all costs person. Every time you look at the tank for however many years you want to look at these issues? I wouldn’t.

 

[n240sxle91]

Given that, again, why possibly keep the tank? Your posts and initial outlay don’t come across as a save a buck at all costs person. Every time you look at the tank for however many years you want to look at these issues? I wouldn’t.

Totally agree, and likely will return it. Just keeping my options open until I know for sure what path I'm taking. Doesn't hurt me to get quotes for a few days, and then make my decision.

 

[Extremeengineer]

Just out of curiosity, did you not have several shops quote you on initial build?

 

[stewy14]

I didn't look at the plans! that looks amazing!!!!

 

[stewy14]

c

Totally agree, and likely will return it. Just keeping my options open until I know for sure what path I'm taking. Doesn't hurt me to get quotes for a few days, and then make my decision.

can we get a full tank shot?