And in the end...

dougc · 10-15-2005, 11:16 PM

Today, the 210 reef tank met its demise. I was upstairs this afternoon fixing a faucet when I heard what sounded like running water. I ran downstairs to find water shooting across the room from my tank. The tank cracked diagonally from top to bottom.

I saved the fish and the corals, but the tank is history. I don't have the heart to start it up again and I can't afford to anyway. The store offered to fudge the sale date to get warranty coverage, but it would still cost me a lot of money to start up again. I think I'm done.

My wife walked in while I was furiously siphoning water into bins. She had a bit of a fit, spewing invective about the tank, and slammed her hand on the table, breaking her index finger.

Not a good day. I guess once I get the house cleaned up, I willl be putting my equipment up for sale, but I am in shock right now. Two years of hard work and emotional stress are down the drain.

GaryZ · 10-15-2005, 11:19 PM

OMG, thats awful. I'm really sorry. What on earth would cause a tank to crack like that?

dougc · 10-16-2005, 06:06 AM

I don't know. Often, it is the result of the tank not being evenly supported around the perimeter causing some stress. That is why AGA doesn't warranty the tank unless it is installed on their stand. Nice theory, but the tank still cracked. The whole thing sits on a concrete slab, so I don't think it is any kind of uneveness in the underlying floor. I guess I'll never know.

Now I face the task of getting this monster out of the house. Not nearly as much fun as bringing it in.

***Reefland*** · 10-16-2005, 09:27 AM

Oh my Doug, I am so sorry to hear this has happened to you. Crappy things like this always happen to the best people.

I just don't know what to say...

CSeaSee · 10-16-2005, 09:34 AM

Wow. I can't even imagine something like that. Sorry to hear what happened, did your home take some damage? How's the index finger taking it?

**charlie** · 10-16-2005, 12:30 PM

Good Lord, that is really a drag!!!! Sorry to hear that you are getting out, but what is, is. Wish the best for you, I hope you stick around here and help out, that will at least keep you connected with the hobby. I don't think you should give that up!!

**The R/C Man** · 10-16-2005, 12:54 PM

Sorry to hear about your miss fortune....

The good thing is you saved the live stock.

Don't let this set back discourage you from staying in the hobby! I had to replace a cracked tank in the past. I also had to repair a leaking sump. I am sure a day will come when I need to get out the wet vac and when it does I will clean up and move forward. Just save your pennies and get an acrylic tank. Use can use the cracked glass tank as an excuse to upgrade...

I hope your wifes finger gets better soon.....

dougc · 10-19-2005, 08:40 PM

AGA is replacing my dead tank, even though it was out of warranty, but I am not sure what I want to do. I am debating just turning around and selling it and spending my weekends in a hammock. The other possiblity I am considering is swapping it straight up with the LFS for a 180. The 210 is quite impressive, but it is hard to reach the bottom to attach corals and do other maintenance. A 180 might be a little more managable. Hey, and 30 less gallons to leak out onto the floor.

***Reefland*** · 10-19-2005, 08:44 PM

That is a positive note for sure Doug, at least your going to get "something" in return here. Don't give up my friend, it was definitely an unfortunate and uncommon occurance that happened, I am confident the next one will be much better.

How can we help you?

junglejonny · 10-20-2005, 02:07 AM

I think after seeing that i might have nightmares tonight....I dont think you should give up, life throwes us these little challenges now and again. as an old chineese proverb says "fall down 12 times stand up 13" Plus by the looks of your old tank u seem to pretty good at the hobby. U gotta stick around to help the newbies like me. Im sorry 4 the loss and i hope u trump it with a new tank

dougc · 10-20-2005, 10:17 PM

My rock sat out of water for a few days. It was covered with valonia and hair algae. I could "cook" it and resuse it. What really hurts is losing my fish and corals. I didn't want to take the risk of trying to maintain them for what might stretch into a couple of months, so back they all went to the LFS for sale.

My wife wants me to downsize, but doesn't think a 180 fits that criteria. I told her that the size of the tank did not make a lot of difference in terms of the time commitment. It is more expensive, though, since more salt, bulbs, and filter media are required and it takes more livestock to fill it up. Her solution was to have something other than a reef tank, to which I replied that I wasn't really interested by anything else. Her retort was "So, its a Maserati or nothing, eh?".

Sigh...

SeaMe · 10-20-2005, 10:34 PM

Get a new wife! j/k

**Poseidon** · 10-21-2005, 02:25 AM

Doug don't give up now, if you do you will be BACK anyway. This hobby is SO ADDICTIVE and you are good at it! Keep it up, everything will work out!

ghofmann · 10-21-2005, 09:55 AM

That's an absolute heartbreaker.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
(If you can't get a Maseratti, get yourself a Porsche)

***zhenya*** · 10-21-2005, 10:14 AM

Wow! I missed this thread somehow...

Sorry to hear that tank busted on you, Doug. I real PITA!

I'm thinking like the others that you should probably give it a go, especially since AGA is willing to replace the tank. I think 180g tank is a beauty but if wife is against it, try a cube or something. If and when you decide to restart, give me a holler and I'll provide some starter frags for you.

Penguin · 10-21-2005, 01:10 PM

I also missed this thread until now.

Really sorry that happened to you Doug. If you decide to set up another one let me know, I can definitely give you some frags.

And if the old tank still needs to be moved I'm willing to help.

dougc · 10-21-2005, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Penguin
And if the old tank still needs to be moved I'm willing to help.

Since AGA is providing a replacement, I will have to get it home, whether I keep it or not (and I am leaning towards keeping it). I will then need to put out a call for help getting it home and getting the old tank out of the house. The tank will be coming to Value Pet in Pennsauken and it could show up as soon as next week. I am going to talk to them this weekend about swapping it straight-up for a 180.

Quote:

Originally posted by Zhenya
If and when you decide to restart, give me a holler and I'll provide some starter frags for you.

Thanks. I will keep that in mind.

10-15-2005, 11:16 PM	#1
dougc Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 481	And in the end... Today, the 210 reef tank met its demise. I was upstairs this afternoon fixing a faucet when I heard what sounded like running water. I ran downstairs to find water shooting across the room from my tank. The tank cracked diagonally from top to bottom. I saved the fish and the corals, but the tank is history. I don't have the heart to start it up again and I can't afford to anyway. The store offered to fudge the sale date to get warranty coverage, but it would still cost me a lot of money to start up again. I think I'm done. My wife walked in while I was furiously siphoning water into bins. She had a bit of a fit, spewing invective about the tank, and slammed her hand on the table, breaking her index finger. Not a good day. I guess once I get the house cleaned up, I willl be putting my equipment up for sale, but I am in shock right now. Two years of hard work and emotional stress are down the drain.

10-16-2005, 09:27 AM	#4
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 13,007	Oh my Doug, I am so sorry to hear this has happened to you. Crappy things like this always happen to the best people. I just don't know what to say... __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

10-16-2005, 09:34 AM	#5
CSeaSee Mayor Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 663	Wow. I can't even imagine something like that. Sorry to hear what happened, did your home take some damage? How's the index finger taking it? __________________ Carl Just tell your wife that having a tank teaches you all sorts of new DIY skills...which will save lots of money around the house...so you can buy more stuff for your tank...so you can learn more skills...

10-16-2005, 12:30 PM	#6
charlie Keeper of Willis Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: NW Montana Posts: 5,466	Good Lord, that is really a drag!!!! Sorry to hear that you are getting out, but what is, is. Wish the best for you, I hope you stick around here and help out, that will at least keep you connected with the hobby. I don't think you should give that up!! __________________ 400 Gallon Reef Log Rome wasn't built in a day---neither is a reef

10-16-2005, 12:54 PM	#7
The R/C Man Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 691	Sorry to hear about your miss fortune.... The good thing is you saved the live stock. Don't let this set back discourage you from staying in the hobby! I had to replace a cracked tank in the past. I also had to repair a leaking sump. I am sure a day will come when I need to get out the wet vac and when it does I will clean up and move forward. Just save your pennies and get an acrylic tank. Use can use the cracked glass tank as an excuse to upgrade... I hope your wifes finger gets better soon..... __________________ Greg 25 gallon reef with 20 gallon sump/fuge 375 gallon reef with 100 gallon sump/fuge: under construction Over time science has shown that the simplest answers are usually the correct ones.......

10-15-2005, 11:19 PM	#2
GaryZ Council Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 253	OMG, thats awful. I'm really sorry. What on earth would cause a tank to crack like that?

10-16-2005, 06:06 AM	#3
dougc Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 481	I don't know. Often, it is the result of the tank not being evenly supported around the perimeter causing some stress. That is why AGA doesn't warranty the tank unless it is installed on their stand. Nice theory, but the tank still cracked. The whole thing sits on a concrete slab, so I don't think it is any kind of uneveness in the underlying floor. I guess I'll never know. Now I face the task of getting this monster out of the house. Not nearly as much fun as bringing it in.

10-19-2005, 08:40 PM	#8
dougc Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 481	AGA is replacing my dead tank, even though it was out of warranty, but I am not sure what I want to do. I am debating just turning around and selling it and spending my weekends in a hammock. The other possiblity I am considering is swapping it straight up with the LFS for a 180. The 210 is quite impressive, but it is hard to reach the bottom to attach corals and do other maintenance. A 180 might be a little more managable. Hey, and 30 less gallons to leak out onto the floor.

10-19-2005, 08:44 PM	#9
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 13,007	That is a positive note for sure Doug, at least your going to get "something" in return here. Don't give up my friend, it was definitely an unfortunate and uncommon occurance that happened, I am confident the next one will be much better. How can we help you? __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

10-20-2005, 02:07 AM	#10
junglejonny Just Moved In Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: indianapolis Posts: 25	I think after seeing that i might have nightmares tonight....I dont think you should give up, life throwes us these little challenges now and again. as an old chineese proverb says "fall down 12 times stand up 13" Plus by the looks of your old tank u seem to pretty good at the hobby. U gotta stick around to help the newbies like me. Im sorry 4 the loss and i hope u trump it with a new tank

10-20-2005, 10:17 PM	#11
dougc Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 481	My rock sat out of water for a few days. It was covered with valonia and hair algae. I could "cook" it and resuse it. What really hurts is losing my fish and corals. I didn't want to take the risk of trying to maintain them for what might stretch into a couple of months, so back they all went to the LFS for sale. My wife wants me to downsize, but doesn't think a 180 fits that criteria. I told her that the size of the tank did not make a lot of difference in terms of the time commitment. It is more expensive, though, since more salt, bulbs, and filter media are required and it takes more livestock to fill it up. Her solution was to have something other than a reef tank, to which I replied that I wasn't really interested by anything else. Her retort was "So, its a Maserati or nothing, eh?". Sigh...

10-20-2005, 10:34 PM	#12
SeaMe Just Moved In Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: WA Posts: 39	Get a new wife! j/k

10-21-2005, 02:25 AM	#13
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,181	Doug don't give up now, if you do you will be BACK anyway. This hobby is SO ADDICTIVE and you are good at it! Keep it up, everything will work out! __________________ Need a Photographer? Just say NO to CRABS Mike

10-21-2005, 09:55 AM	#14
ghofmann Citizen Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Berea OH Posts: 110	That's an absolute heartbreaker. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. (If you can't get a Maseratti, get yourself a Porsche) __________________ Greg

10-21-2005, 10:14 AM	#15
*zhenya* Owner Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: new jersey,usa Posts: 7,651	Wow! I missed this thread somehow... Sorry to hear that tank busted on you, Doug. I real PITA! I'm thinking like the others that you should probably give it a go, especially since AGA is willing to replace the tank. I think 180g tank is a beauty but if wife is against it, try a cube or something. If and when you decide to restart, give me a holler and I'll provide some starter frags for you. __________________ Kind regards, Gene.

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10-21-2005, 01:10 PM	#16
Penguin Polymath Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 526	I also missed this thread until now. Really sorry that happened to you Doug. If you decide to set up another one let me know, I can definitely give you some frags. And if the old tank still needs to be moved I'm willing to help. __________________ As a nation, you're faced with the choice of taking over the world or offering good eats at reasonable prices.

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