Another Red Sea Reefer Failure

[RockRash]

no need to leave the hobby because of poor quality tanks. put your live stock and rock in a holding tank with heat and circulation and buy a quality tank.
your tank is the foundation of your reef. we have a lot more money invested in equipment so why do people skimp on tanks. i know i wouldnt and didnt. good luck but dont leave because of red sea poor quality.

But that's the problem, Red Sea is branded as a premium product. Take my LFS for example, they only sell Red Sea tanks. As someone getting back in the hobby we stopped by back in March and thinking we wanted to get back in the hobby we were seriously considering a Red Sea tank. Luckily for us we decided to go a different route and take a sort of DIY approach. But somebody new just getting in will be thinking they are buying a quality tank. If it wasn't for this forum I would have no idea of the problems. They really need to stop production until they figure it out.

 

[Dr. Suess210]

I post this as a forewarning. Only out of frustration and to corroborate all that has already been shared and posted about this issue. I am not interested in pursuing warranty, claims, class actions suits, etc. But as a new (and finished) hobbyist the more information that is out there the better. This should not be happening!

Add me to the list of RS 350 failures. This is my first tank and has been setup for about 4yrs. It is possibly a G1 tank but was supplied with a replacement G2 stand. Came home from work to a recently sprung leak. Only an inch or two of water had drained out of the tank. It was leaking from the front pane. It got progressively worse and really started coming out much faster after pushing on it to slow the original leak. I can't express enough how disappointing this result was. I am a no-expense-spared new hobbyist (because I loved it) with 10's of thousands of dollars into the tank. The fact that this is even a possible result is insane to me. Red Sea has really done a disservice to the hobby by selling these tanks and souring people to the hobby. I am afraid to say this will likely be my first and last reef tank. I am unaware of any other hobby in this level of expense with such a high possibility of critical failure. Not withstanding the possible damage to our homes! I am just grateful that I happened to be walking into my home at the time I did. Otherwise I would probably be making a homeowners insurance claim this morning.

I will be listing the majority of the equipment that is salvageable here for sale as soon as I get the rest of this cleaned up today. So sad and maddening.

How terrible. Don’t quit man. The hobby is too beautiful

 

[merkmerk73]

Imagine being the engineering team that signed off on the design of these tanks

Massive brand reputation damage, and untold damage to customers - reef tank failures are nothing like other things that fail where you just get a new TV or whatever

 

[edd59]

But that's the problem, Red Sea is branded as a premium product. Take my LFS for example, they only sell Red Sea tanks. As someone getting back in the hobby we stopped by back in March and thinking we wanted to get back in the hobby we were seriously considering a Red Sea tank. Luckily for us we decided to go a different route and take a sort of DIY approach. But somebody new just getting in will be thinking they are buying a quality tank. If it wasn't for this forum I would have no idea of the problems. They really need to stop production until they figure it out.

you need to do your research, before and during a hobby.

 

[SavvyCane]

I’m a Reefer G1 failure victim also. I honestly think ALL G1 owners need to invest in a good set of ratchet straps and C clamps. I didn’t have them when my leak sprung but I ran out to Home Depot and grabbed them. I placed a strap near the ruptured seam and at the top and bottom. I also use the C clamps on the side of the tank where the leak was located. This allowed me to keep fill the tank again and keep it running for another two months.

 

[IceNein]

you need to do your research, before and during a hobby.

While I totally agree with you, caveat emptor and all that, this is somewhat placing the blame on the victim. Red Sea are selling defective tanks, they should be telling you they're selling you a defective tank, or they should fix the defect.

 

[geologeek]

Imagine being the engineering team that signed off on the design of these tanks

Massive brand reputation damage, and untold damage to customers - reef tank failures are nothing like other things that fail where you just get a new TV or whatever

The engineer's appear to have done their job to a tee, as so many people have bought these aquarium's......it's the penny pinchers that have likely made the cutting of corners and used the completely wrong formula of silicone or spec of glass or both.......

But I do agree, someone messed up bad and have destroyed the reputation of a company, but worse, the experience of reefers who's misfortune it was to get one of these abominations.

 

[VintageReefer]

The reputation is ruined here but we already have tanks

The new hobbiest waking in the LFS or going to a major website will see Red Sea pushed all over and they won’t be the wiser

 

[LadyMac]

But that's the problem, Red Sea is branded as a premium product. Take my LFS for example, they only sell Red Sea tanks. As someone getting back in the hobby we stopped by back in March and thinking we wanted to get back in the hobby we were seriously considering a Red Sea tank. Luckily for us we decided to go a different route and take a sort of DIY approach. But somebody new just getting in will be thinking they are buying a quality tank. If it wasn't for this forum I would have no idea of the problems. They really need to stop production until they figure it out.

I’m fortunate that my LRS are Waterbox dealers. I have seen so much about Red Sea failing. Not going to lie I do love how some of the equipment looks and I am a sucker for all things matching which really makes the Red Sea line attractive. However I wouldn’t go over two foot in length because of the seals. Shoot over two foot on any rimless kinda scares me lol.

 

[VDC]

Normal with red sea....

 

[Tahiti]

This is the reason I sold my 250 G2 recently. Only had it for about 8 months and was afraid of the seems splitting and flooding my place. Also had issues with the valve not keeping the water level at the correct height. They are beautiful tanks but plagued with issues. Sorry to hear about your tank though.

 

[Proud]

I post this as a forewarning. Only out of frustration and to corroborate all that has already been shared and posted about this issue. I am not interested in pursuing warranty, claims, class actions suits, etc. But as a new (and finished) hobbyist the more information that is out there the better. This should not be happening!

Add me to the list of RS 350 failures. This is my first tank and has been setup for about 4yrs. It is possibly a G1 tank but was supplied with a replacement G2 stand. Came home from work to a recently sprung leak. Only an inch or two of water had drained out of the tank. It was leaking from the front pane. It got progressively worse and really started coming out much faster after pushing on it to slow the original leak. I can't express enough how disappointing this result was. I am a no-expense-spared new hobbyist (because I loved it) with 10's of thousands of dollars into the tank. The fact that this is even a possible result is insane to me. Red Sea has really done a disservice to the hobby by selling these tanks and souring people to the hobby. I am afraid to say this will likely be my first and last reef tank. I am unaware of any other hobby in this level of expense with such a high possibility of critical failure. Not withstanding the possible damage to our homes! I am just grateful that I happened to be walking into my home at the time I did. Otherwise I would probably be making a homeowners insurance claim this morning.

I will be listing the majority of the equipment that is salvageable here for sale as soon as I get the rest of this cleaned up today. So sad and maddening.

so sad this happended

 

[Proud]

no need to leave the hobby because of poor quality tanks. put your live stock and rock in a holding tank with heat and circulation and buy a quality tank.
your tank is the foundation of your reef. we have a lot more money invested in equipment so why do people skimp on tanks. i know i wouldnt and didnt. good luck but dont leave because of red sea poor quality.

totally agree

 

[Proud]

I post this as a forewarning. Only out of frustration and to corroborate all that has already been shared and posted about this issue. I am not interested in pursuing warranty, claims, class actions suits, etc. But as a new (and finished) hobbyist the more information that is out there the better. This should not be happening!

Add me to the list of RS 350 failures. This is my first tank and has been setup for about 4yrs. It is possibly a G1 tank but was supplied with a replacement G2 stand. Came home from work to a recently sprung leak. Only an inch or two of water had drained out of the tank. It was leaking from the front pane. It got progressively worse and really started coming out much faster after pushing on it to slow the original leak. I can't express enough how disappointing this result was. I am a no-expense-spared new hobbyist (because I loved it) with 10's of thousands of dollars into the tank. The fact that this is even a possible result is insane to me. Red Sea has really done a disservice to the hobby by selling these tanks and souring people to the hobby. I am afraid to say this will likely be my first and last reef tank. I am unaware of any other hobby in this level of expense with such a high possibility of critical failure. Not withstanding the possible damage to our homes! I am just grateful that I happened to be walking into my home at the time I did. Otherwise I would probably be making a homeowners insurance claim this morning.

I will be listing the majority of the equipment that is salvageable here for sale as soon as I get the rest of this cleaned up today. So sad and maddening.

don't leave

 

[KellyGee]

But that's the problem, Red Sea is branded as a premium product. Take my LFS for example, they only sell Red Sea tanks. As someone getting back in the hobby we stopped by back in March and thinking we wanted to get back in the hobby we were seriously considering a Red Sea tank. Luckily for us we decided to go a different route and take a sort of DIY approach. But somebody new just getting in will be thinking they are buying a quality tank. If it wasn't for this forum I would have no idea of the problems. They really need to stop production until they figure it out.

This is the display Red Sea tank in my LFS. It’s an 8’ tank and it’s going to destroy the store when that seal bursts!

 

[smitten with ocean life]

did you tell them???

 

[merkmerk73]

The engineer's appear to have done their job to a tee, as so many people have bought these aquarium's......it's the penny pinchers that have likely made the cutting of corners and used the completely wrong formula of silicone or spec of glass or both.......

But I do agree, someone messed up bad and have destroyed the reputation of a company, but worse, the experience of reefers who's misfortune it was to get one of these abominations.

The aesthetics of red sea tanks are incredible, and the improvements in the G2 series are great.

The AIO (cabinet, sump included, plumbing etc.) makes these tanks a great value as well.

People worked really hard on that, but some design/material issues gave us the disaster we have now

And a failing tank is about as bad as a failing airplane in terms of how catastrophic it is to deal with

It's just sad all around.

 

[reneeL]

Hello, my RS front seams were about to go but we saw the bubbles that appear. They got larger, then the seams (both front sides) got worse. We put clamps on the tank. Of course we did remove our critters. I was lucky that I caught the problem. Before I bought the RS I did not see all these disasters that I now see.
Went and got a 40 gallon Aqueon which happened to be on sale. Already had 2 extra tanks, a almost 40 and a 20 tanks set up and added one rubber trash can for rocks to hold all the sump stuff. They all have hang on filters and air stones.
Now it is time to decide what aquarium we will be getting. I am NOT going to even try to deal with RED SEA they are destroying people in this hobby. I did write them.
Wow, 4 years. I am so sad for you and sorry you were not able to catch it before it sprung. After looking at prices I will not be getting an expensive tank. We are going to stay in this hobby. New tank will be resting all points on the stand. No hang off glass.
The other problem is that the RS stand is an odd ball and hard to reuse for other tanks. You end up needing to buy rs to fit it. The thing is, the front panel (I do not care what anyone says) does not have any support especially if it is rimless. Only the silicone is holding it. That is all that is keeping it on the front of the aquarium. The silicone obviously is inferior to other tanks.
I had an Oceanic for over 10 years before I moved and decided to go larger. That tank was an ALL Glass it was used for over 10 years. A hurricane and my husbands death made me decide to get out of the hobby for a while. I saved ...got RS.
I sure hope someone makes them pay.

 

[reneeL]

Sorry to hear.

I own a redsea. I’m okay now, but I almost certainly will upgrade next year to a better platform.

Have a set of clamps handy. If you see bubbles or water in your seams put them on.

 

[Troylee]

I'll be in the market for another tank soon and Red Sea is not on the list. Sorry this happened to you

Tankguy is back huh?