CADE unboxing left in sadness.

[Delly]

Hey everyone,

My CADE 600 finally arrived — and honestly, I was shocked at the condition it showed up in.

I won’t go through every single detail, but I wanted to share my experience and get some thoughts on what my next steps should be.

The tank arrived leaning sideways on the pallet, and one of the side panels was visibly damaged. The delivery guy basically said, “I’m not sure what happened to it,” then asked me to help get it off the truck. He had me lower the liftgate while he braced the tank, and once it was on the ground he helped me get it onto a dolly so I could bring it into my apartment.

When I unboxed everything, the damage was even more obvious — and the overall quality was honestly disappointing. I’ve always heard CADE is one of the best in the hobby, and with the price tag I expected something that felt premium right out of the box.

Here are some pictures.

The cabinet also had damage, and one of the doors literally fell off as soon as I removed the side panel. That one definitely caught me off guard.

The tank itself has a ding on the top, some discolorations, and the black divider between the display and filtration isn’t aligned properly. Several of the plastic filtration components on the tank side are also warped.

I’ve already filed a claim to see what the next steps are, but after talking with family and friends — and considering the amount of money I spent — I’m leaning toward not keeping the tank at all. I also live in an apartment, so I can’t risk a system that might leak or fail. That would cause a lot of damage that I’d be responsible for.

This is not the best way to start the saltwater hubby :(

Thank you for reading,
Delly

 

[Fish Fan]

I wouldn't be happy at all. If you paid for a brand new system, you deserve a flawless tank and gear. Remember, if the seller or manufacturer gives you any push back about this, you can often contact your credit card or payment method for help.

I'm sorry to see this, best of luck going forward!

 

[DmitryB]

Wow this stinks big time! Did you have an opportunity of refusing delivery since there was visible damage on the outside?

I'd be angry and disappointed if something I've been anxiously waiting on arrives like this.

 

[rtparty]

That is a courier issue, not the manufacturer.

Delivery should have been declined or at least all that damage recorded upon delivery so the courier can’t blame you later

 

[Delly]

Wow this stinks big time! Did you have an opportunity of refusing delivery since there was visible damage on the outside?

I'd be angry and disappointed if something I've been anxiously waiting on arrives like this.

In the paperwork it says that if there is damage shown , and no signs of glass damage you should expect delivery and then takes pictures and email the customer support team.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Always a bummer when joy turns into disappointment. So sorry this happened to you.

 

[Delly]

That is a courier issue, not the manufacturer.

Delivery should have been declined or at least all that damage recorded upon delivery so the courier can’t blame you later

I also never signed anything you dropped off the tank and was on his way. If anything he could have delivered it to a completely different guy.

 

[martin.a]

Gosh, that sucks. I am really sorry, I think, I know how you must feel. CADE seems all right with claims. Fingers crossed for quick resolve. Don't get discouraged, this crap happens. I collect early vacuum tubes and sometimes I literally cry seeing what those... people did to 100+ years old pieces which survived 2 world wars.
Anyway, when getting my tank I was in talks with my LFS to get it delivered to them, and them comming and installing it in my house. Would cost extra, but made things simpler. (I finally got display unit from another LFS, also hand delivered.)

 

[DmitryB]

In the paperwork it says that if there is damage shown , and no signs of glass damage you should expect delivery and then takes pictures and email the customer support team.

Innovative Marine says to ask the driver to wait, open the crate, inspect for visible damage, and refuse delivery if there is any damage. I guess all these companies have different arrangements.

 

[UncommonSense]

I’m leaning toward not keeping the tank at all

I’d recommend against using at least the stand… it appears to have been crushed quite violently!

Note air gaps here:

 

[slingfox]

When I was getting my RedSea tank replaced under warranty due to seam failure, RedSea if ones me that if the tank came damaged I should refuse delivery. This apparently makes it easier for the tank manufacturer.

 

[Delly]

In the paperwork it says that if there is damage shown , and no signs of glass damage you should expect delivery and then takes pictures and email the customer support team.

Innovative Marine says to ask the driver to wait, open the crate, inspect for visible damage, and refuse delivery if there is any damage. I guess all these companies have different arrangements.

This driver was not doing that no way. I also called the shipper and then got a time estimate of 2 hours that he will be at my location. 30 mins later he showered up.

 

[Delly]

When I was getting my RedSea tank replaced under warranty due to seam failure, RedSea if ones me that if the tank came damaged I should refuse delivery. This apparently makes it easier for the tank manufacturer.

Agreed it would have .

 

[JumboShrimp]

If you ask me, these delivery guys KNOW that when you are delivering a giant glass box ("aquarium"), you want to dump-and-ditch. "I'd love to stick around and give you 40 minutes to unpack & inspect... but I just remembered a left a tea pot boiling on the stove at home... SEE YA!"

 

[Gumbies R Us]

So sorry this happened to you! Hope you can get this sorted out

 

[DmitryB]

If you ask me, these delivery guys KNOW that when you are delivering a giant glass box ("aquarium"), you want to dump-and-ditch. "I'd love to stick around and give you 40 minutes to unpack & inspect... but I just remembered a left a tea pot boiling on the stove at home... SEE YA!"

Especially if they themselves see there's damage. They may not have caused it, but they can see it. AND since they do see it, why do they put it on their truck for delivery?? A decent person and professional driver would not have put that thing on his truck in the first place. (Though they probably get paid by delivery?)

In any case, Delly, this sucks and hang in there! It's going to be a longer wait, but it will come through eventually and will be worth the wait! Did you have to wait for the tank to be manufactured? Try to see if Cade maybe has an extra or if they can give you somebody else's tank they're finishing! Let that person wait a little longer!

 

[W31Olds]

I would take a look at the outside of your shipping containers. I finally received my Waterbox and it clearly indicated to not "double stack". That load looks unstable like someone stacked it to save space on the truck.

 

[gregrock68]

That is a courier issue, not the manufacturer.

Delivery should have been declined or at least all that damage recorded upon delivery so the courier can’t blame you later

1000% agree!

Couriers have damaged numerous items I had delivered lately. It's sad that the manufacturer is the one who takes the hit on this damage, not to mention their reputation can also be tarnished by the courier, like in this instance

Always decline a delivery if there is any observable damage

 

[NCsalt]

I would take a look at the outside of your shipping containers. I finally received my Waterbox and it clearly indicated to not "double stack". That load looks unstable like someone stacked it to save space on the truck.

Cades come double stacked. You can pay handsomely for single stack. Thats what i decided to do.

The doors get loose in transit due to carrier roughness, they tell you that before they ship. The hinges are easy to tighten or reattach.

The pallet mine was on was coming apart when it got to my house from rough transit.

This damage looks like a significant courier issue to me.

 

[DHill6]

Algaebarn, Cade, sends instructions on what to do when tank arrives. I paid extra to have it side by side and not stacked. The crates had damage, a lot of pictures taken and I documented that in writing on the shippers slip. Next I sent all pics relating to anything that was damaged to Cade at Algaebarn, they sent replacement pieces which were the hinges on the glass door. This was the 600G2 glass door version.
I had the delivery guy stay while we opened the top of the crates and looked for obvious broken glass, which there wasn’t any luckily. Before I signed any delivery paper. The crates were definitely not in good shape including the metal edges.