Do Red Sea Nano Max Tanks Have Failures?

[NewR33FER]

I’m looking at a Red Sea Peninsula nano Max to put next to my desk. So much about Red Sea failures, but do those failures happen on the nanos? Thanks

 

[Biokabe]

Generally not, at least not at the same rate.

We still don't know precisely why they fail, but based on what people like @UncommonSense have reported when disassembling failed tanks it appears to be a silicone issue. Basically, for whatever reason the silicone that Red Sea uses isn't nearly as strong as it should be, and under the higher pressure exerted by a larger tank, it fails.

That's not as big of an issue in a small tank. In a larger tank with a bigger footprint (say, 48 x 21 for the front pane of a Reefer 350), the silicone has to hold against about 750 pounds of pressure. On a smaller tank, the front pane (23 x 18, for the Nano Max peninsula) the silicone only has to hold up against about 270 pounds. That's a lot easier for even Red Sea's weaker silicone. Full disclosure, I just did some quick napkin math for those figures, the actual value may be different.

Personally I still wouldn't, but that's because I don't really like Red Sea as a company. But from a strictly safety point of view, I don't think the nanos have had the same problems as the Reefers.

Other people with actual experience with the nanos can of course correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[UncommonSense]

I’m looking at a Red Sea Peninsula nano Max to put next to my desk. So much about Red Sea failures, but do those failures happen on the nanos? Thanks

I know @exnisstech ‘s Reefer 170 experienced seam failure, and have seen a few others do so in that size range…

It doesn’t seem to be as common with the nanos, but there is definitely an inherent risk with putting any Red Sea tank from this era in one’s home!

Full disclosure, I just did some quick napkin math for those figures, the actual value may be different.

You’re within the ballpark! The math can be confusing…

.433PSI exerted per-vertical foot of water column… x ~1.025 for SG of saltwater = ~.444PSI/ft for saltwater…

21” = 1.75ft X .444 =.777PSI (at bottom pane)

— You find the total pressure across the viewing pane by getting a nominal pressure; 1/2 of the water column’s height in PSI! (.3885PSI nominal)

Surface area of the 48x21 viewing pane = 1,008in2

— 1,0008in2 X .3885PSI = ~391.6lbs of force pushing on each 4ft pane!

(These numbers start getting alarming fast when you get into 3+ft tall tanks!)

 

[exnisstech]

Not an AIO but could be considered a nano. G1 reefer 170 mentioned above.