How has CadLights been?

[Smotz]

Can I get some recent reviews on CadLights systems? I've read some older posts saying that they weren't so great but I am really interested in the 68G in the link below. Thoughts?

https://www.cadlights.com/index.php...=61_96&zenid=e12d5fb61c9f2029b51519f8367b601e

 

[Rakie]

I would never buy cadlights ever.

Club member had a 400g tank blow open, cadlights claimed it wasn't their fault, insurance inspected the silicone and said it was faulty building. They are currently in court over it.

Never trust cadlights. Shoddy workmanship, untrustworthy owner.

 

[Smotz]

I would never buy cadlights ever.

Club member had a 400g tank blow open, cadlights claimed it wasn't their fault, insurance inspected the silicone and said it was faulty building. They are currently in court over it.

Never trust cadlights. Shoddy workmanship, untrustworthy owner.

Ouch. Thats a shame.

 

[Sod Buster]

The tank that exploded was a custom build, and yes, ouch. I have taken down my 45 lagoon, 3' X 2' X 1'. The tank is ok. These are made in China, but nice. All beveled glass, some small chips they try to bevel out though. The stand is almost a throw away unless you get the plywood upgrade. Be prepared to get all the metric to standard pipe adapters for the plumbing, as it comes w/ metric bulkheads. The durso drain is loud, they will put holes in the tank before delivery on request. Decide how you can go be an animal or Herbie and still have returns from the pump not going over the top of the tank. The sump is almost useless because the baffles are low, I made a acrylic piece to raise my skimmer section 2 & 1/2 inches. All the extras: sell before you use. The pump mixes my saltwater. The ato reservoir is glass & very thin, chipped a corner washing it in the sink. I never got a skimmer from them. Tank was really nice except the drain. Figure out how to put in external overflows or returns to be happy in 3 years. But again, all that aside, the tank itself was nice.

 

[HB AL]

I bought a 92g a little over 3 years ago on a Black Friday sale and have had no issues.

 

[doughboy]

it's hit or miss.
if you feel lucky, roll the dice.

 

[HB AL]

Most people post when they have a problem with something. It’s never really the other way around on how great something is working. Kinda like when you read a customer review on some item. @Smotz that’s a good deal for what your getting, if it were me I would have already bought it if it was the size of tank I was looking for.

 

[Sod Buster]

Yeah. I'd build that tank with a 800 gallon or larger external overflow from fijicube added. Go for it. The tanks are nice, don't get me wrong. That will be all it takes to make it great. Get a external overflow & send it to them to cut the hole. Use the 1" 1/4 stock drainpipe for the secondary, w/ the emergency next to the primary in the external.

 

[Blue Ring Octopus]

Check out SCAquariums. They do custom as well as stock tanks. They ship as well. For a big tank look into Crystal Dynamic Aquariums.

 

[Rakie]

Crystal Dynamic Aquariums.

2+ year waiting list.

 

[wiselyy73]

SCA and CadLights both use the same manufacture in China. They just put their own brand on their tanks. I own an SCA have no issue for three years. It is a matter of miss or hit by luck. Even Red Sea Reefer has issue on the seals as well.

 

[Blue Ring Octopus]

Hey Rakie that is news to me.

 

[DanInMichigan]

I have a Cadlight's 178G on order. As others have said, bad reviews get posted. Happy customers are usually silent. I haven't received mine yet, so my experience has yet to be written.

 

[Smotz]

I actually just bought this for $700 - did I do good?

RedSea reefer 250 deluxe
Return Pump-Rio 2100
Protein skimmer Eshopps S15
Chiller Kryos 1/6 HP
Aqua UV classic 25 UV sterilizer
Lights 2 Hydra 26 HD LED with brackets

 

[Sod Buster]

I would say so for that price even if you change out some parts which you should so you can enjoy all the plumbing "joys" instead of bolting it up. It's not your dream dimensions, but a quality piece with lots of options. If you don't like it, you can always flip it & get your money back. Good score.

 

[anthony fotiu]

I have had my 100 gallon up for 4 years no problems at all!

 

[Smotz]

I would say so for that price even if you change out some parts which you should so you can enjoy all the plumbing "joys" instead of bolting it up. It's not your dream dimensions, but a quality piece with lots of options. If you don't like it, you can always flip it & get your money back. Good score.

Already sold the lights (I had lights already) for 500..

 

[Cthehentz]

I had a skimmer pump fail and they refused to warranty it although it was within its warranty period. Old news I moved on.

 

[shred5]

I have a Cadlight's 178G on order. As others have said, bad reviews get posted. Happy customers are usually silent. I haven't received mine yet, so my experience has yet to be written.

While your right Yea but there have been too many bad reviews.

Having a issue with a tank here and there is one thing.

The real problem is someone like Red Sea takes care of the issues. The biggest issue is with CadLights is customer service is they do not respond or tell you to take a jump in a lake. I do not own one myself but there are way to many issues out there for me.

Look how many negative reviews to positive there are on CadLights. Then look at Redsea and very few negative reviews and most of the negatives end up being taken care of.

SCA and CadLights both use the same manufacture in China. They just put their own brand on their tanks. I own an SCA have no issue for three years. It is a matter of miss or hit by luck. Even Red Sea Reefer has issue on the seals as well.

I had heard that before too that they were the same tanks.

 

[Sod Buster]

The cadlights tanks are nice. Just a loud drain and the cabinet is a sponge. I was proud of mine for 4 years until I got a new tv & audio rack. I got a tv 10"s too big. Had to rearrange the living room to make room for the tv, then this winter my bachelor pad accepted a live in and she needed a xmas tree to get in the spirit I guess. If it was up to me, I'd still have mine set up & love it. I own a cadlights. It was delivered cross country in 4 days w/out issue. Everything was mint when I set it up. Don't be negative against a company unless you yourself have been mistreated personally from them. Reviews are reviews. My review is a positive, just little notes to make the setup perfect from experience is all I stated. I'm not trying to start any argument, I stated facts from personal experience in this thread. Congrats to smoltz for getting a deal.