Inner bottom bracing silicone issue

[mp2022]

Hi all, I recently received a mariner M130 which overall is a really nice tank, but upon inspecting the tank noted an issue where the inner bottom glass brace to the back wall is not completely siliconed at its corner and there is some air gapping here (see attached photos). It is a very small area.

Eshopps has been great with their customer service, and explained to me that it shouldn’t be a structural issue or weak point because goal is to just make sure the inner bracing is holding the actual tank glass walls together as opposed to forming a seal (which I guess makes sense). Regardless, they have a lot of confidence in their product and have offered to extend their warranty for 6 years but if I want they will also just send me a new tank.

Easiest thing is to just take the extended warranty so as not to deal with the hassle of scheduling and waiting for a freight delivery, but at the same time my OCD is such that the tank should be perfect. That being said it’s possible that this truly is a non structurally important imperfection that passed their quality control, and that the next tank I get may have similar imperfections.

Would you all just sit tight with the current tank and take the 6 year warranty, or get the new tank? Thanks.

 

[mcarroll]

Maybe I don't understand your description, but the silicone in between the glass pains is what holds everything together.

The extra silicone you usually see in the corners is only protective/coincidental.

 

[mp2022]

Maybe I don't understand your description, but the silicone in between the glass pains is what holds everything together.

The extra silicone you usually see in the corners is only protective/coincidental.

Yeah probably not very clear, but what is circled is where the bottom inner glass brace (pane of glass that is siliconed to the actual tank walls and bottom, so kind of like a eurobrace, but at the bottom of the tank) meets the back wall. The area in question is at the inner corner of that bottom inner glass brace, there is probably a couple of mm where the back of the glass inner brace is not completely siliconed to the black glass wall, and evidence of a small area around that where there is air between the bottom of the glass brace and the bottom glass of the tank, so I am assuming there is a silicone defect there as well.

Now what the manufacturer tells me is that the purpose of the bottom inner brace is to provide extra strength and stability to the tank forming an additional bond between the front/back/sides/bottom, and that a minor absence of silicone bonding of the inner brace does not lead to a higher leak risk or weakened area of the tank, etc because it is not an actually tank seam. The tank itself is 125 gallons, and is 60”x22”x22”. It has 3/4” walls and bottom, in addition to the 3/8” inner bottoms bracing.

Again they are confident there isn’t an actual long term structural stability or leak risk here, but offered me either to 1) have a local company they contract with come in and do a silicone repair in that area and extend the warranty to 6 years or 2) ship me a new tank and send back the other.

Leaning towards option 1 because I don’t want to have the headache of having a freight company come back to the house to drop off and pick up a new tank in two separate outings as timing with my work schedule is a pain. The company also said if I am not satisfied with the repair, they will still ship me a new tank. All of this is just kind of annoyingly pushing this project start back by months, so I am either impatient with the process or too OCD about small imperfections or both lol.

I guess my question would be is does anyone see here enough of a structural concern they wouldn’t bother with an attempted repair and just get the new tank from the company?

Thanks.

 

[mcarroll]

I would think the options are keep it as is or get a new tank. I don't think I would consider the repair option.

"As Is" might be fine – I'm no tank builder but I can see the point they are making and they don't have anything to gain by exaggerating to lying, so...probably fine!

But if they're willing to ship a new one, I think I'd find that hard to say no to.

(The situation isn't ideal of course, but it sounds like they are taking terrific care of you, BTW. Congrats on that at least!!!)

 

[mp2022]

I would think the options are keep it as is or get a new tank. I don't think I would consider the repair option.

"As Is" might be fine – I'm no tank builder but I can see the point they are making and they don't have anything to gain by exaggerating to lying, so...probably fine!

But if they're willing to ship a new one, I think I'd find that hard to say no to.

(The situation isn't ideal of course, but it sounds like they are taking terrific care of you, BTW. Congrats on that at least!!!)

Thanks. Yeah great customer service all around.

Just curious, if they are just going to add more silicone to that area as the “repair”, is there any harm in them doing that vs just taking it as is?

 

[UncommonSense]

Thanks. Yeah great customer service all around.

Just curious, if they are just going to add more silicone to that area as the “repair”, is there any harm in them doing that vs just taking it as is?

They actually hit the nail on the head with this one! It is an assembly error, but should not significantly affect the structural strength of a tank like this!

I’d have the local guy fill in the gaps with silicone so they don’t accumulate detritus or organic life, then enjoy your tank!

 

[Asm481]

I would accept the repair. Only downside there is waiting for silicone to cure as opposed to waiting on shipping. I am to impatient for either option.

 

[UncommonSense]

I would accept the repair. Only downside there is waiting for silicone to cure as opposed to waiting on shipping. I am to impatient for either option.

This would be a 3-7 day cure at most; the silicone would only be sealing the gaps, a bit like caulking!

 

[Freenow54]

Hi all, I recently received a mariner M130 which overall is a really nice tank, but upon inspecting the tank noted an issue where the inner bottom glass brace to the back wall is not completely siliconed at its corner and there is some air gapping here (see attached photos). It is a very small area.

Eshopps has been great with their customer service, and explained to me that it shouldn’t be a structural issue or weak point because goal is to just make sure the inner bracing is holding the actual tank glass walls together as opposed to forming a seal (which I guess makes sense). Regardless, they have a lot of confidence in their product and have offered to extend their warranty for 6 years but if I want they will also just send me a new tank.

Easiest thing is to just take the extended warranty so as not to deal with the hassle of scheduling and waiting for a freight delivery, but at the same time my OCD is such that the tank should be perfect. That being said it’s possible that this truly is a non structurally important imperfection that passed their quality control, and that the next tank I get may have similar imperfections.

Would you all just sit tight with the current tank and take the 6 year warranty, or get the new tank? Thanks.

Looks Like the acrylic did not bond . I would personally agree not an issue as to a waterproof seal . However the white residue points to my experience using derivatives of super glue . After posting I was directed to a different product which I have yet to use which is " Weld- On " it says Acrylics on the label. Try to bead it

 

[mp2022]

Hi all, I recently received a mariner M130 which overall is a really nice tank, but upon inspecting the tank noted an issue where the inner bottom glass brace to the back wall is not completely siliconed at its corner and there is some air gapping here (see attached photos). It is a very small area.

Eshopps has been great with their customer service, and explained to me that it shouldn’t be a structural issue or weak point because goal is to just make sure the inner bracing is holding the actual tank glass walls together as opposed to forming a seal (which I guess makes sense). Regardless, they have a lot of confidence in their product and have offered to extend their warranty for 6 years but if I want they will also just send me a new tank.

Easiest thing is to just take the extended warranty so as not to deal with the hassle of scheduling and waiting for a freight delivery, but at the same time my OCD is such that the tank should be perfect. That being said it’s possible that this truly is a non structurally important imperfection that passed their quality control, and that the next tank I get may have similar imperfections.

Would you all just sit tight with the current tank and take the 6 year warranty, or get the new tank? Thanks.

Looks Like the acrylic did not bond . I would personally agree not an issue as to a waterproof seal . However the white residue points to my experience using derivatives of super glue . After posting I was directed to a different product which I have yet to use which is " Weld- On " it says Acrylics on the label. Try to bead it

Thanks. The inner bracing is glass and per the manufacturer they coat the entire bottom in silicone to bond to the bottom of the tank in addition to the sides - I think the white residue appearing area that you are referring is actually the area that is not well coated in silicone and it’s the reflection of the camera light or something but hard to say.

 

[mp2022]

Thanks all. Going to go for the repair and fingers crossed everything else is solid!

 

[Freenow54]

Thanks all. Going to go for the repair and fingers crossed everything else is solid!

Good luck hope it goes well . On the tank that I first tried to save the rim assembly which is a separate one piece part that can be bought by the way . Which I learned from a member that's helping me that builds Tanks. The silicon was between the rim and the glass the full depth which was 1.5 inches . it was very difficult to separate and I ended up destroying it on purpose . It was a continuous one piece molding , so I would say yours was not made the same as mine or a factory fault by the machine they used . The reason I wondered if it was separate parts glued together is because when I glued acrylic together with the so called special aquarium safe glue it would not bond 100 % and I would get that white residue leak out