New To saltwater Keeping

[ALX2501]

Hello Everyone,

I need some advice. So I’ve bought A Aquanano 80/130 recently, and I noticed that The back panel, which separates the main tank area and the filter section, the Silicone sealant on one side, isn’t sealed properly and there is an opening from top to bottom, I called My Local Fish Store (who I had bought it from) asked if it will affect the tank in anyway, and they said no, only on how it looks, and so then I decided to buy some sealant to patch it, and then they had called me the next day, and I explained that I had bought some sealant to try and patch it, and then they said that they were going to give me another new tank for free but because I had already bought the sealant, they Said for me to patch it myself instead of giving me a new tank, and so I tried it. I could only barely patch a small potion of the top, but I wasn’t able to seal the rest all the way down due to not having the right angle to seal it, and now the tank looks Messy on the seams and I feel like I have made it worse. Also the Aqua One Moray 480 That came with the tank, it looked simple enough but I have no idea on how to put it together. From the Tank situation and Not being able to put a simple Pump together, I feel Like I’m already giving up before I’ve actually started anything…Any and All advice and opinions are welcome.

Thanks!

 

[ALX2501]

Hello Everyone,

I need some advice. So I’ve bought A Aquanano 80/130 recently, and I noticed that The back panel, which separates the main tank area and the filter section, the Silicone sealant on one side, isn’t sealed properly and there is an opening from top to bottom, I called My Local Fish Store (who I had bought it from) asked if it will affect the tank in anyway, and they said no, only on how it looks, and so then I decided to buy some sealant to patch it, and then they had called me the next day, and I explained that I had bought some sealant to try and patch it, and then they said that they were going to give me another new tank for free but because I had already bought the sealant, they Said for me to patch it myself instead of giving me a new tank, and so I tried it. I could only barely patch a small potion of the top, but I wasn’t able to seal the rest all the way down due to not having the right angle to seal it, and now the tank looks Messy on the seams and I feel like I have made it worse. Also the Aqua One Moray 480 That came with the tank, it looked simple enough but I have no idea on how to put it together. From the Tank situation and Not being able to put a simple Pump together, I feel Like I’m already giving up before I’ve actually started anything…Any and All advice and opinions are welcome.

Thanks!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I can't help you but wanted to say sorry for that situation (and softly bumping for you), but your LFS sucks to put you in that situation.

Regarding the pump installation, I rely on youtube for visuals. You can almost always find a video on youtube for equipment. Good luck

 

[Peace River]

#WelcometoR2R! You should be able to clean up the silicone. It is not for structural purposes. Once you fill it with water and equipment it likely wont be an issue. I am curious what type of silicone (brand and type) that you used?

 

[Fish Fan]

If you purchased a brand new tank, I would go back to the store and kindly insist on a new tank. You deserve what you paid for, and looking at that seam would drive me nuts. Remember, your credit card or payment method may be able to help you here too.

 

[Subsea]

OP,
Your LFS could do a better job with customer relations. I agree with fish fan.

 

[Uncle99]

They can’t sell the tank now with the re seal.
Maybe meet in the middle, see if they can have it fixed.

 

[ALX2501]

#WelcometoR2R! You should be able to clean up the silicone. It is not for structural purposes. Once you fill it with water and equipment it likely wont be an issue. I am curious what type of silicone (brand and type) that you used?

Thank you! the silicone I used was - Bond It Black HA6 Silicone Sealant High Modulas safe for RTV fresh or marine salt water aquarium fish tanks

 

[Fish Fan]

I saw the OP's other post here:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-to-saltwater-keeping.1115760/
I was immediately on the side of get your money back, but as @Uncle99 mentioned in the above link, this may now be a hard return given that the OP tried to reseal it, even though they were told to do so by the seller.

I would still try to return this tank, and I would talk to your credit card company to see if they can help you here. You paid for a brand new, flawless tank, and you deserve one, in my opinion. Maybe I'm crazy - I mean, for this situation here, not the usual stuff

I think - and oh man, maybe I'm old or ignorant or just a shlep or all of the above - but I feel like you should get the brand new tank you paid for. This has come up before where people were unhappy with a brand new, and not inexpensive tank, and the seller or manufacturer told them to "fix it" with a little silicon. I've done enough silicon that I feel like I'm "pretty good"at it, but I'm not a pro with pro equipment, and I don't think someone just buying a new tank should have to repair the manufacturer's flaws.

All that said, *IF* the OP get's stuck with this tank, I would agree, you can scrape that repair job out, and redo it so it looks a little better. Use some blue painter's masking tape on each side of where you want you seam to be, and a very crisp, clean seam can be achieved.

*IF* @ALX2501 you get stuck with this tank, please post again, a lot of members here are really great with silicon work, better than myself, and would be happy to help you.

Good luck with this, tough situation for sure. I hope I've helped

 

[Chela101]

Hello Everyone,

I need some advice. So I’ve bought A Aquanano 80/130 recently, and I noticed that The back panel, which separates the main tank area and the filter section, the Silicone sealant on one side, isn’t sealed properly and there is an opening from top to bottom, I called My Local Fish Store (who I had bought it from) asked if it will affect the tank in anyway, and they said no, only on how it looks, and so then I decided to buy some sealant to patch it, and then they had called me the next day, and I explained that I had bought some sealant to try and patch it, and then they said that they were going to give me another new tank for free but because I had already bought the sealant, they Said for me to patch it myself instead of giving me a new tank, and so I tried it. I could only barely patch a small potion of the top, but I wasn’t able to seal the rest all the way down due to not having the right angle to seal it, and now the tank looks Messy on the seams and I feel like I have made it worse. Also the Aqua One Moray 480 That came with the tank, it looked simple enough but I have no idea on how to put it together. From the Tank situation and Not being able to put a simple Pump together, I feel Like I’m already giving up before I’ve actually started anything…Any and All advice and opinions are welcome.

Thanks!

Hey you want me to be honest get a blade and take it off and tell them that you haven’t done it, and that now you rather get a new tank. Get a brace and start taking off any caulking you put and problem solved

 

[Chela101]

Razor blade****

 

[Fish Fan]

Hey you want me to be honest get a blade and take it off and tell them that you haven’t done it, and that now you rather get a new tank. Get a brace and start taking off any caulking you put and problem solved

Thank you for your reply here, I think you're largely spot on! Except, I would leave the silicon where it is, and let the LFS know that they wanted the OP to do it, and then I would ask for a new tank. Thank you for joining the conversation here

I'll add, if this tank was assembled by some employee that was having a bad day, we don't know if the silicon on the AIO box was the only flaw. How horrible would this be if the OP accepted this tank, did their best to redo the affected area, and then a year or so later had a catastrophic failure that damaged their home and caused loss of livestock.

Just sayin' what I would do

Best of luck to the OP!!

 

[Chela101]

Hey you want me to be honest get a blade and take it off and tell them that you haven’t done it, and that now you rather get a new tank. Get a brace and start taking off any caulking you put and problem solved

Thank you for your reply here, I think you're largely spot on! Except, I would leave the silicon where it is, and let the LFS know that they wanted the OP to do it, and then I would ask for a new tank. Thank you for joining the conversation here

I'll add, if this tank was assembled by some employee that was having a bad day, we don't know if the silicon on the AIO box was the only flaw. How horrible would this be if the OP accepted this tank, did their best to redo the affected area, and then a year or so later had a catastrophic failure that damaged their home and caused loss of livestock.

Just sayin' what I would do

Best of luck to the OP!!

There you go!! Honestly whoever said that you need to keep it, haven’t had sleepless nights on new tanks “even new” having leaking problems. Better safe than sorry

 

[ALX2501]

UPDATE:

LFS Called me Today and said that because I have already tried to re-seal It, that they can’t send it back to the manufacturer. But they did say for me to bring the tank in to them and they will try and re-seal it themselves.

I will send an update over the weekend.

Thank you so much to everyone who has commented and given me some advice! :)

 

[Gumbies R Us]

UPDATE:

LFS Called me Today and said that because I have already tried to re-seal It, that they can’t send it back to the manufacturer. But they did say for me to bring the tank in to them and they will try and re-seal it themselves.

I will send an update over the weekend.

Thank you so much to everyone who has commented and given me some advice! :)

Glad to see your LFS is willing to help you out!