Red Sea Max S 650 Used

[jacobreynolds6883]

I’ve come across the opportunity to buy a Red Sea Max S 650 with lights, pumps, rock, skimmer, dosing pump for a great buy $750. The tank looks great and in immaculate condition. Looking for opinions of individuals that have this tank as to build quality. Due to all the scary threads of Red Sea blowouts really pushes me away from this tank. So feedback would be great along with if I purchase would you reseal the seams or does this even matter with Red Sea glass failures? Thanks for advice

 

[BryanM]

If you're good at resealing, sure, but otherwise I'd steer clear, and you're likely to see similar advice.

I won't go near RS anymore, and I got rid of all of the gear I had from them.

 

[exnisstech]

I would give any RS tank a pass unless I wanted to keep reptiles.

This is my Reefer Gen 1 reefer 170 after a seam failed.

These are two seams on my Gen 2 reefer 300 that is under warranty but RS said it isn't a concern and wants me to monitor things and will not replace it until the damage reaches the actual seam area. If I do get a replacement tank it will be offered for sale as I will not fill another redsea tank in my home. If I replace it before it fails I'll add it to the pile with the 170. Larger tanks are even more at risk.

PS. The correct way to reseal a tank is to completely cut the tank apart, clean all old silicone and reassemble with quality silicone. It can be done but it's above my skill level.

 

[BryanM]

I would give any RS tank a pass unless I wanted to keep reptiles.

This is my Reefer Gen 1 reefer 170 after a seam failed.

These are two seams on my Gen 2 reefer 300 that is under warranty but RS said it isn't a concern and wants me to monitor things and will not replace it until the damage reaches the actual seam area. If I do get a replacement tank it will be offered for sale as I will not fill another redsea tank in my home. If I replace it before it fails I'll add it to the pile with the 170. Larger tanks are even more at risk.

I do not understand how that isn't already starting to fail from their perspective. What a disappointment.

The only good that came out of my situation is I went from a 4 footer to a 6 footer.

 

[exnisstech]

I do not understand how that isn't already starting to fail from their perspective. What a disappointment.

The only good that came out of my situation is I went from a 4 footer to a 6 footer.

This is a copy and paste of RS reply to my warranty request. I figure their just playing the odds and hoping the warranty expires before water states running out then they can tell me to pound salt or offer a discount on a new system which is never going to happen. I like their comment about algae boring into the silicone. I've kept tanks for 40+ years from many manufacturers and Redsea is the only brand that I've seen that algae can destroy silicone.


Hello David,

Our team has thoroughly reviewed all the photos and information you provided. We can confirm that the seam protectors of your aquarium are functioning properly, and we believe your aquarium is not at risk of failure.

Your aquarium has 1/4-inch (7mm) seam protector strips installed along the bottom and vertical seams. These strips serve as a protective layer for the seams of the aquarium, helping to prevent damage to the main seal that holds the glass together. This damage could potentially occur from cleaning the glass, normal wear and tear, or from algae and crustaceans that burrow into the seams. The measurements in your photos confirm that the structural seams are intact and that the integrity of the aquarium remains unaffected.

We encourage you to monitor this area from time to time and keep us informed if the separation spreads or changes to exceed the quarter-inch mark.

 

[BryanM]

This is a copy and paste of RS reply to my warranty request. I figure their just playing the odds and hoping the warranty expires before water states running out then they can tell me to pound salt or offer a discount on a new system which is never going to happen. I like their comment about algae boring into the silicone. I've kept tanks for 40+ years from many manufacturers and Redsea is the only brand that I've seen that algae can destroy silicone.

Agreed with the idea of expired warranty.

Also for the few people that have taken them apart, they apparently come apart very easily.

 

[UncommonSense]

We encourage you to monitor this area from time to time and keep us informed if the separation spreads or changes to exceed the quarter-inch mark.

Agreed with the idea of expired warranty.

I also agree… devious…

That can go both ways though…

Looks like your seam bubble’s closer to 3/8”!

 

[exnisstech]

I also agree… devious…

That can go both ways though…

Looks like your seam bubble’s closer to 3/8”!

Agreed but I just don't have the energy to fight about it. Once I decide what I'm going to do about moving everything out I'll send in some final pics just so I have a record of them denying coverage to share. If I end up with a replacement tank I'll sell it or donate it to someone in need but I really don't think that I'll get a replacement.

 

[IceNein]

For the OP, IF you actually want to reseal it, then it should be fine. The glass is fine. But resealing it might be more difficult than you imagine. Maybe not, I don't know. I think it might be fun to learn how to build aquariums, but I wouldn't want to start with a tank >100 gallons. Like, maybe do a 20 then a 40 and then see if I'm still confident in my ability to do a seal properly.

 

[PPBlimpy]

is it a g1 or g2?

I am not sure at what size the g2s got the eurobracing? I have a s1000 G2 i bought used knowing my hardwood floors are at risk.

that's a great deal, my tank was similar. i would plan to reseal if you can, if a G1 i would ad top and bottom eurobracing while i was at it

even if you buy the system and find a different tank the rest of the components are worth the price and can recoupe some on reselling the tank.

your only 4 hours away from me. I would make that drive

 

[Gtinnel]

I have a used RS Max s400 and I would have no problem with getting one that was used. Mine, and I'm assuming all of the Max series, have eurobracing on the top and bottom.

I wouldn't buy a used Reefer series though. Those are the only ones that have the reputation of failing as far as I know.

 

[jacobreynolds6883]

For the OP, IF you actually want to reseal it, then it should be fine. The glass is fine. But resealing it might be more difficult than you imagine. Maybe not, I don't know. I think it might be fun to learn how to build aquariums, but I wouldn't want to start with a tank >100 gallons. Like, maybe do a 20 then a 40 and then see if I'm still confident in my ability to do a seal properly.

Thanks for the advice. I definitely would not attempt to reseal it myself. I would use some professional to do this, but as my first intuition shows, everyone is agreeing with me steer away from this tank.

 

[exnisstech]

Its not just the failures that make it bad but redsea failure to admit the problem much less address it. People were banned from their FB page for even mentioning seam failures. The first round of BS they spewed was that it was only larger tanks that leaked amd leaks were only at front bottom seam. A center support for the stands was the remedy. The reality is that small tanks are also failing and gen 2 tanks as well as Gen 1 tanks are failing. Some are vertical seams failing. Now the fix is the addition of euro bracing. Until they address the fact that the silicone itself is the failure nothing will change. I suspect they are aware of this and will most likely address it at some point but we'll never know. They'll just pat themselves on the back and say the latest tanks are great and retailers and influencers will agree and it will be business as usuall.

 

[BryanM]

Its not just the failures that make it bad but redsea failure to admit the problem much less address it. People were banned from their FB page for even mentioning seam failures. The first round of BS they spewed was that it was only larger tanks that leaked amd leaks were only at front bottom seam. A center support for the stands was the remedy. The reality is that small tanks are also failing and gen 2 tanks as well as Gen 1 tanks are failing. Some are vertical seams failing. Now the fix is the addition of euro bracing. Until they address the fact that the silicone itself is the failure nothing will change. I suspect they are aware of this and will most likely address it at some point but we'll never know. They'll just pat themselves on the back and say the latest tanks are great and retailers and influencers will agree and it will be business as usuall.

Its almost like they bought 1,000,000 gallons of the silicone and don't want to lose their investment, and since most reefers get out of the hobby inside one year they can absorb the bad press.

 

[IceNein]

Its almost like they bought 1,000,000 gallons of the silicone and don't want to lose their investment, and since most reefers get out of the hobby inside one year they can absorb the bad press.

This is what I just don't understand. If I ran RedSea, I would see comments like yours and say to myself "Even if I know that the silicone isn't the problem, I'm going to change the silicone to the industry standard brand and then tell everyone how the new improved tanks uses the best silicone, so that cannot be the cause of the failures."

You don't even have to admit it was the failure, you can just say that you're responding to popular demand to use XYZ silicone.

 

[W31Olds]

I’ve come across the opportunity to buy a Red Sea Max S 650 with lights, pumps, rock, skimmer, dosing pump for a great buy $750. The tank looks great and in immaculate condition. Looking for opinions of individuals that have this tank as to build quality. Due to all the scary threads of Red Sea blowouts really pushes me away from this tank. So feedback would be great along with if I purchase would you reseal the seams or does this even matter with Red Sea glass failures? Thanks for advice

I've got that exact same Model if it's this one. Forget about Re-sealing it with all the chambering the back, but you shouldn't need to. I also bought mine used and have had it about 2 years without a problem so about 5 years old total. Everything about this series is better than the G1,G2 Reefers. Better Stand, no overhang, Eurobracing. As far as I know, these have a normal industry failure rate so I would have no problem buying one. It's the one series Red Sea should never have discontinued but I guess people didn't like the Rim.

 

[gkprevite]

Thanks for the advice. I definitely would not attempt to reseal it myself. I would use some professional to do this, but as my first intuition shows, everyone is agreeing with me steer away from this tank.

The max s line was imo the last quality Red Sea tanks. It’s the reefers g1 and g2 that give certain members here ptsd, and with good reason. If it’s a good deal and the tank is in excellent condition I’d go for it. I had one unfortunately the only pic I have was it empty