Scratched Tank

[TerraCaelus]

I can't believe this has happened. I was out of town for the last 4 days. I left the house sitter with instructions to only keep the auto top off tank full. When I got home last night, the first thing I did was check on my tank and there are a TON of scratches on the inside glass now. Apparently they had some kids over. The kids took my magnet cleaner and went down into the sand and I'm sure you all know what happened from there.

I am so upset and I just don't know what to do. I built the tank myself and I don't think it is fixable. It has been up for less than a year and is already damaged beyond repair.

 

[steelheader.262]

That's horrible.

 

[abecker]

Is it glass or acrylic?

 

[TerraCaelus]

It's glass.

 

[Jlobes]

OMG!! Im sorry to hear this and not sure how I would proceed. i would be a VERY unhappy person and would be having a very serious talk with that house sitter!!
I luckily have a friend(non-reefer but smart) who comes by to check on my tank. he has the same instructions, keep the H2O topped off, check the skimmer cup, touch nothing else!

 

[whatchamacallit]

I'd be having them replace the tank

 

[TerraCaelus]

I'd be having them replace the tank

I'm looking into that option and going by a reef shop today. It's hard to give them a price since I did a lot of the work myself instead of buying reef ready. It's a 40 gallon breeder tank, drilled by me and installed a glass holes overflow and return. The stand I also custom built.

 

[Jlobes]

I'd be having them replace the tank

my thoughts exactly!!

 

[TheEngineer]

You can polish scratches out of glass, but it depends on how deep they are.

 

[Jlobes]

I'm looking into that option and going by a reef shop today. It's hard to give them a price since I did a lot of the work myself instead of buying reef ready. It's a 40 gallon breeder tank, drilled by me and installed a glass holes overflow and return. The stand I also custom built.

well, wouldnt be too difficult to get another 40B and drill it. Have them buy the tank and pay you for your time and/or assist, if you trust them enough. Then youll have two tanks, one for a QT or Fowlr, or one for the housesitter! ;)

On a happy note, be glad the tank wasnt a 200 gallon custom reef savvy with a 9 month wait!

 

[TerraCaelus]

well, wouldnt be too difficult to get another 40B and drill it. Have them buy the tank and pay you for your time and/or assist, if you trust them enough. Then youll have two tanks, one for a QT or Fowlr, or one for the housesitter! ;)

On a happy note, be glad the tank wasnt a 200 gallon custom reef savvy with a 9 month wait!

I definitely know it could have been worse. I just really didn't want to have to build/drill another tank for awhile. I'm looking at it being replaced with a 65 gallon reef ready that has the same foot print just taller as my 40 breeder. So basically an upgrade.

 

[TerraCaelus]

Do you guys think a 65 gallon reef ready tank by Deep Sea Aquatics for $500 is a good deal?

 

[TomatoSauceTy]

Sorry to hear about your tank.

That price seems about right if it includes shipping.

 

[TerraCaelus]

Sorry to hear about your tank.

That price seems about right if it includes shipping.

No Shipping its in store. But I have realized it won't work with the stand that I built. =( I am feeling so frustrated and upset. I had drilled the tank and built everything myself and now its ruined. And now I'm looking at my mom's friends having to pay $700 for a new tank because I'm upset about how it looks and that makes me feel guilty.

 

[whatchamacallit]

Can always cut your losses if you feel guilty. After all it was kids.

I'd look into a complete set up and start fresh

 

[143MPCo]

I'm looking at my mom's friends having to pay $700 for a new tank because I'm upset about how it looks and that makes me feel guilty.

IMHO, and this might sound harsh but kid or not, it's the responsibility of the parent to place boundary on what's acceptable and what's not. I personally would make it my obligation to make it right if it was my child that caused the issue, be it a tank or a scratch on that persons new car.

 

[TomatoSauceTy]

No Shipping its in store. But I have realized it won't work with the stand that I built. =( I am feeling so frustrated and upset. I had drilled the tank and built everything myself and now its ruined. And now I'm looking at my mom's friends having to pay $700 for a new tank because I'm upset about how it looks and that makes me feel guilty.

Since it's in a store it sounds about right.

Are the scratches unbearable to look at? If it's not insanely bad I would just keep it until you are ready to upgrade.

If you like rimless tanks, SCAquariums has a "deal of the day" but it's more like week/month and they usually sell PNP systems very cheap. Right now they have a 50g starfire cube for $650 shipped. If you have patience you can always wait for a larger tank from them.

 

[TerraCaelus]

Can always cut your losses if you feel guilty. After all it was kids.

I'd look into a complete set up and start fresh

I don't have a job right now, so starting fresh is not an option.

 

[TerraCaelus]

So my current plan: I'm either going to get another 40 gallon breeder or upgrade to a 65 gallon tank. Going to drill it and I want to install the new synergy overflow, I will re-use my current return hardware.

 

[lueleon]

Make the parent pay for it and don't feel bad. Parents are responsible for their kids behavior because the children know no better