HELP!!!BRAND NEW 180G oceanic cracked!!!!!

[howman1]

i just finished the plumbing of my long project -180g rr oceanic with a 90g sump and 30g refugium--

i bought the 180g new from a local lfs, who drilled the back for 2 bulkheads (2 feet apart) 1.5".....for a closed loop, well, tonight i did a water test....and a crack emerged 1/2 hour later-emanating from the bulkheads.....

any suggestions, does oceanic warrant the tank if it was drilled???????????
what would you do?
thanks


howard
howardmand@yahoo.com

 

[rikacarl]

Ouch. Sounds like you need to talk to the LFS that drilled the holes! I would guess Oceanic will have nothing to do with it if they did not drill the holes.

 

[danmhippo]

Since you bought the tank from LFS, not Oceanic, AND it's your LFS that drilled the hole, they should be responsible for it (unless they can prove it's your fault). I hope you put the charges on your CC.

 

[dizzy]

Bummer Howard,

I can guarantee you that Oceanic will not stand behind a tank some else drilled. It may not even be the lfs fault, if you overtightened the bulkheads. I would drain the tank and remove the bullkheads and take a close look at the drilled holes. Look for excessive chipping around the hole.

It is always better to drill tanks before they are assembled. It is my understanding tank manufacturers lay the glass down flat on a carpet type surface and drill the glass when it is supported by the flat carpeted surface or similar arraingment. After the hole is successfully drilled then they proceed with the tank assembly.

I have drilled dozens of tanks and the only ones that broke were the tempered ones that weren't marked as being tempered. There is however always a little chipping, and drilling always weakens the glass to some extent. I hate to say it, but if you did the plumbing then you may have caused the problem. Next time order the tank factory drilled. Check your stand too, to be sure it is level. Was it an Oceanic stand? Oceanic makes a good tank, but they don't warranty against others mistakes.

 

[reefland]

I wouldn't be surprised if your LFS had some disclaimer about not being liable for drilling the tank.

 

[SPC]

I have also seen them crack when the plumbing puts pressure on the bulkhead (forcing the plumbing to fit).
Steve

 

[monkeyboy]

Whoa, that's not cool. No way Oceanic will honor a warranty if someone has been punching holes through it. Most likely the person who drilled it won't be responsible (well, financially at least). I'd chat with the shop that drilled the tank. Maybe in the future check out custom glass tank manufacturers that can have holes put in from the beginning and be warrantied. Good luck!

 

[SPC]

I noticed that howman1 posted this on RC as well. In that thread he mentions that he tightened the Bulkhead fitting with pliers.
Steve

 

[reefland]

doh!

 

[Anonymous]

I'm afraid you are in quite the situation here. You could have possibly cracked it yourself by overtightening the bulkhead though I think you'd really have to torque it to crack glass so thick.

I drilled my own tanks here when I setup and used channel locks to make sure a bulkhead stopped leaking and cracked the tank but it was a ten. Much thinner glass. I also drilled a 2.5 inch hole into it on the shortest side so the glass was considerably weaker I am sure. I've also cracked 20's I drilled when some pvc fell from above and twisted the plumbing already glued into the bulkhead.

You can try going to the place that drilled it and see if they will take care of it for you but I don't think you'll have much luck there. I will drill tanks for people when they ask me but first thing I tell them is that should it crack or break there's nothing I can do. I don't know many places which will guarantee a tank they are drilling for you. For this reason I encourage anyone who asks to just do it themselves. If I crack it or they crack it they're in the same spot so the only thing that have to lose by doing it themselves is the money for the bit. At the very least they can gain some experience in drilling glass.

Good luck to you.l Let us know how it turns out.

 

[ophiuroid]

argh.

I would always have a tank drilled by the manufacturer when it is that large. Smaller tanks are cheaper to replace, and so it might be worth having someone else do it, but I think you are now out a lot of money for what would have been a relatively low additional charge to begin with (having that tank ordered from Oceanic predrilled). Oceanic will certainly not do anything, and it would take a pretty darn good LFS to do anything....especially if they didn't do the plumbing on it. I would certainly ask the LFS, but I don't think you are an a position to force the issue. I don't think you would win in court. Sorry. That really blows.

 

[chance_11]

From Dizzy:
It is my understanding tank manufacturers lay the glass down flat on a carpet type surface and drill the glass when it is supported by the flat carpeted surface or similar arraingment. After the hole is successfully drilled then they proceed with the tank assembly.

Dizzy:
When Oceanic drills a tank they use a machine with 2 bits and go at it from top and bottom. That way the glass cracks in the center of the hole. When drilling an assymbled tank, usually only 1 drill bit is used. When the drill bit breaks through the other side there is almost always some chipping. That's why it's better to have it done at the factory. :wink: