Bought a new tank with a leaking internal overflow.. Need Help!

[Kodock]

Alright so I bought a Pro Star 230 from ProClear Aquatics and the internal overflow box has virtually no seal. They put glass strip in to hold the overflow box to hold the overflow box up, but the glass strip doesn’t go all the way down and there’s no extra silicone or weld on to compensate. The gap you see at the top is virtually the same at the bottom.. The tank is glass and the overflow is all acrylic.

Pro clear says that this is their design and all their tanks are this way, but this means that sand and debris can get into the box, I can never change/fix replace the bulkheads while the tank is up - so if the bulkhead is leaky I’m subject to all display water flooding in.

I have never seen an overflow box intentionally unsealed.. I think that they just didn’t want to mess with the seal at the bottom pane and back pane, so they just left it botched and claim their standpipes and bulkheads are solid… or left it this way because they knew the pressure might burst the seal anyway..

This is a risk for me.. how can I argue their “design” if it’s faulty to me, but apparently not to them. I asked them to send me more pictures of their other tanks. They also have lower weirs, which is also technically risk, and I can’t imagine I’ll get good surface skim.

Also they also sent me a 4.5 year old tank as part of a “new” purchase in December of 2024.. I’m losing 4.5 years on the silicone life on this deal. The stand was made May of 2023 and the tank was made June of 2020.

 

[magallonbuckinbulls]

Howdy,

Why don't you just return it?

There’s better tank vendors out there. I really like WB. Good price for the quality. Love the black glass back. I like to keep all 4 sides clean, and the glass makes it easy.

Got myself one, and a few more as gifts.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Hmmm. I don't see myself being a ProClear Aquatics tank customer.

 

[Kodock]

Howdy,

Why don't you just return it?

There’s better tank vendors out there. I really like WB. Good price for the quality. Love the black glass back. I like to keep all 4 sides clean, and the glass makes it easy.

Got myself one, and a few more as gifts.

This one was about $1,500-$2,000 cheaper than the WB 6ft tanks. I guess we see why. I’m working to return it, but I’m trying to justify the return and who covers freight - I guess I need proof that this is poor craftsmanship and not “by design”.

 

[Kodock]

Hmmm. I don't see myself being a ProClear Aquatics tank customer.

Do you have one?

 

[Kodock]

More pics. “All our tanks are this way, that’s the design”.. He won’t respond to my emails in writing, only phone calls.

 

[JumboShrimp]

No, I don't. I had Joe at Glass Cages build me two 150 gallon tanks, with stands. I like the quality, ability to customize so much, and at a fair price. I hope things work out for you.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Sorry for your troubles and thank you for posting this. I’ve scratched pro clear off as a potential in any future purchase.

 

[Kodock]

@SaltwaterAq I believe you guys are now dropshipping these.. Might want to take note as you will likely get a bunch of kickback if this is the design and manufacturer response that I have received..

 

[Kodock]

Sorry for your troubles and thank you for posting this. I’ve scratched pro clear off as a potential in any future purchase.

You’re welcome. It’s truly unfortunate because it has the potential to be a really nice setup.. I wish they would have just been honest and said they sent me an old tank with a bad seal and that they would replace it, instead they claim there’s no supposed to be a seal at the bottom of the overflow box..

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

You’re welcome. It’s truly unfortunate because it has the potential to be a really nice setup.. I wish they would have just been honest and said they sent me an old tank with a bad seal and that they would replace it, instead they claim there’s no supposed to be a seal at the bottom of the overflow box..

So the overflow communicates with the display part of the tank. And that’s why you have to empty the entire tank if you want to change any plumbing in the overflow?

If they don’t rectify it will you consider sealing it yourself or having someone do it for you?

 

[Kodock]

So the overflow communicates with the display part of the tank. And that’s why you have to empty the entire tank if you want to change any plumbing in the overflow?

If they don’t rectify it will you consider sealing it yourself or having someone do it for you. you’d have to empty the entire tank down to nothing to work on the overflow plumbing.

Yes, you would have to empty the tank completely to fix any plumbing issues with the overflow plumbing. I don’t think I’m willing to attempt running an unsealed overflow. It looks like this is a 50/50 issue. Some people have the issue and some do not.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Yes, you would have to empty the tank completely to fix any plumbing issues with the overflow plumbing. I don’t think I’m willing to attempt running an unsealed overflow. It looks like this is a 50/50 issue. Some people have the issue and some do not.

If it’s intentional it’s a very poor design.

 

[disaster999]

I mean...cant you just run to home depot or something and get a tube of silicone and fix it yourself for like 5 bucks?

 

[Asm481]

With the leaky overflow, your sump will have to be able to hold entire volume of display tank unless you glue your drain and return inside the overflow. Any power shut off of outage will be a flood.

 

[19Mateo83]

I mean...cant you just run to home depot or something and get a tube of silicone and fix it yourself for like 5 bucks?

 

[Kodock]

I mean...cant you just run to home depot or something and get a tube of silicone and fix it yourself for like 5 bucks?

Silicone doesn’t bond well to acrylic and with 180g of pressure, it’s not something that I’m confident will hold long term. To do it right, I’d have to remove it completely and reseal..

I don’t want to put thousands of dollars worth of coral and livestock and have issues later on. Keep in mind I spent $3.5k on this and the tank they sent was also 4.5 years old.. I arguably shouldn’t have to rig anything to make it up to par, in my opinion.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

This is a very good point. I fight

With the leaky overflow, your sump will have to be able to hold entire volume of display tank unless you glue your drain and return inside the overflow. Any power shut off of outage will

I didn’t even think about this Good call!

 

[disaster999]

He can stick to his principles and have a long drawn out battle with the company and his CC, or used the $2000 he saved from buying this tank, fix the issue himself and continue with his day. I mean its exactly what ProClear Aquatics would do if they ever offer to "fix" his tank. At this point he should take the L, return the product hes not 100% satisfied with and go with WB or some other reputable brand and go about his day.

 

[Kodock]

With the leaky overflow, your sump will have to be able to hold entire volume of display tank unless you glue your drain and return inside the overflow. Any power shut off of outage will be a flood.

I believe the plumbing in the overflow is siliconed in placed, or some other material used. There’s goo. But, like you said, I’m subject to all display water leaking if there were a bulkhead issue