Insanely mad with tank brand

[Gabbone]

Hi there,

Sorry for the outburst, but I'm very angry with the tank brand. Probably due to my past inexperience since it's my first tank I ever bought, but I would still like to share this experience with you.

When I purchased this AIO 120 Liters Tank (31gallon), it's advertised online as: "Reef 120", 60lx45wx45h (centimeters).

Took a measure myself of the tank and the real measurements are: 57x42x42 (back chambers included) which is converted in total capacity of 100 Liters and not 120 as advertised. Then, the height of the fillable water column is 38cm and not 45cm which leads to a total filled volume of 90liters.

In addition, the tank is an AIO. The AIO total capacity is 20 liters (according to them), but it's filled only with 15 liters to work properly. So in total 85 usable liters. Then I added sand and rocks and I go to 70 liters water in total (but that's not their problem).

Also, the AIO took away 11cm from the tank width making it even more small. This was not written anywhere.

What do you think? They are selling a 120 liter system and in reality there are 70 liters of water in? Is there anything I can do about this? Do I have the right to make a complain to this company?

Now I understand why when I do 30 Liter water change, I empty half display. Embarassing.

For sure newbie mistake, but i feel the way this tank is advertised is misleading

Thank you all
Gabri

 

[Thalasstronaut]

Most tank manufacturers overstate the capacity of standard tank sizes. They always use outside dimensions for their generous calculations. (The lone exception is a 40 breeder which I believe holds about 42 gallons.)

Anyway, what isn’t standard is misrepresenting the dimensions. It might be worth reaching out just to see how they justify that. I would harp on the fact that the dimensions are incorrect and not the volume. That’s a fairly significant deviation for sure.

What brand is it, anyway?

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Well I'm not sure what their tolerances are for the tanks. But 1.2in off seems a bit much. I would think 1/4in at best for most tank manufactures.

How marketing goes, yes its misleading, but the tank in-fact will hold x liters. How well it performs is another thing... But yours is just off due misstated dimensions.

 

[Gabbone]

I just emailed them, let's see.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hi there,

Sorry for the outburst, but I'm very angry with the tank brand. Probably due to my past inexperience since it's my first tank I ever bought, but I would still like to share this experience with you.

When I purchased this AIO 120 Liters Tank (31gallon), it's advertised online as: "Reef 120", 60lx45wx45h (centimeters).

Took a measure myself of the tank and the real measurements are: 57x42x42 (back chambers included) which is converted in total capacity of 100 Liters and not 120 as advertised. Then, the height of the fillable water column is 38cm and not 45cm which leads to a total filled volume of 90liters.

In addition, the tank is an AIO. The AIO total capacity is 20 liters (according to them), but it's filled only with 15 liters to work properly. So in total 85 usable liters. Then I added sand and rocks and I go to 70 liters water in total (but that's not their problem).

Also, the AIO took away 11cm from the tank width making it even more small. This was not written anywhere.

What do you think? They are selling a 120 liter system and in reality there are 70 liters of water in? Is there anything I can do about this? Do I have the right to make a complain to this company?

Now I understand why when I do 30 Liter water change, I empty half display. Embarassing.

For sure newbie mistake, but i feel the way this tank is advertised is misleading

Thank you all
Gabri

It's quite normal to quote the volume of many items in litres based on the internal air space of the item.

You cannot fill it with that much water, but a 100cm cube is quoted as 1000 litres.

It's not just aquariums, other items such as refrigerators and even freight also use the same volumetric measurements.

 

[Gabbone]

I get that but the stated measurements by the manufactor are wrong.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I get that but the stated measurements by the manufactor are wrong.

So the exterior measurement of the tank is not 60l x45w x45h ?

 

[Gabbone]

Exterior measurement are: 58lx43wx43h

 

[Reefering1]

March down there and tell them, "you owe me 3 inches in both directions! ".

Let me know what they say..

 

[Gabbone]

This is what I wrote down:

I am reaching out because I bought from you one year ago the following reef tank: "Blue marine reef 120".

I am writing because I am not satisfied at all with the tank and it has some serious problems that could lead to a catastrophe. Let me start by saying that I am not angry with you and this is not a criticism to you and your service which is amazing.

First issue: Manufacturing defect

The silicone that attaches the glass to the pvc at the back is completely worn out and almost missing on the right side. I can move the pvc with my fingers and water could enter the back chambers (return pump chamber) at any time causing a catastrophe.

Second issue: Manufacturing defect

The two vertical spaces of the back chambers intended for the insertion of the two coarse filter sponges have never been used because they slow down critically the water level in the return chamber and the pump goes dry in a couple of minutes. The water then fills up the display and overflows from the glass. At that point I am forced to leave those two spaces empty and sacrifice one of the two larger chambers to insert some wool as filter. (I've tried infinite combinations, change pumps, reduce the return flow, cut the sponges, change the type of sponges, put only one but the result is always the same).

Third issue: Wrong tank dimension and volume + Misleading Advertisment

This problem arises from the fact that when I do water changes I have realized that by changing only 30 liters, I remove almost half the water from the display. This is not ok considering I have only 1cm sand bed and only 10kg of rocks. At this point I measured the tank myself:

Dimensions specified by the manufacturer: 60lx45wx45h (120 liters)
Real dimension: 57lx42wx43h

Calculating the total water capacity with the new dimension it's only 102,94 liters and not 120 liters. Plus, if we take into account a filled water depth of 38cm in the display and 30cm in the sump, the total filled volume is ONLY 86,41 liters. Then I added sand and rocks and I have a total of 70 liters water in total in my tank. Sand and rocks is not their problem but how can we go from something advertised as 120 liter to 86 - 70 liters of actual water? I believe this is really misleading and unfair since the tank dimensions are also wrong.

Fourth and less relevant problem: Skimmer + Lights included

The skimmer completely broke after 1 month and I had to replace it with a Tunze and it works perfectly. The lights are absolutely not valid for growing sps and I had to change them with radion g6 spending between skimmer and lights another 700€. (But that's my problem, of course).

I'm not a person who complains but here we are talking about a tank that contains thousands of euros of coral and I'm afraid that something could happen from one day to the next besides that fact that the dimension stated are completely wrong leading also to wrong dosages during this year.

Do you think it is possible to find a solution? I really trust in your professionalism in taking this request seriously.

 

[sbeason]

Why did you wait a year after purchase to figure out things were NG to spec?

 

[Gabbone]

My mistake. I thought I could deal with it.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Exterior measurement are: 58lx43wx43h

In that case I'd be asking for my money back.

At least where I live they would be forced to hand the money back by the consumer protection agencies, and probably be fined a large amount of money for misleading advertising.

You may want to check your own local laws.

 

[Gabbone]

I am gonna check, thank you!