Marineland 90 Gallon Cube - Prone To Failure?

[MGKlee]

Hey everyone, I’m back again with some more newbie questions. I posted earlier today about a stand that came with a 90 gallon cube. It is made out of particle board, so the general consensus would be to build a DIY stand for this. I’m currently working on some plans to get that started.

I added a few rock to the tank tonight after some of the sand had settled and I’m really enjoying it so far. However, with anything else I start, I always go down a rabbit hole. After much research I’ve concluded that this stand is made by Marineland and so I believe the tank is a Marineland 93 cube. The dimensions are 30x30x25.

I have seen a few posts that say these are known for seal failure and splitting causing a catastrophe. So my fear went from the stand to now the tank. Losing 90 gallons inside my home would devastate me.

My questions:

1). Are these isolated occurrences or was there actually a known problem with these tanks or rimless tanks all together?

2). Should I sell this tank and stand and move to something smaller? Maybe a 55 or 75 gallon that has a rim or trim with center bar? Maybe something AIO?

I’m looking to build a successful tank and looking for the best recommendations from experienced reefers.

 

[Fish Fan]

Hey everyone, I’m back again with some more newbie questions. I posted earlier today about a stand that came with a 90 gallon cube. It is made out of particle board, so the general consensus would be to build a DIY stand for this. I’m currently working on some plans to get that started.

I'm a HUGE believer in building your own stand, even if you have very limited tools and skills. I enjoy woodworking, and would be very happy to help, if I can; feel free to message me if you'd like (any R2R member can!).

But that said, sadly, almost all the stands you can buy at a typical pet shop are made from particle board. Particle board 'on paper' is like THE WORST material to build an aquarium stand out of, and no self-respecting woodworker would ever use it. But, these big companies are not stupid, and honestly I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss your stand. It's likely built for specifically for your Marineland tank, and likely just fine for years to come. Please keep in mind, I can't see your stand in person, so by all means use your best judgement.

My questions:

1). Are these isolated occurrences or was there actually a known problem with these tanks or rimless tanks all together?

I can't speak to the Marineland tank you have, I've never had one, and have no real knowledge if there's an inherent problem or not. But what I can tell you after over 40 years of fish keeping (albeit largely simple freshwater tanks) is that tanks very, very rarely fail catastrophically the way I'm guessing you are imagining.

Much more likely is that the tank springs a very small, slow leak that would certainly be a huge concern, don't get me wrong, but you'd see it after a few gallons escape. I'm also not saying a few gallons of saltwater can't damage your home, but my point is that the tank is *almost certainly* guaranteed not to just suddenly explode and dump 90 gallons of seawater on your floor. This is just my opinion after keeping many tanks over many years. Again, use your best judgement.

2). Should I sell this tank and stand and move to something smaller? Maybe a 55 or 75 gallon that has a rim or trim with center bar? Maybe something AIO?

You seem very worried about the tank leaking and damaging your home, and I fully understand your concern. I would personally keep your tank, it's holding water, the stand is holding, and the tank is already in place and running.

But, if you really wanted the peace of mind, PetCo is currently having one of their 50% off sales on their Aqueon standard rimmed tanks. You could certainly sell your system and get a rimmed aquarium. You'd need to drill a standard tank for an overflow (don't worry, it's supper easy, members here can help you, I promise!). There are overflow options that do not require drilling and while some swear by them there is always a possibility of a flood due to their design, and I'm guessing you're the kind of reefer that wouldn't want that extra risk, even if it was very small ;-)

You could definitely replace what you have with an AIO. An AIO is a really great option, it's a very simple (in a good way) system to run, looks great, and there's lot of sizes to choose from. If you can sell or trade your current system, this is not a bad idea.

I'm going to suggest whatever you do that you go brand new. Your concern - which I completely understand - over a leaking tank makes the peace of mind worth it vs. saving a few bucks initially.

That said - and this is BIG...... ANY tank CAN leak. Even brand new tanks, it does happen. Just use your best judgement and be careful. But at least with a brand new tank you have a receipt and can go back and yell at your local PetCo staff. I mean, they are not going to replace your hardwood flooring, but they may refund the $100 for the tank ;-)

Last thought, there are a variety of simple electronic leak detectors and other gadgets to help mitigate any damage caused by a leaking tank. Some of them them are "smart" enough to send you an alert by text or email, and then there are whole-hog aquarium monitoring systems will will not just alert you to a problem, but automatically shut equipment down and take steps to solve any issues it detects. This is one of those things where if you have the money, it can likely be done. If you have a lot invested in your home and feel it's worth it, you can certainly look into this level of aquarium automation.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[Fish Fan]

Hey everyone, I’m back again with some more newbie questions. I posted earlier today about a stand that came with a 90 gallon cube. It is made out of particle board, so the general consensus would be to build a DIY stand for this. I’m currently working on some plans to get that started.

I added a few rock to the tank tonight after some of the sand had settled and I’m really enjoying it so far. However, with anything else I start, I always go down a rabbit hole. After much research I’ve concluded that this stand is made by Marineland and so I believe the tank is a Marineland 93 cube. The dimensions are 30x30x25.

I have seen a few posts that say these are known for seal failure and splitting causing a catastrophe. So my fear went from the stand to now the tank. Losing 90 gallons inside my home would devastate me.

My questions:

1). Are these isolated occurrences or was there actually a known problem with these tanks or rimless tanks all together?

2). Should I sell this tank and stand and move to something smaller? Maybe a 55 or 75 gallon that has a rim or trim with center bar? Maybe something AIO?

I’m looking to build a successful tank and looking for the best recommendations from experienced reefers.

OK, you know what, I wrote all that I I do stand by it, but now I'm looking more closely at your pic, and holy Cats, that tank is super tall! Height raises a larger concern than width when it comes to an aquarium's ability to hold back water. I hate to see you give up on a system that's already up and running and holding water fine. I'm interested in what the real experts will tell you to do lol!

 

[dmowrer018]

Hey everyone, I’m back again with some more newbie questions. I posted earlier today about a stand that came with a 90 gallon cube. It is made out of particle board, so the general consensus would be to build a DIY stand for this. I’m currently working on some plans to get that started.

I added a few rock to the tank tonight after some of the sand had settled and I’m really enjoying it so far. However, with anything else I start, I always go down a rabbit hole. After much research I’ve concluded that this stand is made by Marineland and so I believe the tank is a Marineland 93 cube. The dimensions are 30x30x25.

I have seen a few posts that say these are known for seal failure and splitting causing a catastrophe. So my fear went from the stand to now the tank. Losing 90 gallons inside my home would devastate me.

My questions:

1). Are these isolated occurrences or was there actually a known problem with these tanks or rimless tanks all together?

2). Should I sell this tank and stand and move to something smaller? Maybe a 55 or 75 gallon that has a rim or trim with center bar? Maybe something AIO?

I’m looking to build a successful tank and looking for the best recommendations from experienced reefers.

In my own opinion, stay away from marineland tanks unless you have it set up outside so when the seal breaks it can water the grass. I had a marineland 265 gallon tank, seam busted out. So I decided to have my 300 gallon I have now custom made. If you want a good tank, I’d recommend getting one custom made. Glasscages is a great company andwere wonderful to work with. Also go big, because in few months your gonna be telling yourself I shoulda went bigger. I’m also a big believer in building your own stand. I built my own stand for my 300 gallon and it’s holding up wonderful. I can also sit back and enjoy my tank and say to people that I actually built that. It’s a great feeling. Keep us posted.

 

[PharmrJohn]

And @Fish Fan pretty much said it all. I've had a tank leak. And that's why I will NEVER buy used again. And having gone through a quick tank changeover that took 2 to 3 days and consistent high blood pressure, I am VERY cautious concerning where I buy. I'm gonna have mine custom made with seam guards, bracing, etc. etc. Call me paranoid, but I'm going to, at the very least, minimize the chances of a negative outcome.

 

[dmowrer018]

And @Fish Fan pretty much said it all. I've had a tank leak. And that's why I will NEVER buy used again. And having gone through a quick tank changeover that took 2 to 3 days and consistent high blood pressure, I am VERY cautious concerning where I buy. I'm gonna have mine custom made with seam guards, bracing, etc. etc. Call me paranoid, but I'm going to, at the very least, minimize the chances of a negative outcome.

You will be able to sleep at night knowing you won’t have a flood in the house after you have it custom made. Best of luck.

 

[Fish Fan]

You will be able to sleep at night knowing you won’t have a flood in the house after you have it custom made. Best of luck.

Will you though?

I'm not here to diminish any of the otherwise VERY reputable custom aquarium builders, but ANY aquarium is subject to failure.

 

[dmowrer018]

Will you though?

I'm not here to diminish any of the otherwise VERY reputable custom aquarium builders, but ANY aquarium is subject to failure.

Oh I agree. But after speaking with Joe at glasscages. He mentioned to me he had only ever had 2 tanks fail on him, in I forget how many years. So may the odds forever be in my and/or your favor.

 

[Fish Fan]

Oh I agree. But after speaking with Joe at glasscages. He mentioned to me he had only ever had 2 tanks fail on him, in I forget how many years. So may the odds forever be in my and/or your favor.

Joe from Glass Cages is a solid guy by rep here at R2R. I'm sure you'll do well Best of luck with your purchase!

 

[Northern Flicker]

I no longer trust any rimless tanks without bracing. Even if they are unlikely to fail, I still think the odds are much higher then a standard rimmed tank. The cubes especially freak me out do the height and depth.