Wrote this email to Innovative Marine on my drop tank issue, what do you think?

[reeferfoxx]

Does any direct sunlight hit the tank?

 

[MDeVito]

No, basement tank.

 

[Florida Sunshine]

No Windex needed. Microfiber cloth and some RO/DI water works great for me.

 

[Rick.45cal]

I'm surprised there's no euro style bracing. I'd be concerned too, it sounds like they are going to try and make it right though.

 

[MDeVito]

Hopefully they take the year warranty off when the tank was available and shipped in June as opposed to when I preordered.

 

[Tom Blevins]

@d2mini I am just asking because years ago was told not to because off glass spray cleaners leaching throw the silicone
with Glass and killing things, I always had this in the back of my head, Thanks Man for clearing things up!

anyways sorry for the confusion on my behalf and going off track on your post MDeVito!

 

[Clayalaleona]

Mine has both bubbles in the seams and bowing.
For the longest I thought it was leaking but it was actually my wrasse being a butt head.
I contacted them about the bowing, bubbles in the seams and what I thought was a leak and the gentleman kindly told me that those are some of the wonderful properties of acrylic... that it bows and will not break. He also disregarded the bubbles in the seams which is kind of outrageous IMO. They only care if it is leaking/ the seems fail. He said to send a video of the leak and they would replace, that doesn't really fix my other issues lol.
I don't want to be rude but if it bursts because of the failing seams I truly hope they will cover all 18k+ worth of corals I have in there or 13 thousand of my instagram followers will know about it lol.

Oh and I forgot to mention, when I got it there was/ still is a little scuff on the front panel from what I assume is the adhesive they use for the acrylic. I expected a little better but I didn't push enough and settled and at this point I've accepted that I'm stuck with a dud. I wont be buying any acrylic tanks from them again although I do like their glass tanks.

 

[fredro]

Mine has both bubbles in the seams and bowing.
For the longest I thought it was leaking but it was actually my wrasse being a butt head.
I contacted them about the bowing, bubbles in the seams and what I thought was a leak and the gentleman kindly told me that those are some of the wonderful properties of acrylic... that it bows and will not break. He also disregarded the bubbles in the seams which is kind of outrageous IMO. They only care if it is leaking/ the seems fail. He said to send a video of the leak and they would replace, that doesn't really fix my other issues lol.
I don't want to be rude but if it bursts because of the failing seams I truly hope they will cover all 18k+ worth of corals I have in there or 13 thousand of my instagram followers will know about it lol.

Oh and I forgot to mention, when I got it there was/ still is a little scuff on the front panel from what I assume is the adhesive they use for the acrylic. I expected a little better but I didn't push enough and settled and at this point I've accepted that I'm stuck with a dud. I wont be buying any acrylic tanks from them again although I do like their glass tanks.

This is absurdly unacceptable to me!!! Not only that the product has the clear defects and has deteriorated as you've clearly pointed out, but that the CS rep has the audacity to try and sell you on the wonders of acrylic, as if it's a good thing, how it bows, but hasn't broken/cracked. You bought a tank with FLAT sides and the fact that the panel now looks like THAT, is totally unacceptable IMO. If I bought a tank from any tank builder, be it a private, individual builder, or big brand company, and ANY part of it began to look like that, they would be getting the tank back. The fact that this seems to be a quite common issue, seeing the number of responses to this thread, I would see this as a design/engineering flaw, or defective acrylic from the wholesale suppliers. The tank is NOT supposed to do that, on top of the bubbles and fine hairline/stress cracks, whatever it is that caused them, and to try and play this off to the customer as a good thing, like these are the "wonderful properties of acrylic," is just downright insulting and pathetic. I would say it's 100% on IM to refund or replace these tanks asap. Again, seeing that this clearly doesn't seem to be an isolated incident, I can say that it wouldn't be a stretch to be worried about a replacement having similar issues. I would ask for a refund and find a new tank/brand all together.

Also, if they try and serve up anymore BS, witty lines, I would casually remind them that you're part of a large community hobby forum that you have shared you experiences thus far with and this is also where you became aware of the various other instances of customers with extremely similar issues. Don't be pushy or make any threats, but in instances like this, I think it's important to stand strong and not let some pushy CS rep think they're going to BS you into accepting a clearly defective product.

Good luck to ALL OF YOU!

 

[Mrx7899]

Here is mine guess they all bow

 

[badmatt]

I know on the abyss panorama has euro bracing on the front pane. But the bowing in unacceptable, but the second picture you posted of the swirl marks dont looking crazing.. more like as I mentioned swirl marks as you would see in car paint that isnt taken care of. The only reason I say that is because acrylic swirls VERY easily. Dry microfiber rags are a no-no on acrylic ( and your cars paint)

But good luck with IM on this.

 

[TbyZ]

I think their asking for trouble not bracing the top!

 

[MDeVito]

If I could describe the shape of crazing it would almost be a triangle with the point towards the back of the tank. It starts off with a few then quickly escalades by about 3 inches on either side by the seams. I think the flash just made it seem like a circular pattern.

 

[cromag27]

Acrylic can absolutely bow. how much bowing that is acceptable is subjective as far as aesthetics goes. how much bowing is safe before seam failure? well, there's no calculation for that as it also depends on the quality of acrylic and how well it's welded together. acrylic absorbs water and it can take several months before it's reached its maximum retention. it can take the several months before you really know how much the acrylic will bow.

Bubbles are ugly, but a few sporadic ones here and there will not affect the weld strength. a lot of bubbles can, depending on the pressure being applied to the seams.

I'm curious as to the water volume dimensions of these tanks, and how the the acrylic is? looks like possibly 3/8" or 1/2".

 

[Mrx7899]

And the acrylic is 8 millimeters thick

 

[cromag27]

Acrylic is measured in inches (glass is mm), but I think 8mm is around 3/8". I just looked at the dimensions and I would have made it from 1/2" for sure. or 3/8" with a euro.

 

[MDeVito]

Is it just me or does my tank seem to bow just a little more than the rest of the tanks people shared on this post? lol

 

[drawman]

No Windex needed. Microfiber cloth and some RO/DI water works great for me.

+1 it works great and you don't have to worry about it.

All this bowing is very unsettling to me I think this would rule out one of these tanks for me in the future.

 

[jason_mazzy]

If it bows like that, it may need bracing. that's freaky.

 

[vertigo01]

Acrylic is measured in inches (glass is mm), but I think 8mm is around 3/8". I just looked at the dimensions and I would have made it from 1/2" for sure. or 3/8" with a euro.

8mm/25.4 = .314. Which I'm with you, 5/16 is a bit thin.

As for IM paying for corals, damage or livestock should the tank rupture, good luck with that.
They denied a warranty claim that was a couple days past the 1 year mark, when the 16 Nuvo we had, burst a seam. Which ruined the flooring, furniture as well as leaving the livestock and coral high and dry.

IMHO, the drop off tanks are cool but bowing, bubbles and crazing isn't worth the potential for disaster.

 

[MDeVito]

Depending on how this turns out is whether or not I'll be doing business with Innovative Marine ever again.