/\/\onstertank manufacturers - your experiences, please

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

I am looking into upgrading my basement and I am asking for your help to find a reliable aquarium supplier/manufacturer.
The stairs down my bulkhead are 3ft wide, I am thinking about 8-10ft x 36'' deep x 30'' tall.

I looked at several options, open to anything, with a slight preference for glass b/c Iplecos, and they can cloud acrylic. I think fiberglass w/ glass window would be my #1 choice because of weight, but then, I let the $$$ rule, too...

• glass
• fiberglass w/ glass viewing window
• fiberglass w/ acrylic viewing window
• acrylic

First the duds:

• Aquatank Solutions - only sell multiple tanks
• Bullfrog Aquatics - discontinued tanks with viewing window, they only do hot tubs now.
• Dolphin Fiberglass - email bounced back as undeliverable, no response to web inquiry. Out of business?!
• Fishtanks Direct - just gained a bad reputation here on MFK because of inferior craftsmanship and very poor consumer service.
• Super BD Stingray - they do not answer at all. They have a gorgeous fiberglass tank, but I'm not sure they're still in business?!
• Tenecor - used to be top in acrylic but shut down in 2011

I looked into the companies in the poll above. Some replies are pending.
Which ones have you done business with and which ones would you recommend to a fellow MFKer?
Please also share those that I should avoid (PM me if you're uncomfortable posting publicly).

Thanks a bunch,
HarleyK

 

[HarleyK]

Lastly: I'd be foolish to not consider off-the-shelf tanks that differ somewhat from the dimensions above - please post your recommendation Thanks

 

[bkfamus]

Custom Aquariums tanks and customer service are great.. Not a big fan of their seamless sumps due to maintenance challenges... But for the price of my Custom Aquariums 240G, I could have bought 4 Aqueon or Marineland 210Gs... No complaints, but if I could do over, would have went with the 4 210s..

 

[HarleyK]

bkfamus thanks for sharing. Does your tank have aluminum center braces? That alone might be worth the extra $$$. I've had plastic center braces fail on a 55 gallon on a 75 gallon. Makes me wary about plastic braces on anything bigger. That would be a lot of water on the floor...

 

[bkfamus]

bkfamus thanks for sharing. Does your tank have aluminum center braces? That alone might be worth the extra $$$. I've had plastic center braces fail on a 55 gallon on a 75 gallon. Makes me wary about plastic braces on anything bigger. That would be a lot of water on the floor...

I wasn't sure and not home so checked and it appears the entire frame is aluminum.. They have a lot of customization options as well.. That's where the price goes from 1 1/2 aqueons to 4... my $1K oak canopy has never been used after the first WC... I also broke one of the glass canopy inserts and I think that package of 3 is close to $1K... great tank tho..

 

[danotaylor]

4 years ago I acquired a 560gal 10x3x2.5 FTD tank with stand & canopy & twin tsunami sumps. This tank was built about 10-12yrs ago for the lady I got it from. Unlike the recently posted poor quality build from FTD, this tank & stand is solid. Having said that, given the clear decline in structural integrity & the pathetic customer service response, I would neither purchase, nor recommend FTD to anyone else.
HarleyK all the best on your search mate. Looking forward to seeing what you end up with!

 

[RyanScanner]

I could give you some Guangzhou manufacturers, but all communication would have to be in Cantonese or Mandarin. You will find anything you can imagine there. 25% of the price but you’ll have to organise everything else, freight, duties, your local area post freight storage and transport to your home.

I got my 300G for $1800 AUD and freight and duties was an additional $750.
Where I am a 300G would go for a minimum $8000-10000. A 150G is $5000 new.

I had to wait 6 months though.

 

[HarleyK]

Has one of you heard of Pro Clear Aquatic Systems???

 

[DMD123]

I have 3 Custom Aquarium tanks and that was my vote. I have a 24x96 footprint 300 gallon and two 65B. I did upgrade front glass to low iron. The tanks are wonderfully built with great silicone work. There were some quirks but their customer service was top notch to fix the small issues.

 

[shern]

I could give you some Guangzhou manufacturers, but all communication would have to be in Cantonese or Mandarin. You will find anything you can imagine there. 25% of the price but you’ll have to organise everything else, freight, duties, your local area post freight storage and transport to your home.

I got my 300G for $1800 AUD and freight and duties was an additional $750.
Where I am a 300G would go for a minimum $8000-10000. A 150G is $5000 new.

I had to wait 6 months though.

ill go meet those manufacturers when i visit my relatives this summer

most aquatic systems in china are actually relatively nice and are extremely clean in look.

+1 for Chinese aquariums

I don't personally buy too many aquariums, but a friend recommended Aquarium and Terrarium Builder on facebook? (only place I could find him)

they are located in yorktown VA