tank purchase

[Mike]

Can anyone recommend an online store to purchase aquariums and suplies?

[NetMax]

"Mike" > wrote in message
.net...
> Can anyone recommend an online store to purchase aquariums and suplies?
>

I'll let others with more experience make recommendations for the
supplies, as there are quite a few and the savings can be considerable.
I don't think aquariums will be something you buy on-line though. Their
size, weight and fragility make transport costs quite high. Depending on
the size you're looking for, your options are the LFS (new tanks or used
when they fold), chains, auctions, garage sales, penny saver flyers,
newspaper ads, friends, co-workers (post something on your company
bulletin board), and DIY.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[David C. Moller]

On Tue, 22 Jun 2004 16:33:38 -0400, "NetMax"
> wrote:

>"Mike" > wrote in message
.net...
>> Can anyone recommend an online store to purchase aquariums and suplies?
>>
>
>I'll let others with more experience make recommendations for the
>supplies, as there are quite a few and the savings can be considerable.
>I don't think aquariums will be something you buy on-line though. Their
>size, weight and fragility make transport costs quite high. Depending on
>the size you're looking for, your options are the LFS (new tanks or used
>when they fold), chains, auctions, garage sales, penny saver flyers,
>newspaper ads, friends, co-workers (post something on your company
>bulletin board), and DIY.

Heh, I can relate to this one. I ordered a tank from petco.com a
couple weeks ago. The tank was drop shipped from the manufacturer
(Casco, who apparently makes SeaClear). Anyway, they shipped the tank
with the hood inside the acrylic tank, not secured in anyway. The hood
banged around in there during shipment (I'm convinced nobody ever pays
attention to 'Fragile-This Side Up' markings). Tank just arrived today
(placed on end), and even though the hood had its ends (only) wrapped
in foam, it still managed to scratch the acrylic tank and damage the
hood. :(
Going to make some phone calls tomorrow (everyone closed now), and
we'll see how it's handled.

Dave

[supermazz]

On this topic, what is your opinion on purchasing a used (garage sale,
buy and sell, what have you) tank. That being asked, what makes the
price differnce, usually, in tanks? Glass thickness? Silicone? Why
the big difference between the, say, Petcetera tank and the Hagan
tank?

On Tue, 22 Jun 2004 16:33:38 -0400, "NetMax"
> wrote:

>"Mike" > wrote in message
.net...
>> Can anyone recommend an online store to purchase aquariums and suplies?
>>
>
>I'll let others with more experience make recommendations for the
>supplies, as there are quite a few and the savings can be considerable.
>I don't think aquariums will be something you buy on-line though. Their
>size, weight and fragility make transport costs quite high. Depending on
>the size you're looking for, your options are the LFS (new tanks or used
>when they fold), chains, auctions, garage sales, penny saver flyers,
>newspaper ads, friends, co-workers (post something on your company
>bulletin board), and DIY.

[NetMax]

Used tanks are a great buy because glass and silicone are not
significantly affected by age. Any damage (cuts in silicone, scratches
in glass) are usually self-evident. There are various articles on the
web with inspection instructions for used tanks (ie:
http://aquarticles.com/articles/management/cannon_usedtank.html ).

The difference in manufacturers is primarily 4 points. Glass quality,
thickness, surface preparation prior to applying silicone, and quality of
application (indicative of how manual or automated their process was).

On glass quality, where manufacturers can substitute a lower grade of
glass is on the bottom. While it is out of sight, it's not an ideal
place to cut corners on quality. The bigger name brands (top 3) would
not bother with this level of cutting corners (imo).

Glass thickness is obvious (ie:
http://www.thekrib.com/TankHardware/glass-thickness.html for some
references) and thinner glass is usually reinforced with a cross-brace.
Oceanic uses thicker glass *and* a thick glass cross-brace, and while
this makes for a very rigid tank, a cross-brace is a PITA to work around
(pros & cons to everything). Some cross-braces are part of the plastic
trim. Thin glass tanks aren't at a significantly higher risk to split
open. The thinner glass makes them more prone to damage during
transport, leakage due to uneven stands, damage due to falling rocks
inside etc. You need to 'baby' them a bit more.

Surface preparation is hard to inspect. You can look for bubbling in the
silicone which gives you some idea on how tight their process control
was, but otherwise, you take more chances with no-name tanks than with
major brands who have this to an art. Ideally the surface is washed,
dried and the silicone is pre-heated before application. The jigging
used to hold the plates perpendicular but not touching would be neat to
see.

The last point is the appearance of the silicone bead. A uniform bead is
applied by a robot or a semi-automated process. Uniformity implies good
process control which is of paramount importance in this type of an
assembly. A lack of uniformity does not make a bad tank. The primary
bead is between the glass, not the bead inside, and the latter might not
be automated. Someone makes tanks with a black bead in the sides and a
clear bead in the bottom. What is that about? Seems very cheap to me.
Silicone does not bond well to silicone, and someone is taking the time &
effort to save a few cents to go to a cheaper silicone where you can't
see it, but while changing silicones, the previous application is
skinning.

Regarding different manufacturers, I used to regards the top three as
Oceanic, All-Glass and then Hagen. Now All-Glass owns Oceanic, but as
they kept separate factories, I still regard these 2 in the top 3. I
have lots of experience with Oceanic, and All-Glass I know on reputation.
Note that my comments are generalities, as all manufacturers make econo
models as well. I'm not certain where Hagen is positioned now. They
have the expertise but I think they use multiple factories (ie: Italy,
Germany, China), and different plants ship different products (bows,
starter kits, acrylic tanks, standard rectangular tanks etc). This makes
quality generalizations more difficult to support. I have insufficient
experience with other manufacturers to comment on them. I like the DAS
and Marineland tanks but I have no long term experience with them.

Instead of generalities, inspect and compare the particular size/style of
tanks you are interested in from the different manufacturers and ask
about their warranty.
--
www.NetMax.tk

"supermazz" > wrote in message
...
> On this topic, what is your opinion on purchasing a used (garage sale,
> buy and sell, what have you) tank. That being asked, what makes the
> price differnce, usually, in tanks? Glass thickness? Silicone? Why
> the big difference between the, say, Petcetera tank and the Hagan
> tank?
>
> On Tue, 22 Jun 2004 16:33:38 -0400, "NetMax"
> > wrote:
>
> >"Mike" > wrote in message
> .net...
> >> Can anyone recommend an online store to purchase aquariums and
suplies?
> >>
> >
> >I'll let others with more experience make recommendations for the
> >supplies, as there are quite a few and the savings can be
considerable.
> >I don't think aquariums will be something you buy on-line though.
Their
> >size, weight and fragility make transport costs quite high. Depending
on
> >the size you're looking for, your options are the LFS (new tanks or
used
> >when they fold), chains, auctions, garage sales, penny saver flyers,
> >newspaper ads, friends, co-workers (post something on your company
> >bulletin board), and DIY.
>

[Geezer From The Freezer]

where are you based?

Mike wrote:
>
> Can anyone recommend an online store to purchase aquariums and suplies?

[David Moller]

David C. Moller > wrote in message >...
> On Tue, 22 Jun 2004 16:33:38 -0400, "NetMax"
> > wrote:
>
> >"Mike" > wrote in message
> .net...
> >> Can anyone recommend an online store to purchase aquariums and suplies?
> >>
> >
> >I'll let others with more experience make recommendations for the
> >supplies, as there are quite a few and the savings can be considerable.
> >I don't think aquariums will be something you buy on-line though. Their
> >size, weight and fragility make transport costs quite high. Depending on
> >the size you're looking for, your options are the LFS (new tanks or used
> >when they fold), chains, auctions, garage sales, penny saver flyers,
> >newspaper ads, friends, co-workers (post something on your company
> >bulletin board), and DIY.
>
> Heh, I can relate to this one. I ordered a tank from petco.com a
> couple weeks ago. The tank was drop shipped from the manufacturer
> (Casco, who apparently makes SeaClear). Anyway, they shipped the tank
> with the hood inside the acrylic tank, not secured in anyway. The hood
> banged around in there during shipment (I'm convinced nobody ever pays
> attention to 'Fragile-This Side Up' markings). Tank just arrived today
> (placed on end), and even though the hood had its ends (only) wrapped
> in foam, it still managed to scratch the acrylic tank and damage the
> hood. :(
> Going to make some phone calls tomorrow (everyone closed now), and
> we'll see how it's handled.
>
> Dave

Well, the merchant who I ordered the tank from is having FedEx pick up
the tank for return to Casco. I'm just curious.... for those who have
shipped (or had shipped to them) tanks via UPS, FedEx, mail etc. Is it
as odd as it seems to me for the hood to be allowed to just rattle
about inside in tank? Or is this actually a typical way to ship a
tank/hood combo?

Dave

[MarAzul]

"David Moller" > wrote in message
m...
> Well, the merchant who I ordered the tank from is having FedEx pick up
> the tank for return to Casco. I'm just curious.... for those who have
> shipped (or had shipped to them) tanks via UPS, FedEx, mail etc. Is it
> as odd as it seems to me for the hood to be allowed to just rattle
> about inside in tank? Or is this actually a typical way to ship a
> tank/hood combo?
>
> Dave

I would *hope* that you situation is not typical. I'd like to think that it
was only an oversite, you know? ;) I do know that with Eclipse kits the
hoods are snug on top of the tank and the whole thing is encased in styro so
it can't move. I guess it all depends on the manufacturer..

Mar
--------------------------------------------------
If the poodle got loose, I figured I could take it. I was armed.
- Laurell K. Hamilton from the Anita Blake series