Acrylic Tanks

Reefmedic79 · #1 07/31/2006, 12:31 PM

I'm looking for custom Acrylic tank manufactures, besides tenacor and living color, as I already know those. If you have any personal experience with them some feedback about them would be appreciated as well. Thanks in advanced, Jason.

Bricky · #2 07/31/2006, 02:09 PM

I'm getting ready to have Clear Fabrications in the Seattle area build me an 8'x4'x31" penninsula style tank and from what I've seen he is as good as Envision Acrylics (Portland, OR). Not to mention that Jason at Clear Fab is a great guy with alot of building knowledge too. You can check him out at Reeffrontiers.

H20ENG · #3 07/31/2006, 02:27 PM

James' (Envision) work is TOP notch, and he has always given great advice and awesome DIY tips to us RCers. I recommend him to anyone whos lookin'.

jeffbrig · #4 07/31/2006, 02:48 PM

James (envision) built my tank, and I've been very pleased with it. He does NOT skimp on material. My 72x30x27 is a eurobraced design in 1" acrylic.

sknoch78 · #5 07/31/2006, 09:10 PM

Another vote for James @ Envision. He built my 240 and it is excelent quality. He has excelent customer service as well.

Shawn

ricks · #6 08/01/2006, 09:57 AM

James is da man... He built my 500 gallon with 1". Clean seams, beautiful tank. I've had 6 acrylic tank over the years. And this is by far the best I've ever seen....

sabodish · #7 08/01/2006, 11:08 AM

im having andy at my reef creations build my 36x36x30 cube.

jblauser · #8 08/01/2006, 04:26 PM

Just had Jonas at Blue Sierra set up a Clear Fab tank. 3/4x 84x30x24. Jason and Jonas were a pleasure to work with and I couldn't be happier with my Tank.

reefkeeper2 · #9 08/01/2006, 05:37 PM

James at Envisions built my 425. Its beautiful. There are pics in this forum of it under "new tank". My last tank was from tenecor and developed crazing at some of the seams. They are supposed to have a lifetime guarantee. When I called and sent them pics, they said they only guarantee against leakage. I said I couldn't wait for the seams to fail on a 180gal tank in my living room. Needless to say they lost my buisness for good.

jayo · #10 08/01/2006, 06:17 PM

Sometimes you can find a great local builder by asking at local fish stores - when they are doing a custom setup for a customer they have someone they'll call for a tank.

Sometimes they won't tell you who their builder is though - they want you to go through them (or the builder doesn't want to deal with walk-in customers). It is _really_ helpful to be able to talk to your builder directly - a good builder will be able to help you with your design (make it work - determine thicknesses, suggest a more efficient bracing, show off some tanks they are currently building to give you ideas, show you the whole range of acrylic colors they have available, etc).

Good luck!

jayo

Nanook · #11 08/01/2006, 07:32 PM

[moved]

Sorry, no vendor talk in the discussion forums.

rmougey · #12 08/02/2006, 12:25 AM

Aquatic Design Habitats in Colorado does a great job on acrylic tanks, filters and wood stands. They built my little reef (60" 120g) and did a great job. Tom or Dave can help you.

-Rob

skylar · #13 08/02/2006, 07:19 PM

Tru vu 300g developed crazing everywhere and they say it's normal and wont effect the integrity of the tank. Not covered under warranty. That's TruVu in Hayward CA

reefkeeper2 · #14 08/03/2006, 10:29 AM

Is that true? I thought crazing was an indication of a failing seam. It sure looks like its gonna fail.

ricks · #15 08/03/2006, 11:26 AM

I've had tanks from several MFG. All had crazing it only get worst. I've even had one replace the tank. If the crazing get to bad the seam can split... I would get it replaced ASAP... I now own a envision tank, it's been up for one year. No crazing anywhere, no signs of crazing either.. I don't know what James does, but he builds killer tanks.....

reefkeeper2 · #16 08/03/2006, 12:05 PM

I just got a tank from James as well. There isn't even a single bubble in any of the seams. I don't expect to see any crazing on this tank. I was going to give my old 180 to a friend but after he saw the crazing, he was afraid to set it up. To the dump it went after only 5 years!

skylar · #17 08/06/2006, 09:40 PM

yeah I am really scared my kids play in the tank room. I just saw Vapormd's 1" thick 200g James @ envision built. Nice work eurobraced, the works. Even nicer livestock.

Anyone know how to get a hold of James/ envision. Internet search was no bueno. Thanks

LIReefer · #18 08/08/2006, 03:27 PM

james [james@envisionacrylics.com]