Sealant Missing On New Tank

[DJC1]

I had put this hidden in another thread, so thought it may be best to repost as it may get a few more views.

I purchased a tank at the weekend, and I noticed yesterday that there is a six inch segment up one of the side which has sealant missing/not complete.

I have outlined in white where the sealant is missing from the glass.

I have not yet filled the tank with water so do not yet know if it will leak.

It is not totally missing, but it's not filled all the way to the edge.

It looks like a pretty simple repair job if I just went out and purchased some black sealant, but would this be advisable?

I'd rather not return the tank as it was the last one, but I obvioulsy don't want a tank which may be susceptible to leaking.

Anyone?

 

[backtotropical]

I would return the tank unless you are absolutely sure it will be ok. Otherwise, a repair job would be reasonably simple, and you can buy aquarium silicone from your LFS for next to nothing.

 

[whiteley]

Take it back! better safe than sorry

 

[vic]

Return for an exchange before filling the tank. When it leaks, the folks that sold it to you won't be there to help clean up the mess and they will also not be too keen on replacing the dead fish!
Vic

 

[afishdude]

make sure you use aquarium selent to fix it.

 

[Espada]

make sure you use aquarium selent to fix it.

Please don't follow this advice, don't fix it and take it back.

 

[fishy guy]

I'd take it back - as whitely said, better safe than sorry. Some LFSs might give you hassle or tell you it'll be ok, just tell them you don't want it or they might talk you into keeping it.

Even if you did repair it, would this void any warranty/return policy you have incase there was another problem?

 

[DJC1]

Cheers for the advice all.

I took it back yesterday and showed him, and he agreed it looked a 'bit rough', but he showed where the main seal is inside and said the outside one is as much cosmetic.

He said he would replace it if he had another one, but he didn't, and he only had clear sealant, not black.

I said I would take something in similar value to the sealant so I wouldn't be out of pocket when I bought some.

He offered some 'bactax'?!? or something similar sounding, but I declined, so he gave me a maintenance kit instead which was £20, reduced to £10 - Bucket, net, fish food, water additive of some description, glass cleaner & gravel hoover/cleaner.

He told me that if it does leak to bring it back and they will have some new ones within a week or so (he was the manager), and they would exchange it.

I think that was all fair enough.

I told him I was going to do a fishless cylce, and he strongly advised me not to bother.

He said that people spend forever trying to get the levels right, and as soon as they put a fish in the tank all the levels go through the roof - he said it was because the ammonia people use is not really the same as the fish ammonia.?!?

 

[Rooster]

Cheers for the advice all.

I took it back yesterday and showed him, and he agreed it looked a 'bit rough', but he showed where the main seal is inside and said the outside one is as much cosmetic.

This is true, or is generally... Ive never had a tank with an "external" seal, thats a question for the builder

He said he would replace it if he had another one, but he didn't, and he only had clear sealant, not black.

Consumer law dictates that he MUST take it back (well, here in UK its the case) The tank is OBVIOUSLY defective - cosmetic or not.

I wouldnt faff about... its a replacement or refund please (your choice) The idea of a blowout scares most fish keepers, and I've only seen it once...due to poor standards of build - living room AND lower landing carpets and funiture TRASHED, these things dont "drip" when they go !

I said I would take something in similar value to the sealant so I wouldn't be out of pocket when I bought some.

He offered some 'bactax'?!? or something similar sounding, but I declined, so he gave me a maintenance kit instead which was £20, reduced to £10 - Bucket, net, fish food, water additive of some description, glass cleaner & gravel hoover/cleaner.

He KNOWS he's in the wrong here... or he wouldnt give you anything (unless he's a "good guy")

He told me that if it does leak to bring it back and they will have some new ones within a week or so (he was the manager), and they would exchange it.

I think that was all fair enough.

I told him I was going to do a fishless cylce, and he strongly advised me not to bother.

He said that people spend forever trying to get the levels right, and as soon as they put a fish in the tank all the levels go through the roof - he said it was because the ammonia people use is not really the same as the fish ammonia.?!?

Heres where the "good guy" theory falls down... Fishless is THE way to do it these days, although it may be alien to a lot of us oldies ! LOL If you have ANY interest in fish CARE you owe it to yourself to at least give it a go... and with a shop full of tanks, its easier than the rest of us could do, but they have cast it off as hokum by the sounds of it. I've done it the other way for decades, and trust me - fishless makes it a whole new hobby, not only are the livestock healthier - its saved a TON of work with meds and lost stock (fish, inverts AND plants) so has also saved MONEY... now, lets explore this a little... where are you going to spend this money ? Thats right, in the fish shop.
Sorry, but this place sounds like they should have horses tied up outside - take it back, and go to another shop.

 

[afishdude]

make sure you use aquarium selent to fix it.

Please don't follow this advice, don't fix it and take it back.

whats with that? he said he already bought selent to fix it and i said that you need aquarium selent to fix it

 

[squarefish]

You should have stood your ground... shops don't like difficult customers!
As a grumpy old bas*ard I know! Nowadays you have to check everything whatever shop... I bought a water test kit the other day and the test tubes were broken! Sorry I'll have to go and sit down now

 

[DJC1]

You should have stood your ground... shops don't like difficult customers!
As a grumpy old bas*ard I know! Nowadays you have to check everything whatever shop... I bought a water test kit the other day and the test tubes were broken! Sorry I'll have to go and sit down now

Well, I got him to knock £15 off when I first bought it.

When I went in the second time, I got him to throw me a free bag of gravel.

And I got this lot this time around.

 

[DJC1]

Cheers for the advice all.

I took it back yesterday and showed him, and he agreed it looked a 'bit rough', but he showed where the main seal is inside and said the outside one is as much cosmetic.

This is true, or is generally... Ive never had a tank with an "external" seal, thats a question for the builder

He said he would replace it if he had another one, but he didn't, and he only had clear sealant, not black.

Consumer law dictates that he MUST take it back (well, here in UK its the case) The tank is OBVIOUSLY defective - cosmetic or not.

I wouldnt faff about... its a replacement or refund please (your choice) The idea of a blowout scares most fish keepers, and I've only seen it once...due to poor standards of build - living room AND lower landing carpets and funiture TRASHED, these things dont "drip" when they go !

I said I would take something in similar value to the sealant so I wouldn't be out of pocket when I bought some.

He offered some 'bactax'?!? or something similar sounding, but I declined, so he gave me a maintenance kit instead which was £20, reduced to £10 - Bucket, net, fish food, water additive of some description, glass cleaner & gravel hoover/cleaner.

He KNOWS he's in the wrong here... or he wouldnt give you anything (unless he's a "good guy")

He told me that if it does leak to bring it back and they will have some new ones within a week or so (he was the manager), and they would exchange it.

I think that was all fair enough.

I told him I was going to do a fishless cylce, and he strongly advised me not to bother.

He said that people spend forever trying to get the levels right, and as soon as they put a fish in the tank all the levels go through the roof - he said it was because the ammonia people use is not really the same as the fish ammonia.?!?

Heres where the "good guy" theory falls down... Fishless is THE way to do it these days, although it may be alien to a lot of us oldies ! LOL If you have ANY interest in fish CARE you owe it to yourself to at least give it a go... and with a shop full of tanks, its easier than the rest of us could do, but they have cast it off as hokum by the sounds of it. I've done it the other way for decades, and trust me - fishless makes it a whole new hobby, not only are the livestock healthier - its saved a TON of work with meds and lost stock (fish, inverts AND plants) so has also saved MONEY... now, lets explore this a little... where are you going to spend this money ? Thats right, in the fish shop.
Sorry, but this place sounds like they should have horses tied up outside - take it back, and go to another shop.

He would have given me a refund if I wanted it, but after noticing the inside seal it became obvious that it wasn't going to be a big problem, and that it will be a very easy fix.

Reference the fishless cycling. He was a fairly young lad, maybe mid twenties, and I believe the place is a well respected seller (I've seen it mentioned on this site already, and that's just from browsing one or two messages).

I'm going to fill it up to half way up where the sealant is missing to see if it leaks (I almost know it won't). If it's all ok I will empty the tank, seal the section, then fill the tank to full and start the fishless cycle.