New tank with no sealed internal overflow? Need guidance!

[kodock]

Bull. Absolute bull. A tiny gap is nowhere near enough to allow the flow required to "eliminate dead spots". If anything, it would just collect detritus and sand from OUTSIDE the overflow that would normally stay in the display... Y'know, where it can be easily cleaned.
Seems like a first draft brainstorm idea that should not have made it into production if you ask me.

This is what I told the manufacturer on the phone and he just kind of ignored it, regarding getting sand and other things going in from the display lol

I think they get the tank from China, then go put on this acrylic overflow, but the glass strip they use to silicone only goes down to the silicone seam for the back/bottom panes and they just don’t even attempt to glob it or do anything else - then claim it’s by design

 

[dball711]

This is what I told the manufacturer on the phone and he just kind of ignored it, regarding getting sand and other things going in from the display lol

I think they get the tank from China, then go put on this acrylic overflow, but the glass strip they use to silicone only goes down to the silicone seam for the back/bottom panes and they just don’t even attempt to glob it or do anything else - then claim it’s by design

The glass strip you keep referring to is actually a piece of acrylic that is fused to that other piece of plastic on the overflow. It really is a shame the way this is set up and not actually sealed with silicone by the manufacturer. I agree with everyone that by design makes no sense.

If you’re going to keep the tank, it seems that the only reasonable way to make this work would be to run a bead of silicone around the entire overflow. Just use some tape so it doesn’t get too messy and still looks nice.

 

[project1004]

Was going to say, you may want to “redo” the whole overflow, but I would do the easier route first.

 

[silentdeath5]

This is what I told the manufacturer on the phone and he just kind of ignored it, regarding getting sand and other things going in from the display lol

I think they get the tank from China, then go put on this acrylic overflow, but the glass strip they use to silicone only goes down to the silicone seam for the back/bottom panes and they just don’t even attempt to glob it or do anything else - then claim it’s by design

Sure seems that way. They just used that little strip to hide the gap caused by the back panel silicone that was already there but they’re so lazy they don’t even silicone the small gap that’s left sheesh… I’m sure some people just don’t know better and they get played off.

 

[siege]

Sure seems that way. They just used that little strip to hide the gap caused by the back panel silicone that was already there but they’re so lazy they don’t even silicone the small gap that’s left sheesh… I’m sure some people just don’t know better and they get played off.

Yep. I'd be claiming defective workmanship and/or defective manufacture that the seller refuses to own up to or correct.

The proof that it is defective is shown in the fact that literally no other manufacturer does this, nobody (who knows what they are doing) has ever suggested it, and it's damn sure not a "feature" because it's never advertised or mentioned as such, anywhere, either in their documentation or on their website or advertising materials. There's no touting of its benefits, research or testing materials/claims, or even just a heads up that "this is so, and fully intentional and by design" - probably because they know no one would buy it, both figuratively and literally.

All of this tells me pretty conclusively they don't want to talk about it. Now, why might that be? And yet, with all the complaints you found, there's not even a FAQ on their website addressing the issue. This isn't a case of "first to market" or, "we figured out something everyone else has been blind to" or "innovation", unless you maybe want to call it the latter as an innovative method for passing off shoddy design/manufacture as intentional.

 

[kodock]

The glass strip you keep referring to is actually a piece of acrylic that is fused to that other piece of plastic on the overflow. It really is a shame the way this is set up and not actually sealed with silicone by the manufacturer. I agree with everyone that by design makes no sense.

If you’re going to keep the tank, it seems that the only reasonable way to make this work would be to run a bead of silicone around the entire overflow. Just use some tape so it doesn’t get too messy and still looks nice.

Sorry, yes, it’s an acrylic strip, but it appeared clear and I keep recalling that silicone doesn’t bond well with acrylic so I assumed they used glass at least.. but I see now.

I can tape and do a seam on the outside of the box, but the fixed plumbing prevents me from doing anything on the inside of the overflow. I’d hate to mess with the plumbing. I’m going to hold off on working on it for now, unless I fail at getting a refund or replacement. I doubt they’ll send a replacement though

 

[dball711]

Sorry, yes, it’s an acrylic strip, but it appeared clear and I keep recalling that silicone doesn’t bond well with acrylic so I assumed they used glass at least.. but I see now.

I can tape and do a seam on the outside of the box, but the fixed plumbing prevents me from doing anything on the inside of the overflow. I’d hate to mess with the plumbing. I’m going to hold off on working on it for now, unless I fail at getting a refund or replacement. I doubt they’ll send a replacement though

If you do go that route, just worry about putting silicone on the outside, do not worry at all about the inside. All the pressure will be on the outside, so that’s where it’s gonna do the most good.

 

[kodock]

They won’t respond via email/text (in writing) wanting to call only, but I found this in their instructions online. They didn’t even send instructions. It’s open to interpretation, but to me.. this is an in-writing queue that these things are supposed to be sealed.

I’ll update the outcome of what happens, win or lose.

 

[siege]

They won’t respond via email/text (in writing) wanting to call only, but I found this in their instructions online.

I saw that too when I was reading the docs. I didn't call it out specifically though because on review there didn't seem to be any difference in documentation between AIO and drilled tanks and I wasn't sure which way they'd call that ("Oh that only applies to drilled tanks, oops, sorry!" seemed most likely), especially as step 11 goes on to call out sumps.

 

[kodock]

I saw that too when I was reading the docs. I didn't call it out specifically though because on review there didn't seem to be any difference in documentation between AIO and drilled tanks and I wasn't sure which way they'd call that ("Oh that only applies to drilled tanks, oops, sorry!" seemed most likely), especially as step 11 goes on to call out sumps.

Yep! And like you mentioned, it would say something like “(Don’t worry if water gets in the overflow, this is by design to xyz)” or a brag play on why they do it.

They offered to send me a “new” tank and I can use the packaging from the new one to send this one back - they’ll arrange transportation. Thoughts? Lol

 

[siege]

Uff da.

Will the new tank not have the same design flaw?

I mean. Ugh. It's pretty easily fixed, all things considered. Design and 3d-print some plugs with a little lip on two sides, insert from the outside of the weir toward the inside, and then silicone both sides, with focus on the display-side.

Even that is probably more than necessary, some good silicone alone would probably do it.

If you got an otherwise really good deal on the tank, I mean... unless the new one will be "fixed" or somehow an improvement... probably may as well save yourself the trouble. Maybe just make sure the manufacturer understands in no uncertain terms why you're unhappy, and this borders on deceptive marketing or some other shady practice that they don't disclose this "feature" very prominently.