CriticalTanking, think twice.

[CrazyEyes]

Okay so, a few weeks back I put in a request for an acrylic box that I could use to house my skimmer. I contacted CriticalTanking because a friend of mine used them and had a good experience from them. So the sump was finished, they then brought it to RAP where I picked it up, the sump was wrapped so I wasn't aware of the issue. I get home and unwrap it only to findout the sump was covered in crazing, along all of the seams (none in the middle of any of the panels). I contact them immediately and tell them the issue, they then said it was probably caused from me leaving it in the car while attending the show(about 2 hours). I was then told since they failed to inform me that the heat would cause this they would replace it for free, but it might be a couple weeks, okay great. Well 2 weeks went by without any word from them, then 3 weeks. I then posted pics on a local form to get opinions on the crazing. I was then told my a local member who use to work at NextReef that the only way the heat from the car would have caused the crazing would be if the temp inside the car was north of 174 degrees. He then told me that infact the damage was done by flame polishing. My main issue with them is their complete lack of support or communication, I'm not that upset about the crazing as I know mistakes happen but, if you say you're going to replace it then do so. I also had another well respected local member inform me that he has heard of quite a few people using their tanks/sumps that have leaked shortly after setup. So, if any of you all are thinking about using them please do a little more research about them. I'm also not sure how big a company they are, I know they are a Florida based company so people in other states might not be aware of them. Anyways, that's all I have to say about them. I believe there are many other very reputable companies out there that would be a much better option. I also want to add that I have called the only number I have for them twice, have sent them a couple text messages, an email, I have also sent both of them messages on FB asking for any sort of update, neither have yet to reply.

 

[tibbsy07]

How far up the road from them are you?

[CrazyEyes]

All I know is the city they're in but I'm not sure the actual address.

[tibbsy07]

That's what I meant, approximately how far are they from the Tampa area?

 

Edit: They are in Port Richey, so like 40 miles from Tampa. If you HAD to, you could go to them in person if they don't respond.

[CrazyEyes]

Well I'm in Largo but NPR is about 45-50 minutes away from where I live.

[DC5]

http://companies.findthebest.com/l/33039375/Critical-Tanking-in-Port-Richey-FL

 

Where is the business? In a garage?

[CrazyEyes]

Hey thanks man, I looked and wasn't able to find an address for them. I wonder if they just work out of their home, I've yet to visit them since they just brought the sump to the show in Orlando.

[DC5]

I wouldn't just show up there, especially if it looks like a residence. If they have an open to the public store, then yes, but otherwise, I wouldn't do it.

[CrazyEyes]

Yeah I was expecting some sort of business location but you're right seeing as how it looks like a home it is probably best not to show up. I also wanted to state that the point of this thread isn't to ruin their business as I'm sure this is their livelihood but at the same time I am just trying to save others spending their hard earned money any possibly have the same experience as I have had.

[StevieT]

Heat from a car no. Ex NextReef guy is correct. Think how warm/cold a UPS truck, train, plane gets I've never seen that. Crazing is usually more asthetic than structural but it depends on when it occurs. If they flame polished then welded it's a rookie mistake.

[Paandemonium]

TBH sometimes they dont respond, do you have their phone number ? I have it if you need it.

When I got my tank I was pretty happy with it but then I started noticing the air bubbles around them seems which make me, a perfectionist, a little psycho. Not really worth my time arguing though and it really wasnt crazy expensive. My major regret with the tank is getting it acrylic. I'll never get another acrylic tank as long as I live If only because they scratch so easily.

I wouldnt say I'm unhapppy with my purchase just with my decision with what I got. For the same price I could have gotten a deep blue rimless 60(used albeit) and be much happier.

You live and you learn though.

Also waiting on a reship of a sockholder that died during transport...its been like a month and a half and they sent it out monday. I'm not really a psycho client but I do feel the seems of the tank could have been cleaner.

Realistically I change tanks so often that it probably wont matter but I walk in, look at the tank and my eyes gravitate right to the seems and the bubbles(but maybe those are my crazy lady problems who knows).

[CrazyEyes]

I have the owner's phone number, if you want to PM the number you have I'll see if it's the same one I have though. Honestly at this point it's not about price or the mistake though, it's simply that they said yes they'll replace it then they fell off the face of the planet, well that's not true because I still noticed them posting on FB. And to StevieT, that was literally my exact same thought, I know they ship sumps/tanks etc so if it being inside a car for 2 hours is going to cause crazing on just the seams then I'm not sure how they ship these goddamn things. Also as Clay mentioned, her CriticalTanking tank has bubbles in the seams which means they did a piss poor job of prepping the panels. Honestly, for just a little extra money it would be worth just sticking with someone else i.e Nextreef or Synergy and these are just the Florida companies that I know about.

[DC5]

Meh, I don't care what anyone says...if you are the consumer, and you aren't happy, it would be in the best interest of the company to address that concern. That tank looks bad, to any set of eyes.

 

Of course, that advice excludes StevieT. You have any problem with that guy, and all you get is Swedish Fish in return.

[StevieT]

And a GFY sticker

 

But my Oompa Loompas make better acrylic junk than what is pictured above.

[CrazyEyes]

They finally messaged me back and I was told, "I can personally tell you that box didn't look like that in our possession" so somehow the thing magically became crazed just along the seams. It got too hot in the car but for some unknown reason it didn't craze anywhere but the seams.

[jedimasterben]

Hope you didn't pay in cash!

[CrazyEyes]

No but the way I paid I might aswell had paid in cash. PayPal gifted, because I'm an asshole as was trying to be nice so they didnt have to pay the fee.

[NirvanaandTool]

Damn, remember seeing this on your tank thread but didn't realize it wasn't fixed yet. Sh###y situation. Hope they own up and replace the thing.

[CrazyEyes]

So I'm sure you all have heard of i-tech skimmers. Well the guy who founded that company, his store is in my area. Before posting on here I posted this on the Tampa area of Reef central, I get a random PM from the store owner saying "call me because I have a solution to your sump issues". I was like oh cool, he's going to be able to repair it. So I call and speak to one of the workers there and they tell me, bring the sump up here and we're going to build you a replacement for free. This isn't even their product and yet they're willing to go above and beyond for people.

[gulfsurfer101]

That's bull####, I'd be hounding thier ass right now. They already said once they would replace it, now it sounds like they are going to go back on thier word. I wouldn't stand for that at all. Btw, being nice will only get you f*ct easier, but no better. I get by just fine being the @ssh*le that I am.

[CrazyEyes]

No I hear you. I'm usually not that nice of a person honestly. But for whatever reason man I gifted the money. At this point I don't care since the sump is infact getting replaced. But I will NEVER go to these sh*tbags again. I was literally going to order a sump for my smaller tank, a QT tank, a frag tank, a bio pellet reactor, and a couple frag racks from these people but there is no goddamn way that's happening now.

[NirvanaandTool]

So I'm sure you all have heard of i-tech skimmers. Well the guy who founded that company, his store is in my area. Before posting on here I posted this on the Tampa area of Reef central, I get a random PM from the store owner saying "call me because I have a solution to your sump issues". I was like oh cool, he's going to be able to repair it. So I call and speak to one of the workers there and they tell me, bring the sump up here and we're going to build you a replacement for free. This isn't even their product and yet they're willing to go above and beyond for people.

 

Awesome. Glad you are getting the hookup on a replacement sump.

[CrazyEyes]

Me too man. I know this replacement sump is going to be much, much better quality than the one I have now. I might actually see how much they'd charge to make a full sump for me.

[GHill762]

So I'm sure you all have heard of i-tech skimmers. Well the guy who founded that company, his store is in my area. Before posting on here I posted this on the Tampa area of Reef central, I get a random PM from the store owner saying "call me because I have a solution to your sump issues". I was like oh cool, he's going to be able to repair it. So I call and speak to one of the workers there and they tell me, bring the sump up here and we're going to build you a replacement for free. This isn't even their product and yet they're willing to go above and beyond for people.

that's incredible..

[CrazyEyes]

It's definitely amazing as to what some people will do for you, and what some won't.