Fish Tanks Direct, anyone use them?

LeslieS88 · 02/23/2018, 08:30 PM

Just curious if anyone has had a tank and cabinetry build by
Fishtanksdirect.com? Reviews?

albano · 02/23/2018, 08:37 PM

Yes, in process of setting up 2 new tanks that I ordered from them... 200g and 5’x6’ 500g... very easy to deal with, great prices... built to my specs... built my own stands

A couple of local friends have also ordered from them

LeslieS88 · 02/23/2018, 08:53 PM

Nice, I’m thinking about a custom 110. Also custom cabinetry, I need a specific height.

albano · 02/23/2018, 09:00 PM

I’m very happy with the job they did... hope to have water in them by end of month

Jstaff123 · 02/23/2018, 09:17 PM

I bought my 500 gallon, sump and cabinetry from them..highly recommend. Did a great job on all my stuff

ca1ore · 02/23/2018, 11:40 PM

Alfie pointed me in their direction. Got a 450, my first acrylic tank after decades of glass. Very pleased with the build quality. I did have them go up one acrylic thickness because .... well, just because. Thumbs up!!!!

Indymann99 · 02/24/2018, 08:39 AM

+1 I had a good experience with FTD. 10yrs ago I ordered my custom acrylic tank, sump and skimmer from them.

Tank stand was custom inwall from a local cabinet maker.

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Joe0813 · 02/24/2018, 03:51 PM

I had an absolutely HORRIBLE experience from them... its not them that make the stands they actually sub your order out. We bought the stand in May made by aqua wood forget the name I know it was 2300 dollars though. Within two months the center door split, the right side door cracked at the seam and the left side door center panel came loose. so we called and was ignored over and over by aqua wood. finally we get 3 new doors mailed to us after months and months of waiting.... Center door cracked, right and left doors missing paint, both right and left doors cut to big so they don't fit. again call FTD and get ahold of aqua wood... doors get sent after another few months of waiting... center door is split, right door missing a ton of paint, left door missing paint and center of door is rattling around. Call back yet again.... 4 months of waiting and they send the 4th set of doors... huge chip on right side door, paint all missing... left side they forgot to put the handle in, center door yet again...... cracked.... so now after sitting waiting for doors for a 2300 dollar stand for almost a year, we still have yet to hear back from FTD after the called aqua wood.... I feel bad bashing on this post because its not FTD product. Id give FTD another chance just not with a stand... Ive been on the phone a lot with Donna and shes really nice and great to deal with... aqua wood on the other hand, I hope they close for crap products

Joe0813 · 02/25/2018, 10:25 PM

Update I got an email today saying the doors shipped Friday... if these come damaged, missing paint or just crap worksmenship it might be time to contact a lawyer and get our money back

LeslieS88 · 02/28/2018, 01:50 PM

Joe, that stinks. You get the new doors in yet?

Joe0813 · 02/28/2018, 06:31 PM

they were supposed to be here today.......... never came, shocking. if I were to do it all over id just go to a cabinet maker and have them build me one.

ca1ore · 02/28/2018, 09:12 PM

Yeah, I always make my own cabinets. That way, if it's crap, I know who to blame.

albano · 02/28/2018, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Yeah, I always make my own cabinets...

+1 (with the help of someone with carpentry skills) especially since I always need something customized on it, much better to do it 'in house' !

Joe0813 · 03/02/2018, 08:40 AM

Doors came...... they painted them way to dark, two didn't fit and the didn't put the push in thingys for the screws. Sanded down both doors so they fit now. But can definitely see a huge color difference

Indymann99 · 03/02/2018, 05:26 PM

bummer on the stand and doors.. you might think about hiring a local cabinet maker to make you a custom stand.

My cabinet guy used Poplar wood and a 2 stage stain to get the dark look I wanted.

Joe0813 · 03/03/2018, 10:45 AM

we were looking into a local company but went with this place instead.... bad idea

dkwatts15 · 03/04/2018, 09:48 AM

+1 on using a local cabinet maker. I designed it for my 75g and they used leftover walnut to build it. 36” tall stand with double doors and no center beam. Very easy to work and mount equipment in the sump. I payed them $400 to build it 5 years ago and stained it myself and used spar finish polyurethane. Stand still looks brand new except for hinge corrosion even though they are stainless.

02/23/2018, 08:30 PM	#1
LeslieS88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Oakville, CT Posts: 165	Fish Tanks Direct, anyone use them? Just curious if anyone has had a tank and cabinetry build by Fishtanksdirect.com? Reviews?

02/23/2018, 09:00 PM	#4
albano SALTWATER since '73 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Katonah, NY/ San Fernando Ca./ Sea Isle City NJ Posts: 6,210	I’m very happy with the job they did... hope to have water in them by end of month __________________ ______________________________________ Jan. '11 TOTM Manhattan Reefs Current Tank Info: 500g & 200g acrylic DTs/2 separate reef systems

02/23/2018, 11:40 PM	#6
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Alfie pointed me in their direction. Got a 450, my first acrylic tank after decades of glass. Very pleased with the build quality. I did have them go up one acrylic thickness because .... well, just because. Thumbs up!!!! __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

02/24/2018, 08:39 AM	#7
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	+1 I had a good experience with FTD. 10yrs ago I ordered my custom acrylic tank, sump and skimmer from them. Tank stand was custom inwall from a local cabinet maker. ******** async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"> __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

02/24/2018, 03:51 PM	#8
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	I had an absolutely HORRIBLE experience from them... its not them that make the stands they actually sub your order out. We bought the stand in May made by aqua wood forget the name I know it was 2300 dollars though. Within two months the center door split, the right side door cracked at the seam and the left side door center panel came loose. so we called and was ignored over and over by aqua wood. finally we get 3 new doors mailed to us after months and months of waiting.... Center door cracked, right and left doors missing paint, both right and left doors cut to big so they don't fit. again call FTD and get ahold of aqua wood... doors get sent after another few months of waiting... center door is split, right door missing a ton of paint, left door missing paint and center of door is rattling around. Call back yet again.... 4 months of waiting and they send the 4th set of doors... huge chip on right side door, paint all missing... left side they forgot to put the handle in, center door yet again...... cracked.... so now after sitting waiting for doors for a 2300 dollar stand for almost a year, we still have yet to hear back from FTD after the called aqua wood.... I feel bad bashing on this post because its not FTD product. Id give FTD another chance just not with a stand... Ive been on the phone a lot with Donna and shes really nice and great to deal with... aqua wood on the other hand, I hope they close for crap products __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

02/23/2018, 08:53 PM	#3
LeslieS88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Oakville, CT Posts: 165	Nice, I’m thinking about a custom 110. Also custom cabinetry, I need a specific height.

02/23/2018, 09:17 PM	#5
Jstaff123 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 34	I bought my 500 gallon, sump and cabinetry from them..highly recommend. Did a great job on all my stuff

02/25/2018, 10:25 PM	#9
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	Update I got an email today saying the doors shipped Friday... if these come damaged, missing paint or just crap worksmenship it might be time to contact a lawyer and get our money back __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

02/28/2018, 01:50 PM	#10
LeslieS88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Oakville, CT Posts: 165	Joe, that stinks. You get the new doors in yet?

02/28/2018, 06:31 PM	#11
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	they were supposed to be here today.......... never came, shocking. if I were to do it all over id just go to a cabinet maker and have them build me one. __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

02/28/2018, 09:12 PM	#12
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Yeah, I always make my own cabinets. That way, if it's crap, I know who to blame. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

03/02/2018, 08:40 AM	#14
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	Doors came...... they painted them way to dark, two didn't fit and the didn't put the push in thingys for the screws. Sanded down both doors so they fit now. But can definitely see a huge color difference __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

03/02/2018, 05:26 PM	#15
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	bummer on the stand and doors.. you might think about hiring a local cabinet maker to make you a custom stand. My cabinet guy used Poplar wood and a 2 stage stain to get the dark look I wanted. __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

03/03/2018, 10:45 AM	#16
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	we were looking into a local company but went with this place instead.... bad idea __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

03/04/2018, 09:48 AM	#17
dkwatts15 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 23	+1 on using a local cabinet maker. I designed it for my 75g and they used leftover walnut to build it. 36” tall stand with double doors and no center beam. Very easy to work and mount equipment in the sump. I payed them $400 to build it 5 years ago and stained it myself and used spar finish polyurethane. Stand still looks brand new except for hinge corrosion even though they are stainless.