Aquarium Obsessed

[Joseph Montreal]

Hi I just received a new price on my tank from Aquamarin and he wants $2000 more because of the 3 45 degree angles.

I found it a big jump in price making the tank $7100.00 total

So I called Aquarium obsessed I was referred to him by Dan from MOPS.

He gave me a price of $6100 total but he is giving my 3/4" Diamante glass (same like Starphire) and including 4 2" bulk heads and durso's.

My problem is i have never dealt with Will at Aquarium Obsessed. Is anyone familiar with him and would you recommend him. OR do you know of any other aquarium builders that May be better?

Joseph

[tang_man_montreal]

Dang. That's quite a price jump.

Joseph, Have you compared that price with Aqua-Marin here in Montreal?

If not, call:

Ghislain
Aqua Marin Entretien Et Installation Inc
Phone: (514) 899-0707
6531, rue Beaubien Est, Montréal, QC H1M 1B1


I never dealt with Aquarium Obsessed, however I havn't heard bad things of him. In fact, I've only heard great things.

[Joseph Montreal]

That is Aqua-Marin (Ghislain) sorry i spelled it wrong before.
It is Ghislain that gave me the price jump.

I ahve dealt with him for a long time He even has a $3000 deposit from me. But $1000 less and Diamante glass Is very interesting. I could ask him to use the deposit money for equipment or rock I don't know what to do?

[tang_man_montreal]

Hmm... Sorry... Maybe I misread it... In that case...

Like I mentioned, I've heard great things about Aquarium Obsessed. Did he mention freight/transport charges or does the price incude it?

Regarding Ghislain, the deposit you gave him was for the original quote. Now that he's revising his quote, he's revisiing the contract. Hence it shouldn't be valid anymore and you should be able to reclaim it. I may be totally offbase here, but that's the way I see it.

[Marty]

I have an Aquarium Obsessed tank that should be delivered in the next two to 4 weeks. I am satisfied with the service I have received up to now and hope that I will be thrilled with the tank itself when it arrives. Will was able to accomodate a couple last minute changes and did respond to my e-mails withing a day or two. I ordered the tank at the beginning of June and it was supposed to be ready for the end of August but he let me know that it would be a month late. In my case that's not a big deal...as long as it does arrive by the end of September. I can let you know what I think of the tank when it arrives.

Marty

[tang_man_montreal]

Marty, what are the specs of the tank you ordered?

[Marty]

Specs are 84" X 36w X 24h. I wanted 30" high but I would have had to go with 3/4 starphire which would have been too expensive so I went with 1/2" Starphire for 3 sides (2 long sides and one short side) and 3/4 regular float on the bottom.

[Toooloud]

Originally posted by Joseph Montreal
That is Aqua-Marin (Ghislain) sorry i spelled it wrong before.
It is Ghislain that gave me the price jump.

I ahve dealt with him for a long time He even has a $3000 deposit from me. But $1000 less and Diamante glass Is very interesting. I could ask him to use the deposit money for equipment or rock I don't know what to do?

Did you leave him this Depoist.. before or after the new price?? as if you gave it to him Before the new price.. he would have to refund it to you if you decide not to go with it!..

[Joseph Montreal]

The deposit was given in three payements and it was for the original 10' by 24"by 30" high. I would most likely feel bad to take it back seeing that I changed my mind about 4 times in regards to the dimensions. I have no problem with spending it on other things from him. But as of now he still thinks hes doing it. So i have to tell him very soom like tommorrow in case he stsrts to order thinks.

The price from aquarium obsessed is delivered but only he comes with it. So he said I would have to find about 6 guys to bring it into the house. That may be a problem. Unless .....

[tang_man_montreal]

You mean 5 guys...

:)

[john rock]

Do you really want those angles?? I've seen 2 tanks like that and I didn't like it at all. you will see the silicone right up those seems and it won't be clear plus theres a weird distortion of view. not for me any ways.

[Joseph Montreal]

Thanks Vince.

Johnny. heres the thing the most i could have gone was 27"wide before i got to the window. So i put a angle that brings the tank out to 34". The tank will be dividing the living room and the hallway. so there will be a lot of traffic (walking by) so i thought that if the tank were cut on 45's it would make the passage more...friendly. The end would be 20"face with 2 12 views. I thought they wouold look nice. I' starting to think of just doing the tank 102"by 27" by 34"high. with square ends. It would be a lot cheaper.

But would the reef be sooo much better if it was wider than 27"? Icould have the tank only with 1 45 angle at the end with the window and the other end square. This also should be cheaper.

Is this diamante glass really that much nicer than regular glass? I know you can see the difference when the tank is empty. But i have never seen a full tank.

[Reef Crew]

You may want to try Jonny at North American Fish Breeders I son't have his contact info handy but I know if you do a seach on this board or others I am sure you will find it.

Jonny has been building custom tanks for many years and is very reputable.

I know a lot of people that have used him including stores like Oakville Reef Gallery for their display tanks.

[Reef Crew]

Found the Contact Info

North American Fish Breeder
2260 Kingston Road,_Scarborough,_ON_M1N_1T9
Phone: (416)267-7252

[reeferboy]

I have a 400 gal. from Will coming in the next 2 weeks. He went out of his way to find 3/4" Diamante Glass and I was very impressed. I have had no problems with any of the process to date.

[john rock]

yes there is a difference in clarity for sure. especially on thicker glass like 12mm and up. even thinner glass. I showed IJO at his house with some cube tanks he ordered with STARPHIRE. put a white piece of paper behind the glass and view it. regular glass shows green while STAR,and DIAMANTE,shows clear.if angels are a must then its not all that bad. a wider tank is always better for aquascaping.

[Joseph Montreal]

Johnny you built your tank yourself right?

Did you have a plan or someone design it?

You had to have ordered the glass exactly to the mm.

I have no experience what so ever with glueing a tank and working with silicon is not my strong point. I would be worried about glueing it myself only to cause a big flood in my living room.

[Flame*Angel]

Check this out regarding Aquarium Obsessed:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=404313

[john rock]

yes it seems as WILL is haveing some serious growing pains.
to bad, he was off to a good start in the beginning.oh well.
one point I must make. NEVER expect a custom tank on time.

[john rock]

oh ya, thats why I built my own

[One Salty Dog]

Susan. The link did not work so I can't read that thread. Was it a good or bad story???
Rob

[tang_man_montreal]

It was a baaaaaaaaaaad story...

Wow.. He had started off being good as Johnny said. Oh well. I retract my previous statement.

[Joseph Montreal]

Well Its seems after reading those threads Susan my decision is made. I have dealt with Aqua-Marin for 4 years now and he is in montreal and if there is a problem i know he will come. The tank will be delivered to my house and placed on the stand. That in itself is peace of mind especially after reading how much trouble some people go through just to get it to them.

I told Daniel (one of Ghislains employes the one who actually constructs it) that I fond it cheaper and with better glass. He was surprised. In Wills email he wrote that the Diamante glass is selling upwards of $45 square foot. And Daniel told me that the tank will take 113 square feet that equals $5085 just for glass with out the overflows or holes.. .. So it does sound like Will may have made an error. That I would probably only find out 3-4 months done the road. Daniel also told me the dry weigh of the tank 1924lbs Wow i said. I deffinietly feel that have the tank placed on the stand by the manufacturer is a Big peace of mind.

I will try to get Ghislain to give me a better price. Daniel told me also that the template had already been sent to order the glass. Well I'll keep you posted.

Joseph

[Joseph Montreal]

Thank everone for your inputs I wish I had known about this forum earlier. I would have asked for contacts prior To ordering. My first deposit for this tank was made in March. But I only wanted it in Oct-Nov. So now I'm more actively working on this project.. My new born of 5 months misses the fish...So do I.
Thank again

[john rock]

joseph, STARPHIRE GLASS is available in MONTREAL. you can get your tank builder to order 1 front veiwing panel. Its available at either PPG or OLDCASTLE. my glass was ordered fROM montreal. I don't see any reason why he can't build you a tank with a STARPHIRE front. It is more money of course but WAY worth it.

[doh]

I have a 48x20x20 starphire tank on order with Will. Service has been great. Will was upfront with me on the time it would take when I orderd (10 weeks because he was really busy). It is on schedule and may even arrive a bit early.

[Joseph Montreal]

Johnny. I don't only have 1 viewing side i really have 5 viewing sides with the 2 12"angles. Last time i called it Starphire ws only available in 1/2" And i don't think that is strong enough. Did you use tempered starphire?

Maybe it would work for 1 side but with 5 sides? I'm not sure.

[john rock]

yes I used tempered STARPHIRE. just use STAR on the biggest front section.

[Joseph Montreal]

.You may want to try Jonny at North American Fish Breeders I son't have his contact info handy but I know if you do a seach on this board or others I am sure you will find it.

I gave Johnny a call and He gave me a very good price. It is not with Diamante. just regular glass. The price he gave me is $3300 plus tax. I found it cheap. so I called. He said it did not include the holes each hole is $30, And the 45's are not mittered. So that would be extra and also the over flows have to be calculated. I want tinted black glass. That would be extra. So I'm figuring about 200 for holes, $300 for tinted glass and $300 for Mitering. Equalling $4100 plus tax I quess 7% only = $4387. But that is NOT DELIVERED. He is supposed to revise the quote and get back to me on Tuesday. He also said he would find out if anyone would ship it to me. I don't know his work is it clean nice work? I don't want those 45's done sloppy.

Joseph

[aqua obsessed]

Hi Joseph,

The quote I gave you was in fact correct. I was simply stating that in somne parts of the US Diamante is selling for $45/square foot. Its VERY hard to find these days. Johnny is offering you a fair price on REGULAR 19mm. He does a good job and has a long list of experience. If your not concerned with finish work then hes giving you a good deal.

Good Luck!

thanks
Will

[john rock]

on a tank that big go with either starphire or Diamante.There is a difference and you'kl regret it if you don't. AQUARIUM OBSESSED [WILL] make very nice tanks.You have to remember,that link that was posted from an unhappy customer from AO ,well, theres always 2 sides to a story and anything custom made ESPECIALLY tanks you can exspect delays.

[Joseph Montreal]

Well my tank is being built by Aqua-Marin here in montreal. I kind of couldn't get out of the deal with Ghislain. I had already given him a deposit. It will be delivered before winter. It will be made of regular glass.
Next time i go custom I will definitly shop around before hand. I have dealt with Aqua Marin since I started with salt water and he taugh me a lot. He has even come over a few times when my fish were not well. He also has taken fish back and credited me when they didn't get along. That is why i gave him the job to start with with out shopping around.
So his service is excellent. His fish prices were very fair but his his equipment,supplies and tanks are a bit overpriced.