Tank Builders Calgary

kaboom · #1 03-12-2010, 03:59 PM

You're right, no more shower doors. Just a hugh headache and lots of frustration. I got Mitch to build me a 300g, what a mistake. I thought since Rahim had joined the team that things would improve, but not the case. Every few days I would call and Mitch he would give me a different excuse as to why it's delayed. When I finally got my tank, the overflow dimension was incorrect and there was an 1" chip in one pane. Other than that the tank was build fine. The price was the main attration to using Bow Valley,

muck · #2 03-12-2010, 07:00 PM

I've learned the hard way a few times... You get what you pay for 99.9% of the time.

burtonpj48 · #3 03-12-2010, 08:58 PM

I had my 1st tank built by golds, I considered the nice shop and the amount of business that went thru the shop. I made that mistake. I requested starphire front, but didnt get it. Too many air bubbles within the seams. Also the edges of the glass are rough not polished. The glass it self is very thick. I met a person who had thier tank made by gary, the person who builds for red coral and ocean city. Its better than bow valley, but also there are some imperfetions such as bubbles within the seams. The next time i have a tank built, i would go to elite, Its nice they can display the product on the floor so you can see what you are getting. The tanks there are very nice. smooth lines and edges, seams are nice and clean. If price is not an issue!

globaldesigns · #4 03-12-2010, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burtonpj48

I had my 1st tank built by golds, I considered the nice shop and the amount of business that went thru the shop. I made that mistake. I requested starphire front, but didnt get it. Too many air bubbles within the seams. Also the edges of the glass are rough not polished. The glass it self is very thick. I met a person who had thier tank made by gary, the person who builds for red coral and ocean city. Its better than bow valley, but also there are some imperfetions such as bubbles within the seams. The next time i have a tank built, i would go to elite, Its nice they can display the product on the floor so you can see what you are getting. The tanks there are very nice. smooth lines and edges, seams are nice and clean. If price is not an issue!

You will always get some bubbles, in the seams. My tank, from Elite, has some... As long as the seams are strong, no worries. When they delivered mine, there was also some damage (can't say it was there in the store or from delivery), but it was the back corner. It was chipped away, not enough to be a structural problem. I just put some crazy glue on it to clean it up some. It has been almost 2 years with no issues.

I think all tank builders have their pros and cons, and everyone can probably say something negative about all. Best bet is to do your research see some examples and make your selection from there.

As most know, I majorly dislike Colby @ elite, as he ripped me off too many times before I started to smartin up and so many other things. But I will commend him and more Jayson for the quality of tanks they produce. I will eventually want another tank, would love to have another from him, but of course refuse to give him anymore money. So I don't know what I will do, maybe build my own?

Fragzilla · #5 03-13-2010, 10:46 AM

I agree that Elite's tanks have very nice details, but there is a HUGE cost for the CNC machining. I priced out my new tank through Elite and it was 3-4 times the cost of Golds. With the way my tank is set up I wanted 2 of the edges to be beveled and polished, I got what I asked for.

Sitting on the shop floor Elite's tanks look great, but IMO once the tank is set up I doesn't justifiy the extra cost.

FYI - gary build the tanks for Golds. When/if I am looking for another tank I wouldn't even shop anywhere else.

kien · #6 03-13-2010, 11:40 AM

Wow I think we have a mystery on our hands! Who builds tanks for Golds?? Does anybody really know?!

Ryan · #7 03-13-2010, 02:35 PM

Bow Valley builds tanks for Golds. Gary retired and somone bought him out. I know who it is but am not supposed to say anything. Hopefully this person will come out and say something to clear this matter up.

lastlight · #8 03-13-2010, 05:42 PM

I've had tanks built by both Mitch and Gary through Golds.

burtonpj48 · #9 03-14-2010, 03:40 AM

[b][QUOTE=Fragzilla;501364]I agree that Elite's tanks have very nice details, but there is a HUGE cost for the CNC machining. I priced out my new tank through Elite and it was 3-4 times the cost of Golds. With the way my tank is set up I wanted 2 of the edges to be beveled and polished, I got what I asked for.

Sitting on the shop floor Elite's tanks look great, but IMO once the tank is set up I doesn't justifiy the extra cost.

It all depends on you, i guess. I got a quote from elite which i thought was high. But I dont mind paying for a nice tank. The tank i have now, the edges are rough, Its a 90 gallon tank but the glass is 5/8" thick. I didnt know any better. If i would have known that the edges would have been rough cut, I would have notified them to polish the edges. Its something u learn from. Next time i know better.

bulletsworld · #10 03-18-2010, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by globaldesigns

You will always get some bubbles, in the seams. My tank, from Elite, has some... As long as the seams are strong, no worries. When they delivered mine, there was also some damage (can't say it was there in the store or from delivery), but it was the back corner. It was chipped away, not enough to be a structural problem. I just put some crazy glue on it to clean it up some. It has been almost 2 years with no issues.

I think all tank builders have their pros and cons, and everyone can probably say something negative about all. Best bet is to do your research see some examples and make your selection from there.

+1

All tanks get bubbles, in the seams. All tank builders have pro's and cons, as do the stock they hold and their prices.

Eight months back I got my 230 tank, starfire glass around built by Gold's, it was Gary that built. Best tank I've ever owned and the best price. I shopped around to ever builders mentioned before I decided. Gold's built the tank and sump exactly how I wanted with no extra cost. Nice work too. I even got all the edges smoothed. Since I got a good deal though, I picked it up. Met the guys in Golds parking lot. Now, when people come over, I get asked about who built it all the time. Dennis is awesome at Gold's. If he gets to know you, then you can pre-order what ever you want and is very knowledgeable. If its not right, he will make it right. He's proved that to me time and again. He even makes sure his stock is healthy and eating before he lets it go. I think that shows care right there for customer service. IMO, I think he has the best price in town as a builder, stock and supplies. However if he has another builder, than I can't say if the tank style changed or how good the work is.

Hope that helps.