Anybody Deal With Bow Valley Aquariums?

[Jamieh]

More falsehood OCD. BV is actually owned by Mitch's parents and both Mitch and his Sister work there. They were formally known as Cameron Management and had a retail pet store just off 17th Ave SE.

[o.c.d.]

Sorry your right his parents tried to retire,let mitch run it in to the ground then had to come back to save it. They do call him the boss

[lastlight]

Anyone associated with an LFS is going to come to bat for Mitch. Why wouldn't they when they can sell his tanks and make a much better profit. I've seen with my own eyes massive windows with frames still on them. Maybe we aren't talking about shower doors but clearly glass is being repurposed and absolutely isn't always new. Unless they toss old beat-up wooden frames around new glass to make shipping easier.

Yeah these threads are lame. Always the same. And I always post. But I always assume that anyone who can't find the past threads (and there are many and they are easy to find) needs our help!

[danny zubot]

I've had a couple of BVA tanks and sumps over the years and never had an issue with it. I knew one guy who got his tank home and discovered a 1.5" scratch on his front starfire panel, but IMO was not that noticable; and couldn't have been if BVA didn't see it either. I realize that Mitch can be difficult to deal with over the phone, that is why I've always just gone into the shop to talk with them. He's much different in person, especially if you flash a bit of cash.

[sphelps]

The bottom line is BVA has a good product for the price you pay, anyone that argues otherwise is likely going off internet rumors as appose to personal experience. Yes sometimes shortcuts are taken, sometimes the glass may not be 100% brand new of a truck and sometimes you have to wait but the price more than compensates for this and if you really do have sour grapes or don't approve then pay double and go with someone else.

BVA tanks are everywhere, most have then and don't even know. They build all sizes, well over 200 gallons and I've never heard or read about one leaking, this is not the case for almost every other tank manufacturer.

Also if you're really concerned about quality and warranty you're better sticking with an actual company that's been around for a while as appose to some dude that builds tanks for a few LFSs in his free time, just saying.

I'd say get a quote from a few companies and then make a decision.

[kien]

Originally Posted by sphelps

The bottom line is BVA has a good product for the price you pay, anyone that argues otherwise is likely going off internet rumors as appose to personal experience. Yes sometimes shortcuts are taken, sometimes the glass may not be 100% brand new of a truck and sometimes you have to wait but the price more than compensates for this and if you really do have sour grapes or don't approve then pay double and go with someone else.

BVA tanks are everywhere, most have then and don't even know. They build all sizes, well over 200 gallons and I've never heard or read about one leaking, this is not the case for almost every other tank manufacturer.

Also if you're really concerned about quality and warranty you're better sticking with an actual company that's been around for a while as appose to some dude that builds tanks for a few LFSs in his free time, just saying.

I'd say get a quote from a few companies and then make a decision.

I think this is what the original poster is after, feedback from people with experience. I'm sure the OP is getting quotes from different places as they have another thread asking for a list of tank manufacturers.

Price is only one part of the buying experience. For some that may be all they care about, but for others (myself included), it is important to have a good purchasing experience from start to finish. So, I can buy a tank for $1000 or the same tank for $500. If I buy the tank for $500, sure I save half but then I have to harass the company to actually provide the product? Repeatedly? I have to put up with the supplier's lies about availability? I have to drive to the supplier's store repeatedly just to have a decent conversion with them about my undelivered product? I have to put up with the supplier cussing at me over the phone and hanging up on me mid sentence? So I save money to go through all that for a few weeks above and beyond the original date that the supplier promised the product would be ready for me? That may be acceptable for some people but not everyone.

I am speaking from personal experience.

K.

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by kien

Price is only one part of the buying experience. For some that may be all they care about, but for others (myself included), it is important to have a good purchasing experience from start to finish. So, I can buy a tank for $1000 or the same tank for $500. If I buy the tank for $500, sure I save half but then I have to harass the company to actually provide the product? Repeatedly? I have to put up with the supplier's lies about availability? I have to drive to the supplier's store repeatedly just to have a decent conversion with them about my undelivered product? I have to put up with the supplier cussing at me over the phone and hanging up on me mid sentence? So I save money to go through all that for a few weeks above and beyond the original date that the supplier promised the product would be ready for me? That may be acceptable for some people but not everyone.

I am speaking from personal experience.

K.

It should be noted that not everyone has such experiences, some get tanks right away or within the quoted delivery time but some end up waiting longer. One must also realize that it's a fairly large supplier who supplies many LFSs and usually deals with large orders so your one off custom tank may not always be priority, if this is something you simply can't except then you're better off going with the one man type shows which typically only do the odd custom tank here and there so delivery isn't usually an issue with them.