Getting tank built?

Eb0la11 · #1 06-30-2009, 10:07 PM

Hmmmm, wonder what kind of tank Im going to get then haha.

Either way Im not super worried. This isnt going to be my last tank, and until I get "my last tank" then I can live with some imperfections. This is my first salt water tank, after all. Im sure I'll make many errors along the way.

kien · #2 06-30-2009, 10:12 PM

I probably saw your tank in his shop, it looked nice :-) .. unless it was the one with all 4 panes made of frosted glass.. then sucks to be you man.. hehe j/k. As I said, there were two that I saw with frosted glass for the backs and two tanks that were (as far as I could tell) made of "normal" glass all around. And then there were a crap load of obviously commercial tanks.

K.

Eb0la11 · #3 06-30-2009, 11:31 PM

Kien, is that your actual name? I am selling my 135G tank and I believe I called you when you emailed me with interest.

Anyways, hopefully you saw my tank, but I doubt it. I have a feeling it wont be ready for Thursday. I guess we'll see.

Binare · #4 07-01-2009, 01:39 AM

Heres my experience with mitch over at bow valley

I called one day, they gave me his cell number, called mitch. He told me to be at the shop in 20 minutes. 45 minutes later called him back, he said "on his way", another 30 minutes later he "forgot", finally he showed up 2 hours 1.5 hours late. At this point I put up with him cause I NEEDED that damn tank in 2 or 3 days ( like he promised over the phone). He wrote down the specs of what I wanted, price was okay... he wanted cash (seemed odd). Came back in 3 days when it was supposed to be done. Not a single damn person there knew what I was talking about, after explaining I talked to Mitch... no one was surprised. Mitch "lost" my order. It took him over 2 weeks to fulfill a 3 day order AND the glass looked it was cut with a chainsaw AND it was 3 different shades of glass AND all 3 holes drilled were the wrong size AND (had enough?) it was scratched to hell AND the silicone looked like it was painted on with a paint roller, it was all over the damn place... I could even see where they taped the shower glass doors together to hold it, too much effort I guess to scrape it down atleast.

Will I personally ever buy anything from that "professional" ever again? I'd rather slam my foot in a door and walk to work.

I was "almost" desperate again and called him again a long time after, as soon as I heard the voice and the usual "3 day pitch" I realized how dumb I was being and went to Elite.

xtreme · #5 07-01-2009, 02:23 AM

Don't pay for the tank in full with cash. Mitch tends to 'disappear' when you do that. Pay AFTER the tank is been built.

mandarin man · #6 07-01-2009, 03:11 AM

Please do not go Bow Valley, you would regret it.
I know some one who got Mitch to build the 200gal tank. The husband almost got into a fight with Mitch. It was a nightmare for them. Mitch really screwed them big time.

There are many places that you can go here in Calgary.

Red Coral is highly recommended.

mandarin man · #7 07-01-2009, 03:17 AM

Forgot to mention, my brother's sump was built from Bow. Bow used a cheap piece of shower door. Mitch would not refund.

Things to note. Bow will quote a lcheaper than other places but it would hurt you in the end.

kien · #8 07-02-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtreme

Don't pay for the tank in full with cash. Mitch tends to 'disappear' when you do that. Pay AFTER the tank is been built.

Geez, you weren't kidding man! I called BVA today to get an update on my tank and to confront Mitch about some of the things that were discussed here. Well, they have not even started on my tank and now Mitch has flown the coop. Mitch had to abruptly leave town and will be away for a month. I asked when I could expect to have my tank done. "Well, we have a bunch of very large orders right now so I wouldn't expect it for at least two to three weeks maybe", she says. WTF?! Two to three weeks?? Maybe?? So, I decided to pull out. I asked for a refund which she was fine with and I will be taking my money elsewhere. My biggest concern is that now someone else has to take mine and Mitch's plans and interpret them as per my discussions with Mitch. That could potentially be disastrous without Mitch there. Also, I am no longer convinced that they even care about my order from the discussion I had with them.

So, the original poster asked who we would recommend to get our tanks built. Based on my recent experience I would NOT recommend BVA. I will be going with one of the other more expensive quotes that I received (vendor previously listed in this thread).

K.

lastlight · #9 07-02-2009, 10:10 PM

I spent hours waiting out in front of that shop for meetings i'd setup over the phone. He told me over the phone one time that his guy had cut himself badly at the shop and he was taking him into the ER. Guess he didn't know I'd been parked in front of the empty shop all morning.