So with Christmas cash I decided to replace the eclipse 3 gallon that
sits in the corner of the kitchen counter with a 6 gallon Eclipse.
Petsmart had a sale going, so off to the first one I went.
All were terribly scratched...so badly I didn't even have to take it
out of the box to see huge ones.
Next Petsmart. 4 out of 4 tanks all scratched.
I'm not talking about a little scuff, they were bad ones.
3rd Petsmart....1 out of 3 looked fine, but I was thinking it didn't
feel right.
I thought to myself, nah....I'm nuts. It's not a cheapo generic tank,
it's an Eclipse.
I have 3 of the 3 gallons (one is at my son's house).
I know what type of acrylic they use.
I got home, took it completely out, and I was right. It's now made of
cheapo plastic.
The type that will scuff up with a micro fiber cloth for goodness
sake.
This type of cheap plastic is harder than what I call the "soft"
acrylic plastic that they used to make the tanks out of.
I also noticed a new box design, and that it also now says "Made in
China", instead of just "Printed in China" like on the old boxes.
I called up Marineland. First I was told by the customer service guy
that he might not be able to find that out.
I wasn't buying that. I then said somebody knows this answer and
that's the person I need to speak to.
He never called back that day.
On my way to Walmart I decided to run into our local PetCo to see if
they had any of the old style boxes.
Their display was the original acrylic, but gouged up.
The one left on the shelf....scratched up really bad....but still the
original "soft" acrylic.
Disappointed, I was on my way out when something made me look straight
up. There were 2 more where I've never seen tanks stored before.
I open the box and it wasn't scratched...so I said yea! They even met
Petsmart's sale price (that made it 24 bucks cheaper too).
So now I had two of them on my kitchen table. The newer version (new
box design) and the older style box with the original "soft" acrylic.
They were different as night and day.
The cheapo plastic wasn't even smooth. It had waves in it on the sides
that distorted the view. The older model doesn't do that.
The cheapo, newer version didn't even have any clips holding the cord
for the the light fixture so that it couldn't hang into the water.
The older model did have the clips like usual.
The filter housing looked the same.
Who should call my home the following day? The guy from marineland. He
says to me, "No. The Acrylic is the same and has not changed."
I told him I have 2 sitting on my table right now that are completely
different.
He again told me they were the same.
Unreal.
I have been like their biggest promoter for their 3 gallon tanks for
bettas since they came out with them.
So much so that they should be sending me a regular paycheck, lol.
Never again.
I found this one older style without scratches and that'll probably be
the last one I ever buy.
Later that day I returned the cheapo, hard plastic new version. I told
them exactly why too.
While there I checked to see if the 3 gallons were changed too. They
are as well.
However, Marineland is telling me that they are same.
They are not. They're not the same quality acrylic that they used to
be.
Any members out there with either an Eclipse 3 or 6 gallon that was
made in at least 2004 ( the newest older style 3 gallon I have was
made in 04) please go to the nearest shop and look for the new box
design.
The cheapo hard plastic tanks I've seen were all made in 08 so far.
I scratched up the front drying the tank off with a micro fiber towel.
How do you do that?? That's insane. Forget about ever going near the
newer type with an acrylic algae scrubber pad.
By the way, the Marineland customer help guy told me it shouldn't get
scratched with an acrylic algae pad.
I told him I didn't use one of those. It was scuffed up with a micro
fiber towel.
Something recommended for acrylic tanks so that they do not get
scratched.
I've wiped down the older style ones with a terry cloth towel, or even
a soft, cloth-like paper towel.
Both of which aren't the best to use on acrylic, but it never scuffed
the 3 tanks I have. Ditto with the acrylic algae scrubber, as well as
a paper towel for wiping down algae.
So if anyone notices the difference too, please call up their toll
free number or email Marineland about this.
The new cheapo version tanks I saw were all made in October of 08, and
all had the new box design.
Heck, even a gentle tap on the plastic sounds very different, as well
as the feel of the plastic it's self.
It's now a hard plastic, not a soft pliable type.
They cost too darn much to use cheapo hard plastic.
