Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)
Hi,
John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.
I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.
With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.
I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.
If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.
I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.
I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.
Thank you
Darragh Sherwin
bulging rio 180
- nomad (pat murphy)
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Lead me not into temptation, For I can find it myself!
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- nomad (pat murphy)
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- KenS (Ken Simpson)
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I'm sitting here surrounded by 4 tanks totalling around 600l. I wonder what the house insurance position is if a tank ruptures? Would an insurance company consider it reasonable to have 600l of water in a room?
Or maybe that's a questions nobody here wants to consider.
Regards,
Ken.
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- Daragh_Owens (Daragh Owens)
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I'm sitting here surrounded by 4 tanks totalling around 600l. I wonder what the house insurance position is if a tank ruptures? Would an insurance company consider it reasonable to have 600l of water in a room?
Or maybe that's a questions nobody here wants to consider.
Provided you are not keeping or using the tanks for commercial purposes the damage caused by the escaping water is covered, but the tank and stock are not. Similarly if your washing machine leaks, you are covered for the subsequent damage but not the repair to the washing machine.
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- 2poc (2poc)
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That would make me very nervous, but good to hear that it's common and nobody here has had any problems. I have nightmares about one of my tanks cracking and pouring up to 500l into a room.
I'm sitting here surrounded by 4 tanks totalling around 600l. I wonder what the house insurance position is if a tank ruptures? Would an insurance company consider it reasonable to have 600l of water in a room?
Or maybe that's a questions nobody here wants to consider.
Reminds me of a dream I had recently of my tank bursting & putting water, glass & rocks all over me. I'm still nervous whenever I have my back to it

Good look with the tank Nomad!
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- nomad (pat murphy)
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I,m actually still using the internal filter and heater more as afine particle polisher with sponges and filter wool and a water softening pillow because my gh was off the scale at 180ppm mg/l......Yes the plasic strut is attached to the inner of the plastic tank surround and the strut held to the tank with a black sealant,its the black sealant that is coming away from the glass.....p.s nearlly got five numbers on the lotto last night,would have been nice,new tank but definatly not a JEWEL for sure .........
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- Daragh_Owens (Daragh Owens)
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- pierce (pierce)
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Looks like i,m back to my previous plan of action looking for a tempory 100 ltr fish friendly barrel while i strip the tank and bring it back for a replacement........
nomad were you based i have a 3ft tank you can borrow until you get a replacement
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- nomad (pat murphy)
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- Processor (Niall O'Leary)
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I know others are having problems with the 180 ( and now I am crapping myself as I have one in the sitting room )but would the uneven floor have anything to do with it ?
Processor.
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- nomad (pat murphy)
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As to the uneven floor...although its uneven theres no problem with that,took plenty of time to level and pack up the differances in height especially where the pressure points would be from the 8 \" feet \" of the unit.I then placed 3 by 2 inch timber length ways for the tank unit to sit on to distribute the weight.Checked with a spirit level as it was filling and gaining weight and no problems,level and plumb.
Its the tanks plastic strut construction that is at fault and so i feel definately that they are not a good buy.If there was a glass strut in the centre i wouldnt be having this problem and a certain lack of peace of mind so it sems like in regards to this situation... the old way is the best way for sure,....thanks.
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- nomad (pat murphy)
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Browsed the web and came across a site for Juwel spare parts www.urmstonaquatics.com/juwelspares.html, couldnt believe they were selling replacement brace bars for Vision and Rio tanks to stop the front and back glass from bowing.Surely then this is a major problem with Juwel tanks moving away from the old brace and strutt design,it now seems to me that the double bow that i have in my tank glass proves this and that the glass thickness needed and should have been increased to take the extra stress and pressure of a tank full of water......
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- Daragh_Owens (Daragh Owens)
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Sorry to hear that you are still having trouble, but I am not surprised because I think it is present in most Rio 180 and maybe other models too. I have two 180's and they are both like that, but I am not worried, I really don't think the front is going to give way.
That website is www.urmstonaquatics.com/juwelspares.html however it is not a Juwel site and I suspect that they are just taking advantage of people that are worried about the design of the Juwel.
For sure it would be better if they did not bulge and Juwel should amend their design, having another manufacturer producing parts to retro fit to your brand to make them more secure is hardly good PR.
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- nomad (pat murphy)
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- sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
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www.juwel-aquarium.de/en/contact.htm
Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild
currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick
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- sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
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Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild
currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick
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- nomad (pat murphy)
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No.1 that even because of the bulging glass that the tanks were safe.No.2 that replacement brace bars can be purchaced from a local supplier if i was worried and no.3 that i was entitled under the tanks 24 month warranty to bring it back for replacement.
I have done this already and have a similar problem with the replacement so thats 2 tanks in 5 months,fingers crossed especially for the residents of the tank too which give so much pleasure,thanks.....
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- Avonmore (Pat Cullen)
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Pat
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- nomad (pat murphy)
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Years back i remember Juwel were a bit pricey but had a good name,no longer does this i feel ring true, the amount of feedback regarding problems with there tanks says it all.............
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