If you spent years watching Animal Planet's hit show Tanked, you probably remember the loud, chaotic, yet seemingly unbreakable bond between brothers-in-law Wayde King and Brett Raymer. They screamed, they threw things across the shop floor, and they built jaw-dropping custom aquariums for celebrities and casinos alike. But off-screen, reality television rarely mirrors real life once the cameras stop rolling.
Are Wayde King and Brett Raymer still friends today? The short answer is no. Their multi-decade business partnership and familial bond shattered following a combination of corporate closure, family divorce, and legal fallout. To understand how these two aquarium titans drifted apart, we have to look past the heavily edited television persona and examine what actually happened behind the scenes at Acrylic Tank Manufacturing (ATM).
The Roots of the Partnership and the Tanked Phenomenon
Before they were household names, Wayde King and Brett Raymer were tied together through both business and marriage. Wayde married Brett’s sister, Heather King, creating a tight-knit family dynamic that served as the backbone of ATM in Las Vegas. Wayde handled the technical design and manufacturing side of the giant acrylic tanks, while Brett managed the finances, operations, and general public relations image.
When Tanked premiered on Animal Planet in 2011, it became an instant success. Viewers loved the intense back-and-forth banter, which felt authentic because they genuinely were family. However, running a high-pressure manufacturing business alongside a reality television production schedule strains even the strongest interpersonal foundations. Cracks in the foundation began forming long before the network officially pulled the plug on the series.
What Triggered the Fallout?
The deterioration of their relationship wasn't caused by a single disagreement over a fish tank design. Instead, a cascade of major personal and professional disruptions dismantled the core of ATM.
- The 2018 Domestic Incident and Divorce: In late 2018, Wayde and Heather King's 21-year marriage came to a dramatic and public end. Following a domestic dispute at their home, legal charges were filed, and the couple subsequently pursued a divorce. Because Heather was an integral part of the family and business ecosystem, this split created an immediate wedge through the extended family.
- Cancellation of Tanked: Animal Planet canceled the series, removing the primary financial engine and public platform that kept ATM in the global spotlight. Without the promotional machine of a TV show, the business faced severe economic realities.
- Closure of ATM: Acrylic Tank Manufacturing eventually ceased its standard operations, effectively ending the daily working relationship between Wayde and Brett. Without a shared company holding them together, professional paths diverged entirely.
Where Are They Now?
Today, the former business partners operate in completely separate spheres, and public records indicate they have not reconciled or rebuilt their friendship.
Wayde King has kept a relatively low profile since the closure of ATM and the fallout from his high-profile divorce. He remains tied to the custom fabrication sector and specialized manufacturing projects, but he has stayed mostly out of the mainstream media spotlight.
Brett Raymer pivoted away from large-scale aquarium construction into the culinary world. He became a co-owner of Stallone's Italian Eatery in Las Vegas, focusing his entrepreneurial energy on the restaurant industry rather than marine life. He has built a separate life independent of his former brother-in-law.
Common Misconceptions About the Split
Because reality TV casts are heavily romanticized, fans often search for rumors that don't match reality. Let's clear up a few persistent myths:
- Myth: They still run ATM together in secret. Fact: ATM as it was featured on the show is entirely defunct. Neither man is building massive television-grade aquariums as a duo.
- Myth: Brett was married to Wayde's wife. Fact: This is a frequent point of confusion among casual viewers. Brett is Wayde's former brother-in-law because Wayde was married to Brett’s sister, Heather. Brett's own marital history involved a separate marriage to Melissa Bradford.
- Myth: The show's cancellation was a stunt. Fact: The show ended permanently due to plunging ratings, network shifts, and the immense personal fallout within the family structure that made filming untenable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Wayde King and Brett Raymer still talk to each other?
No. Following the closure of their business and the divorce between Wayde and Brett's sister Heather, the two have gone their separate ways and do not maintain a public or private friendship.
Is Acrylic Tank Manufacturing still open?
No, the original facility and company featured on Tanked shut down its operations years ago.
What happened to Heather King?
Heather King filed for divorce from Wayde King in 2018 following a domestic dispute. She has since maintained a private life away from television cameras.
Did Brett Raymer quit the aquarium business completely?
Yes. While Brett made his name building custom tanks on Animal Planet, he has since transitioned into the restaurant industry, co-owning eateries in Las Vegas.
