Large tanks and silicone failure

[Plaamoo]

We’ve all read the horror stories of tank failure. Some here may have experienced it first hand. I live in a second floor apartment so it’s something that I have to seriously consider. I see a lot of people advertising on craigslist & forum classifieds for large used tanks, 100 gal +, and I just shake my head. I’m wondering what your personal experiences & opinions are on the life expectancy of a silicone sealed glass tank. Do you reseal?

[oaken]

Personally I’ve never had a tank that started to leak or anything like that. I’ve seen a few that did start to leak though, but you usually notice that before there is any big damage. These tanks were around 15-20 years old and I think it’s around this age that most tanks start to fail. 

 

Personally I don’t bother to reseal as it feels like it’s too much hassle. I would rather just buy a new aquarium.

[Plaamoo]

Thanks oaken. I guess maybe I’m just paranoid. Though I have heard quite a few stories. A few weeks ago a guy who owns a fish shop in this area came to work and found his 340 tank had burst and emptied on the floor. He had to close the store for a few days to clean up.

[mikev]

Bursting and leaking I think I separate issues…

Someone I know had a 50g tank burst, the apparent cause was heavy tracks moving on the street and causing vibration. I’d think this episode has nothing to do with the lifespan, but a structural defect in glass.

Personally I don’t bother to reseal as it feels like it’s too much hassle. I would rather just buy a new aquarium.

I’m worse than you. I no longer bother nuking smaller tanks if I lost fish in it (happens once in a while ), I just buy a new one. I should put an ad on Craiglist for giveaway tanks ..

[BallAquatics]

It’s been my experience that you run a greater risk with frame-less tanks.  I have had frame-less tanks open at a seam and drain rather quickly, while tanks with intact frames that prevent the glass separating at a joint, only develop slow leaks as mentioned previously.

Dennis

[Author]

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