Large tanks and silicone failure
Home › Forums › My Aquarium › Large tanks and silicone failure
- This topic has 0 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 8 years, 5 months ago by BallAquatics.
-
AuthorPosts
-
February 22, 2014 at 2:46 am #303177
PlaamooParticipantWe’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?
February 22, 2014 at 2:57 pm #352825
oakenParticipantPersonally 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.
February 23, 2014 at 5:29 am #352827
PlaamooParticipantThanks 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.
February 24, 2014 at 2:15 pm #352832
mikevParticipantBursting 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 ..
February 24, 2014 at 6:17 pm #352833
BallAquaticsParticipantIt’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
-
AuthorPosts
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.