used tanks

Sarah84 · 11-13-2006, 09:24 PM

I am looking into getting a bigger tank, 30 gal to be exact. I am looking at a used one.. but it has been unused for 10 years.. my question is .... would the seals be all dried out and no good for water?

dlee9707 · 11-13-2006, 09:54 PM

silicone is pretty amazing stuff, but its possible. you could always add some more just to be safe along the inside edges.

unused for 10 years is a littke sketchy, try looking at craigslist for some in your area, you can get 30 gallons for around 80 bucks /w setup and all.

Sarah84 · 11-13-2006, 10:03 PM

Yea, that's where I found it.. on craigslist..... gotta love craigslist! lol

It is 50 bucks for a 30 gal tank..

I will fill it with water when i go to look at it..... and see from there

I always know where they live if it leaks!!

gm333 · 11-13-2006, 10:35 PM

You can replace the silicone, its very easy. Just scrape all of the old silicone off and reseal with aquarium silicone. Just have to make sure you follow the cure time exactly so you dont have any problems down the road.

dlee9707 · 11-14-2006, 04:06 PM

yeah, if you add water to a resealed tank to fast the silicone releases nitric acid while curing and will lower the crap outta your ph and whatnot, wont be fun. to test it make sure everything is dry and fill the whole thing with water an inch from the top, wait an hour and rub a paper towel along all the edges, if theres even a drop you know its leaking and it could get bigger, but as gm said it isnt terrible, negotiate to a lower price and then reseal it.

Sarah84 · 11-14-2006, 05:21 PM

yes.. okay..

what about a tank that has been used for rodents (hamsters) is it worth the work to reseal it? (esp if it is free?) My mom has one (just so happens to be a 30gal tank)

gm333 · 11-14-2006, 07:36 PM

Most definitly.

kilsbypearl · 11-21-2006, 04:53 PM

Hey Sarah,

Its Mel...Sorry I have not been out to look for a filter for you, hopefully you find a good one in the states...unfortunately I am on bed rest at the moment because of a complicated pregnancy, but should be fine soon, baby is due in the next little while

Anyways I wanted to say that we bought a used 50 gallon tank and it looked all fine at first...than while our tank had just finished its cycling and we were adding more rock and fish....one morning we woke up to the sound of a filter in great distress! The glass had cracked during the night and water was all over our floor! Imagine 50 gallons of water on laminate flooring...
We managed to save our fish thankfully...they were all huddling close to the filter, poor little guys and we got a new tank that day....we are leary with buying used now and give the suggestion to always check the glass as well as the seal!
Because the glass looked fine....but must have had a small fine nick or weak point from moving prior or whatever and under preassure, just gave in!

Hope that helps with your decision and Best of Luck!

jd@ga · 11-22-2006, 12:22 AM

Hey Sara ! I agree with Kilsbypearl . 30gal you can buy one new for like $100. To me the extra $50 is worth the worry about waking up to a flooded house. At least with a new one you can take it back to the store if you have problems with it when you get it home.

Sarah84 · 11-22-2006, 12:53 PM

Yeah, I went out and bought a new 29 gal tank filter/hood for $150.. I priced out just the hood and filter, it was going to be $100 bucks PLUS the slicone *sigh* it really wasn't worth my headache to reseal it.. esp with a 8.5 month old baby!