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05/21/2017, 10:18 AM | #1 |
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Reusing an old tank I have in storage, is it a bad idea?
So I got out of reefing maybe 3 years ago. I have 2 75gallon tanks which I cleaned up. Soaked with vinegar and water, cleaned the glass, tried to really get them nice and clean. Then I carted them off to my storage unit where they have sat for about 3 years. I never really thought that to be a bad idea. Probably should mention this is not a temp controller storage unit. Just one of the storage places behind a gate and lock on the unit kind of thing. You see thousands of them all across America so you have an idea of what I'm talking about.
Recently I've been thinking of starting up again and reusing one of the tanks but have been told they will probably leak. Is that true? Is it something I'd see right away or god forbid months down the road after I had it filled and in my house? Sorry for my ignorance, never even thought something like that could happen. Figured I should ask first before I could cause a potential disaster on my floors. |
05/21/2017, 10:48 AM | #2 |
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When I worked at the LFS, we had 30+ used 40 gallon breeder aquariums that sat empty for over ten years that we decided to set back up for hospital/holding tanks. Not a single one of them leaked after all that time.
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05/21/2017, 11:21 AM | #3 |
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After being in service for about 10 years, my 150 sat on end in my unheated garage (-20 to +120) for ab out 7 years until I got the basement finished and was able to set it back up. I used it as a garden tool storage bin. I rinsed it out, did a leak test in the garage, and put it back in use. I sold it about a year ago and at ~22 years old, it was still solid as a rock.
It'll be fine.
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I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer |
05/21/2017, 11:35 AM | #4 |
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My 40 gallon sat empty for a couple years according to the people I bought it from. I did a leak test before starting my reef set-up, I've not had any leaks.
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05/21/2017, 11:56 AM | #5 |
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Sounds like by other "eye witness accounts" you're good to go - I don't know myself. But, if you're going to constantly worry about it, it's gonna take some of thee fun away - save and buy a new one - but remember they sometimes leak too! :-)
I did have a 55 gallon reef that had a center brace crack and you could actually see the bow in the middle of the glass - held water just fine! I worried too much about that and eventually shut it down! Harbour Harbour
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Harbour Mr. Aqua 12 Gallon Long Peninsula Orbit Marine LED Salinity 1.26 Temp 78 |
05/21/2017, 12:02 PM | #6 |
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I see no concern in using the old tank so long is there is no visible damage to any of the seals. Just take a good hard look, give it a leak test and go from there.
Oh, by the way, welcome back!
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I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10 |
05/21/2017, 12:05 PM | #7 |
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Thanks guys.
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05/21/2017, 01:03 PM | #8 |
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Garage storage can make it prone to leak. You can do a quick reseal for about 20$
You just cut out the old silicon and redo the sealing part. Use ge window and door I or momentive rtv 100 series. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk |
05/21/2017, 02:29 PM | #9 | |
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05/21/2017, 02:33 PM | #10 |
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Oh and I'm watching videos now on resealing a tank but so far they make it look so easy and no one has said "man this sucks!" Lol. So thought maybe some of you who have done it could chime in and give me an idea of just how much of a pain this may or may not be.
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05/21/2017, 03:14 PM | #11 |
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Re sealing a tank is not as easy as it sounds. Just cleaning and prepping in advance of re sealing is a PITA all its own. While I have never done it before I have re used (or had to redo) sump baffles before. Removing the old silicone is a chore in itself not to mention getting a consistent bead along each panel and perfect alignment then having a fixture of some sort to unsure everything is parallel and square and then holding that position till everything cures, etc,etc. I'm sure you are getting the idea by now.
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I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10 |
05/21/2017, 08:58 PM | #12 |
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I'd fill it with tap, and warm the water to tank temperatures and give it a week. If it's still holding water, it should be good to use.
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Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%. |
05/21/2017, 10:48 PM | #13 | |
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05/21/2017, 11:39 PM | #14 | |
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05/22/2017, 12:00 AM | #15 |
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Leak Test with fresh water,
Worst case Reseal it...super easy just a bit messy is all Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk |
05/22/2017, 07:34 AM | #16 |
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Guys, you can not simply apply new silicone to the inside of the tank in order to "reseal" it. If the tank leaks, then the structural seam between two panels has been compromised. You would need to take the panels apart, then clean and redo the structural seams. There is no reason to add silicone to the inside.
As others have said, check to see if it holds water. It probably does.
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Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers |
05/22/2017, 10:00 AM | #17 | |||||
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If it leaks I would just go buy another tank. Quote:
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I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer |
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05/22/2017, 10:08 AM | #18 |
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Nereefpat and billdogg are correct on this one.
The silicone that you see in the corner of a fish tank is there for cosmetic and to make it easier to clean only. It doesn't actually seal anything. The only real structural silicone is what's between the glass. With that being said... If you fill the tank and let it sit for a week or so, it should let you know pretty quick if one of the sealed edges is compromised. |
05/22/2017, 11:20 AM | #19 |
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thank you for all the input guys. I think i'm just going to go the way of a new tank, get one a little bigger too which is a bonus.
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05/22/2017, 11:37 AM | #20 |
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New tank is the safest way. If you take the old one apart, you need adhesive silicon.
If the seams are in good shape, then, you can get away with a sealant. I have done about 8 or 10 tanks like that. Not a single one failed. A couple were in my house 5+years. It is best to just rebuild it, but if it's just garage kept and you are worried about the possibility of leakage, then reseal > rebuild Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk |
05/22/2017, 02:21 PM | #21 |
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I have a 24 inch tall hex tank with a build date of 1987 running in my kids room, it sat in a crawlspace under my dads house for the past ~10 years.
Like most said, leak test it and go. |
05/22/2017, 02:46 PM | #22 |
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Regardless I would rather spend a day or 2 taking a tank apart...to redo seams and then reseal apose to spending 300-500 on a brand new tank....King Of DIY does a new glass tank build and shows you how to to structural seems....really not as hard as people are making it sound....just need a right angle and another person to help hold pieces...i think you guys are confusing labor intensive with difficulty it's really not difficult just labor intensive....
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05/22/2017, 04:28 PM | #23 |
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Don't do it.
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Get a life! Current Tank Info: 20gL mixed reef, 10g mixed reef w/nem & clown, 5g NPS & harlequin |
05/29/2017, 11:25 AM | #24 | |
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Either way, as others have said above, if it passes a leak test it's fine. |
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05/29/2017, 12:16 PM | #25 |
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Please feel free to use whatever method works for you. Personally, if I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it right.
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I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer |
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