Which tank? Leaky glass or scratched acrylic?

SailorDan · 12/30/2014, 11:19 PM

Craigslist has been kind to me and I have found a free curbside alert 50+ gal glass aquarium that leaks and a very cheap 50 gal truvue acrylic aquarium with some scratches. Both will take some effort before they are ready to use.

Which should I put the time into?

I would prefer to use the glass tank, but it will be going in on a second floor, carpeted room (I know, stand by for spills). I've read up on how to properly reseal, but do not have any hands on experience successfully resealing a tank. I can deal with weapage from the seems, but fear a full blow out and catastrophic flooding

I do not know any history on the glass tank, but it appears the previous owner attempted to repair, by just smearing new silicone over the old

.

Are my concerns unwarranted? If I reseal and it holds water for a few days am I good to go? Or is the risk great enough that I should just get to work buffing the acrylic?

Appreciate your thoughts.

EvenFurther · 12/31/2014, 12:08 AM

Spend your time & money on a new tank, if your serious. Going used is not worth it IMO, unless you know the tank history 100%.

thegrun · 12/31/2014, 02:21 AM

Resealing a glass tank is a lot of work and if you do not get the glass 100% clean you risk a leak. Only you can determine if buffing out an acrylic tank is worth the effort, but it certainly is time consuming.

Indymann99 · 12/31/2014, 07:32 AM

I wouldn't consider trying to reseal a 50g yourself (the tank is not big enough / worth enough $$ to justify the effort over just buying new). Why you found it curbside.

I would buff out the Acrylic tank, this takes $50 in sandpaper (various levels) and YOUR TIME. lots of vids on how to do this. I would plan 2x weekends to do 3x sides inside and out.

Also if you are doing a sump the acrylic tank is easier to add overflow, drill, etc.

my 0.02

SBV · 12/31/2014, 07:56 AM

Petco has the $1 a gallon sale that goes up to a 55 gal tank. Can't be beat. Risking a flood and hundred if not thousands of dollars of livestock is not worth it!!

SailorDan · 01/02/2015, 03:03 AM

Thanks for the inputs. Great points about dollar value and time required. Better off spending the time building a stand and buying a new tank.

Unfortunately, now I have many more options to consider.

toothybugs · 01/02/2015, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SailorDan

Unfortunately, now I have many more options to consider.

Stop whining - if only all problems were so pleasant

FraggledRock · 01/02/2015, 08:05 AM

New tank! Go big or go home! Lol

jason2459 · 01/02/2015, 12:20 PM

I can tell you resealing a free 50 gallon tank is totally not worth it. You'll spend more money in your time and you still have material costs. I resealed my current 180 and it was a lot of work. As soon as you think you've razor bladed off all the old silicone you fine more. I would say that was the absolute worse part of it all. Trying to get ALL of the old silicone off.

And like mentioned above right now Petco has their $1 per gallon sale. Totally take advantage of that.

Goldmund · 01/02/2015, 01:35 PM

One suggestion if you go the Petco $1/g route (which is a great idea). Get the 40g breeder tank and not the 55g tank. The dimensions of the 40 are superior when it comes time to aquascape, the 55g is simply too narrow IMO.

97dezertranger · 01/02/2015, 08:11 PM

Either buy a new tank or sand and buff the the acrylic tank. I buffed the last tank I had and it is a lot of work. Mine wasnt scratched too bad so I used a car buffer with foam pads and some novus acrylic polish. Looked brand new after a full 10 hrs. Fill the acrylic tank up first to check for any leaks first. Dont wanna put all that work into a tank that doesnt hold water

reepher315 · 01/02/2015, 08:13 PM

dollar per gallon sale at petco atm. Atleast in my town

12/30/2014, 11:19 PM	#1
SailorDan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 11	Which tank? Leaky glass or scratched acrylic? Craigslist has been kind to me and I have found a free curbside alert 50+ gal glass aquarium that leaks and a very cheap 50 gal truvue acrylic aquarium with some scratches. Both will take some effort before they are ready to use. Which should I put the time into? I would prefer to use the glass tank, but it will be going in on a second floor, carpeted room (I know, stand by for spills). I've read up on how to properly reseal, but do not have any hands on experience successfully resealing a tank. I can deal with weapage from the seems, but fear a full blow out and catastrophic flooding I do not know any history on the glass tank, but it appears the previous owner attempted to repair, by just smearing new silicone over the old . Are my concerns unwarranted? If I reseal and it holds water for a few days am I good to go? Or is the risk great enough that I should just get to work buffing the acrylic? Appreciate your thoughts.

12/31/2014, 07:32 AM	#4
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	I wouldn't consider trying to reseal a 50g yourself (the tank is not big enough / worth enough $$ to justify the effort over just buying new). Why you found it curbside. I would buff out the Acrylic tank, this takes $50 in sandpaper (various levels) and YOUR TIME. lots of vids on how to do this. I would plan 2x weekends to do 3x sides inside and out. Also if you are doing a sump the acrylic tank is easier to add overflow, drill, etc. my 0.02 __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

12/31/2014, 07:56 AM	#5
SBV Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 260	Petco has the $1 a gallon sale that goes up to a 55 gal tank. Can't be beat. Risking a flood and hundred if not thousands of dollars of livestock is not worth it!! __________________ Will race for Christ Current Tank Info: 120 LPS RR, 40 gal. fuge

01/02/2015, 08:05 AM	#8
FraggledRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,185	New tank! Go big or go home! Lol __________________ “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”― Jacques-Yves Cousteau MarineBio.org Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder w/ Bean Animal Overflow 20G Sump, Mixed Reef.

01/02/2015, 12:20 PM	#9
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	I can tell you resealing a free 50 gallon tank is totally not worth it. You'll spend more money in your time and you still have material costs. I resealed my current 180 and it was a lot of work. As soon as you think you've razor bladed off all the old silicone you fine more. I would say that was the absolute worse part of it all. Trying to get ALL of the old silicone off. And like mentioned above right now Petco has their $1 per gallon sale. Totally take advantage of that. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

12/31/2014, 12:08 AM	#2
EvenFurther Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 352	Spend your time & money on a new tank, if your serious. Going used is not worth it IMO, unless you know the tank history 100%.

12/31/2014, 02:21 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Resealing a glass tank is a lot of work and if you do not get the glass 100% clean you risk a leak. Only you can determine if buffing out an acrylic tank is worth the effort, but it certainly is time consuming.

01/02/2015, 03:03 AM	#6
SailorDan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 11	Thanks for the inputs. Great points about dollar value and time required. Better off spending the time building a stand and buying a new tank. Unfortunately, now I have many more options to consider.

01/02/2015, 01:35 PM	#10
Goldmund Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 83	One suggestion if you go the Petco $1/g route (which is a great idea). Get the 40g breeder tank and not the 55g tank. The dimensions of the 40 are superior when it comes time to aquascape, the 55g is simply too narrow IMO.

01/02/2015, 08:11 PM	#11
97dezertranger Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Lake Hughes / Palmdale Posts: 109	Either buy a new tank or sand and buff the the acrylic tank. I buffed the last tank I had and it is a lot of work. Mine wasnt scratched too bad so I used a car buffer with foam pads and some novus acrylic polish. Looked brand new after a full 10 hrs. Fill the acrylic tank up first to check for any leaks first. Dont wanna put all that work into a tank that doesnt hold water

01/02/2015, 08:13 PM	#12
reepher315 Humble Student Join Date: May 2014 Location: Geneva, NY Posts: 816	dollar per gallon sale at petco atm. Atleast in my town __________________ 90g mixed reef 55g sump/refugium