How Long ????????

ricwilli · 11/09/2007, 05:55 AM

How long does a tank last, in use? I am looking to purchase a used tank that is about 6 years old. Even though the tank is not leaking, the age is what bothers me a little. What should one look for when purchasing a used tank?

landlord · 11/09/2007, 05:59 AM

Unless you are getting a super great deal I would be wary. You never know. I would be looking for anything that just doesn't look right. It might be better just to buy a new one and have less worries.

Your signature line says it all!

FWIW --landlord

landlord · 11/09/2007, 06:01 AM

I guess to answer you question. There is a post a couple of pages down with a 30 year old tank still kickin'

Good Luck!

Blown 346 · 11/09/2007, 06:12 AM

I would look at and feel the silicone, make sure it isnt hard cracked, or peeling away. Look at the Plastic brace, make sure it hasnt been cut, trimmed, broken cracked. I might even have the person fill it up with FW to make sure it doesnt leak.

Otherwise tanks can last along time, if taken care of.

KDodds · 11/09/2007, 07:07 AM

We recently (about 4 years ago) got rid of a 30yo 75g upgrading to a 125. If the tank hold water, and that can be demonstrated for you if it's currently sitting empty, I'd say go for it. 6 years is not old at all... if tanks were useless after 6 years, I'd be really worried about the state of the hobby. When I was in my early 20's, before I moved out of my parents home, I had many smaller tanks, none less than 10 years old, all perfectly fine. Two of them were "second hand" 55s, each originally belonged to the father of the kid I purchased them from. Both were originally purchased in the mid to late 70s. I left them in the beginning of the 90s, still holding water.

11/09/2007, 05:55 AM	#1
ricwilli Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 929	How Long ???????? How long does a tank last, in use? I am looking to purchase a used tank that is about 6 years old. Even though the tank is not leaking, the age is what bothers me a little. What should one look for when purchasing a used tank? __________________ If you buy cheap solution, be prepare for it's limitation.

11/09/2007, 05:59 AM	#2
landlord Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Alexandria, KY Posts: 1,937	Unless you are getting a super great deal I would be wary. You never know. I would be looking for anything that just doesn't look right. It might be better just to buy a new one and have less worries. Your signature line says it all! FWIW --landlord __________________ Forget the Turtle Man, you got the Coral Man Live Action Fragging! Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon SPS Reef (Sump, Fuge, Skimmer, CX reactor, Chemical filtration, Overflow) by Lifereef, 2x400W 20K Radiums on IceCaps, 2x39W T5 "For fun", RK2, 4x Tunze 6055, Aqua Logic 1/3 HP Chiller, DIY RO/DI ATO 2-Part via Litermeter. Lotsa Clownfish

11/09/2007, 06:01 AM	#3
landlord Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Alexandria, KY Posts: 1,937	I guess to answer you question. There is a post a couple of pages down with a 30 year old tank still kickin' Good Luck! __________________ Forget the Turtle Man, you got the Coral Man Live Action Fragging! Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon SPS Reef (Sump, Fuge, Skimmer, CX reactor, Chemical filtration, Overflow) by Lifereef, 2x400W 20K Radiums on IceCaps, 2x39W T5 "For fun", RK2, 4x Tunze 6055, Aqua Logic 1/3 HP Chiller, DIY RO/DI ATO 2-Part via Litermeter. Lotsa Clownfish

11/09/2007, 07:07 AM	#5
KDodds Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Suffern, NY Posts: 2,731	We recently (about 4 years ago) got rid of a 30yo 75g upgrading to a 125. If the tank hold water, and that can be demonstrated for you if it's currently sitting empty, I'd say go for it. 6 years is not old at all... if tanks were useless after 6 years, I'd be really worried about the state of the hobby. When I was in my early 20's, before I moved out of my parents home, I had many smaller tanks, none less than 10 years old, all perfectly fine. Two of them were "second hand" 55s, each originally belonged to the father of the kid I purchased them from. Both were originally purchased in the mid to late 70s. I left them in the beginning of the 90s, still holding water. __________________ The sum of my knowledge is great, the sum of my ignorance greater still Kieron Dodds Administrator Inside Aquatics Current Tank Info: 450 Reef/180 FOWLR/125 ARLC/40 Seahorse/12 Planted/12 Planted

11/09/2007, 06:12 AM	#4
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	I would look at and feel the silicone, make sure it isnt hard cracked, or peeling away. Look at the Plastic brace, make sure it hasnt been cut, trimmed, broken cracked. I might even have the person fill it up with FW to make sure it doesnt leak. Otherwise tanks can last along time, if taken care of.