Glass tank live expectancy? - Page 2

Paul B · 12/22/2006, 10:56 AM

Silicone tanks do not have to have water in them. The silicone will last indefinately. The older tanks from the fiftees and early sixtees were sealed with asphaltium varnish which was basically tar and they would dry out. If the tank was manufactured correctly it should never leak.
Paul

nyvp · 12/22/2006, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul B
Mine has water in it for over 30 years and so far, no leaks

oh oh you just screwed up the vodoo ... now your in for it.

Paul B · 12/22/2006, 11:12 AM

Yeah but "indefinately" is a relative term

Airman · 12/22/2006, 11:49 AM

Paul B has a great looking tank that is unique. I suggest that everyone take a look at his thread.

kass03 · 12/22/2006, 12:26 PM

Dang Paul B your not helping my decision to upgrade my 55 to a 75.

I bought my 55 used back in the late 70's. Had it as saltwater ever since. At first just fish and now a reef for 23 years.

I keep telling my hubby I should get a 75 cuz I'm afraid it's gonna leak one of these days. He says why would you wanna rip it down and start over lol.
I really don't want to move everything cuz it's doing well but would love to have a nice new tank lol.

kass

dbrock12 · 12/22/2006, 12:29 PM

I have a 55gal. that I purchased used in 1975. It has been in continuous SW service since then.

Don

Paul B · 12/22/2006, 02:21 PM

Quote:

I keep telling my hubby I should get a 75 cuz I'm afraid it's gonna leak one of these days. He says why would you wanna rip it down and start over lol.

The silicone will last forever "except" in a 55 where it will leak after about 23 years. Then you should upgrade to a 75.

Randall_James · 12/22/2006, 04:14 PM

you can inspect the silicone, if it is not pulling way from the glass, you can probably just leave it alone, that is unless of course you want a new tank, then tell the wife, "see it is hard here" and replace with appropriate upgrade

sunfishh · 12/22/2006, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Airman
Paul B has a great looking tank that is unique. I suggest that everyone take a look at his thread.

I second this

Kass and Dbrock can we see a picture of your tank? Dbrock I think your tank may be the second longest running tank on reef central.

hahnmeister · 12/22/2006, 06:41 PM

I would like to add that over the years, silicone has improved alot. I do see older silicone that has started to harden and lose its strength sometimes. Often, some silicone lubricant grease is all that is needed to restore it, and its often just at the surface. So depending on how old your tank is, the silicone might be of an older, less long-lived make. Remember that every element, even a solid, is really moving inside and eventually everything changes due to oxidation, dispersion effects, etc. Dont believe me? Well... look at glass (silica... silicone... etc). It gets more brittle as it gets older due to oxidation... not so much that it would shatter on its own, but enough that you cant cut it anymore reliably after its 6-9 months old. Sometimes moving an old silicone tank can be enough for this older, hardened silicone to pop a leak.

Hope that helps you kass03. I would say that newer reef keeping methods alone that can save you loads of money on the utility bills over the 'next 20 years' would be a good 'incentive' to bring up with the hubby for a tank upgrade. Better overflows, better internal plubing (say you want a tank that is drilled for a closed loop or one that has built in hiding boxes for mounting a tunze stream inside... using these for flow can cut out a 100watt or so pump from the sump. I dont know your tank that well though... so just ideas...

Jacsubi · 12/23/2006, 02:03 PM

my tank lasted two years, it just cracked today. I could be down about that, but it only gives me the oppurtunity to buy a bigger tank! I hope my corals survive.

12/22/2006, 10:56 AM	#26
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	Silicone tanks do not have to have water in them. The silicone will last indefinately. The older tanks from the fiftees and early sixtees were sealed with asphaltium varnish which was basically tar and they would dry out. If the tank was manufactured correctly it should never leak. Paul __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

12/22/2006, 11:49 AM	#29
Airman Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 643	Paul B has a great looking tank that is unique. I suggest that everyone take a look at his thread. __________________ What is man, that thou art mindful of him?...:) Current Tank Info: 55 Gal, DSB, protein skimmer, UV light, Sump/Refugium

12/22/2006, 04:14 PM	#33
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	you can inspect the silicone, if it is not pulling way from the glass, you can probably just leave it alone, that is unless of course you want a new tank, then tell the wife, "see it is hard here" and replace with appropriate upgrade __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

12/23/2006, 02:03 PM	#36
Jacsubi Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lynchburg, Virginia Posts: 179	my tank lasted two years, it just cracked today. I could be down about that, but it only gives me the oppurtunity to buy a bigger tank! I hope my corals survive. __________________ Don't cloud the issue with facts Current Tank Info: JBJ 28

12/22/2006, 11:12 AM	#28
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	Yeah but "indefinately" is a relative term

12/22/2006, 12:26 PM	#30
kass03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kaukauna, Wi Posts: 2,937	Dang Paul B your not helping my decision to upgrade my 55 to a 75. I bought my 55 used back in the late 70's. Had it as saltwater ever since. At first just fish and now a reef for 23 years. I keep telling my hubby I should get a 75 cuz I'm afraid it's gonna leak one of these days. He says why would you wanna rip it down and start over lol. I really don't want to move everything cuz it's doing well but would love to have a nice new tank lol. kass

12/22/2006, 12:29 PM	#31
dbrock12 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 49	I have a 55gal. that I purchased used in 1975. It has been in continuous SW service since then. Don

12/22/2006, 06:41 PM	#35
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	I would like to add that over the years, silicone has improved alot. I do see older silicone that has started to harden and lose its strength sometimes. Often, some silicone lubricant grease is all that is needed to restore it, and its often just at the surface. So depending on how old your tank is, the silicone might be of an older, less long-lived make. Remember that every element, even a solid, is really moving inside and eventually everything changes due to oxidation, dispersion effects, etc. Dont believe me? Well... look at glass (silica... silicone... etc). It gets more brittle as it gets older due to oxidation... not so much that it would shatter on its own, but enough that you cant cut it anymore reliably after its 6-9 months old. Sometimes moving an old silicone tank can be enough for this older, hardened silicone to pop a leak. Hope that helps you kass03. I would say that newer reef keeping methods alone that can save you loads of money on the utility bills over the 'next 20 years' would be a good 'incentive' to bring up with the hubby for a tank upgrade. Better overflows, better internal plubing (say you want a tank that is drilled for a closed loop or one that has built in hiding boxes for mounting a tunze stream inside... using these for flow can cut out a 100watt or so pump from the sump. I dont know your tank that well though... so just ideas...