OK for aquarium to freeze? (empty)

horwitzs · 09/18/2012, 09:35 PM

For reasons I won't get into here, I'm going to have to put my 90gal tank outdoors soon for about 2 weeks. The temperature may possibly get below freezing out there during the night (I realize "freezing" is related to water and glass doesn't freeze, but I digress).
With the number of tanks I see for sale on Craigslist that are sitting outdoors, I can't imagine it would hurt it, but thought I'd check to see if anyone has experience with this or knows if contraction/expansion would be too much and cause issues when it's filled back up.
Thanks in advance.

kad1979 · 09/18/2012, 10:04 PM

I wouldn't...dew, rain, = freezing water. If it can crack concrete...? No experience with a tank outside just my $.02.

kad1979 · 09/18/2012, 10:08 PM

Most liquids contract when freezing...however water does the opposite.

mcgyvr · 09/18/2012, 10:26 PM

dry it out, turn it upside down so it doesn't fill with water, put a few 2x4's under it for some air flow and it will be totally fine.

horwitzs · 09/19/2012, 12:26 AM

Karma tells me to listen to Macgyver since that's coincidentally what I'm watching on TV right now while I can't sleep.
It will be under cover from rain but condensation will be a factor. Stand will be outside too.
Maybe I can get the OK to put it in my dads garage, if he doesn't mind it sitting on his pool table.
Thanks for the feedback.

All6Fish · 09/19/2012, 05:35 AM

concrete is pourus so water penetrates it....Glass does not. Youll be fine.

billdogg · 09/19/2012, 07:24 AM

My 150, that was already about 10 years old at the time, sat in my unheated garage for about 7 years while i figured out where to put it. Temps in central ohio during that time went from -20 to well over 100. The tank now sits happily in my basement. No worries - it will be fine.

Dino · 09/19/2012, 09:01 AM

Only thing I'd be concerned about is if you were storing it in an unheated area long term is the seals going through repeated freeze/thaw cycles. A couple weeks not going to be even something to think about, but several years it would be something to have in mind.

Sean_South · 09/19/2012, 11:27 AM

ive heard if tanks sit too long without water in them that the silicon can dry out... no idea if there is any truth to this or not but may be worth googling, sorry I couldnt offer more help just throwing out one theory that I have heard

SSprince · 09/19/2012, 11:32 AM

My tank sat in the garage for 2 years before I got it set up.. I live near Chicago and the garage was unheated. It was up and running for 9 years after it came in from the garage... I'm going to use it for my sump on the new setup.......

Tinkanator2000 · 09/19/2012, 09:24 PM

Honestly, I don't think the cold is the enemy of any tank left outside.... sun light is the silent killer of plastic frames if you ask me.

horwitzs · 09/19/2012, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinkanator2000

Honestly, I don't think the cold is the enemy of any tank left outside.... sun light is the silent killer of plastic frames if you ask me.

It will be on the north side of the house. No direct sunlight.
Estimated time outdoors will be 2 weeks.

Tinkanator2000 · 09/19/2012, 09:33 PM

Don't even sweat that, turn that sucker upside down and you're good to go. I've left tanks in grass over an entire winter and they still held water just fine.

Shorty Harris · 09/19/2012, 11:00 PM

i have an old (27 years) 42 gallon hex tank that spent the last 10 years in a storage shed exposed to high summer temps and subzero winter temps. This summer I cleaned it up and turned it into an Amazon tank. Still holds water like a champ with the original silicone.

coral_dog · 09/20/2012, 08:57 AM

Just check the seals when you are ready to set it back up, but Im sure you will be fine.

Cable_Guy · 09/20/2012, 12:39 PM

Last time I checked my windows were glass and they are fine year after year...?

09/18/2012, 09:35 PM	#1
horwitzs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kitsap Penninsula Posts: 470	OK for aquarium to freeze? (empty) For reasons I won't get into here, I'm going to have to put my 90gal tank outdoors soon for about 2 weeks. The temperature may possibly get below freezing out there during the night (I realize "freezing" is related to water and glass doesn't freeze, but I digress). With the number of tanks I see for sale on Craigslist that are sitting outdoors, I can't imagine it would hurt it, but thought I'd check to see if anyone has experience with this or knows if contraction/expansion would be too much and cause issues when it's filled back up. Thanks in advance. __________________ -Seth Current Tank Info: 120g fresh, 150g salt.

09/18/2012, 10:26 PM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	dry it out, turn it upside down so it doesn't fill with water, put a few 2x4's under it for some air flow and it will be totally fine. __________________ Who me?

09/19/2012, 12:26 AM	#5
horwitzs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kitsap Penninsula Posts: 470	Karma tells me to listen to Macgyver since that's coincidentally what I'm watching on TV right now while I can't sleep. It will be under cover from rain but condensation will be a factor. Stand will be outside too. Maybe I can get the OK to put it in my dads garage, if he doesn't mind it sitting on his pool table. Thanks for the feedback. __________________ -Seth Current Tank Info: 120g fresh, 150g salt.

09/19/2012, 07:24 AM	#7
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	My 150, that was already about 10 years old at the time, sat in my unheated garage for about 7 years while i figured out where to put it. Temps in central ohio during that time went from -20 to well over 100. The tank now sits happily in my basement. No worries - it will be fine. __________________ 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

09/19/2012, 09:01 AM	#8
Dino Freak of Nature Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Finding my way back to the boondocks Posts: 11,048	Only thing I'd be concerned about is if you were storing it in an unheated area long term is the seals going through repeated freeze/thaw cycles. A couple weeks not going to be even something to think about, but several years it would be something to have in mind. __________________ Cody I will love and miss you until the last beat of my heart Harley & Rusty.

09/18/2012, 10:04 PM	#2
kad1979 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 92	I wouldn't...dew, rain, = freezing water. If it can crack concrete...? No experience with a tank outside just my $.02.

09/18/2012, 10:08 PM	#3
kad1979 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 92	Most liquids contract when freezing...however water does the opposite.

09/19/2012, 05:35 AM	#6
All6Fish Moved On Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Meriden, Ct Posts: 532	concrete is pourus so water penetrates it....Glass does not. Youll be fine.

09/19/2012, 11:27 AM	#9
Sean_South Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 130	ive heard if tanks sit too long without water in them that the silicon can dry out... no idea if there is any truth to this or not but may be worth googling, sorry I couldnt offer more help just throwing out one theory that I have heard __________________ 14 gal Biocube-upgraded dimmable LED lighting Current Tank Info: 14 Gal Biocube

09/19/2012, 11:32 AM	#10
SSprince Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Plainfield Posts: 97	My tank sat in the garage for 2 years before I got it set up.. I live near Chicago and the garage was unheated. It was up and running for 9 years after it came in from the garage... I'm going to use it for my sump on the new setup.......

09/19/2012, 09:24 PM	#11
Tinkanator2000 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 168	Honestly, I don't think the cold is the enemy of any tank left outside.... sun light is the silent killer of plastic frames if you ask me.

09/19/2012, 09:33 PM	#13
Tinkanator2000 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 168	Don't even sweat that, turn that sucker upside down and you're good to go. I've left tanks in grass over an entire winter and they still held water just fine.

09/19/2012, 11:00 PM	#14
Shorty Harris Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Mexico Posts: 48	i have an *old* (27 years) 42 gallon hex tank that spent the last 10 years in a storage shed exposed to high summer temps and subzero winter temps. This summer I cleaned it up and turned it into an Amazon tank. Still holds water like a champ with the original silicone.

09/20/2012, 08:57 AM	#15
coral_dog Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 42	Just check the seals when you are ready to set it back up, but Im sure you will be fine.

09/20/2012, 12:39 PM	#16
Cable_Guy Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 66	Last time I checked my windows were glass and they are fine year after year...?