Storing an aquarium...cold weather

[Cloudburst2000]

A friend has an aquarium that he has had stored in his garage for the last year. This is a rimless aquarium...very well made. I think he said the aquarium was built by Miracles. Anyhoo, he has changed his plans and intends to set up an even larger aquarium so he no longer needs this aquarium. I am interested in buying the aquarium from him but want to know if the storage conditions could have affected its structural stability (especially since it is rimless). The aquarium has been sitting in his garage for about a year. I doubt the cold or hot weather would have hurt the glass but am a bit more unsure how extreme temperatures would affect the silicone. During the winters, it can get down into the teens (occasionally single digits) but we mostly see mid-20s to mid-30s degree weather. The summer temps range from low 80s to high 90s. Would any of these temperatures negatively effect the silicone seal on an aquarium?

[billdogg]

I kept my 150 in my garage for ~7 years. Used it to store garden tools, lol. It was about 10 years old at the time , and its now been back in service for 4 or 5. No worries. Rinse it out well and it will be just fine

[Mazzy]

I too have stored tanks outside, in and outside of a garage, for years and reused them when I was ready. No problems.

I'd say, since it's colder now, let it warm up to room tamp before filling it just to be safe, but otherwise it should be fine.

[marty9876]

left my 180g in a MN garage for 8+ years. was fine when I went to use it

[Cloudburst2000]

Cool! Thanks!

[ggsteve]

Silicone has a tremendous temperature range. I have a 55 behind my Tiki bar every summer full of goldfish. Every winter the goldfish go in the pond and I just tip the tank on it's side and it survives the New England winters just fine.

Your only concern would be if the tank had water in it and the water froze. Either the glass would crack (most likely) or a seam could split.

[Cloudburst2000]

Originally Posted by ggsteve

Silicone has a tremendous temperature range. I have a 55 behind my Tiki bar every summer full of goldfish. Every winter the goldfish go in the pond and I just tip the tank on it's side and it survives the New England winters just fine.

Your only concern would be if the tank had water in it and the water froze. Either the glass would crack (most likely) or a seam could split.

Frozen water isn't an issue since the aquarium has never seen any use. It has never even been set up. Thanks for that tidbit on silicon's temperature range. I think I will take his aquarium then

[crawdaddy905]

Originally Posted by Cloudburst2000

A friend has an aquarium that he has had stored in his garage for the last year. This is a rimless aquarium...very well made. I think he said the aquarium was built by Miracles. Anyhoo, he has changed his plans and intends to set up an even larger aquarium so he no longer needs this aquarium. I am interested in buying the aquarium from him but want to know if the storage conditions could have affected its structural stability (especially since it is rimless). The aquarium has been sitting in his garage for about a year. I doubt the cold or hot weather would have hurt the glass but am a bit more unsure how extreme temperatures would affect the silicone. During the winters, it can get down into the teens (occasionally single digits) but we mostly see mid-20s to mid-30s degree weather. The summer temps range from low 80s to high 90s. Would any of these temperatures negatively effect the silicone seal on an aquarium?

I was talking to the owner of Miracles, and he said that the silicone drys out if not kept in water