acrylic tank age question

[rccub23]

can a acrylic tank go "bad" from age. or from being stored without water in them. i have a chance to buy an acrylic tank, but dont know its age. is there anything specfic i should look for.

 

[Freed]

Mine has been filled with saltwater for 23 years. The only thing I can tell you is that the corners on my tank have crazing or tiny fractures in the glue used to hold the tank together. Don't know if that would happen on a dry tank or how long it would take for a dry one.

 

[troylee]

It really depends on a lot factors.....one being how was the tank stored???if it was in a climate controlled area they should las forever.....if it was stored outside and open to the natrual elements of hot and cold there can be some damage......as acrylic heats up it expands and when its cold it contracts.....so with those 2 elements stressing the tank over a period of time yes it can cause damage or premature failure......look for signs of stress ie. "Crazing" tiny hairline or surface cracks on or near the joints this will say a lot about if a acrylic tank has been stressed or not.....another good deciding factor is material thickness there is a ton of under built tanks out there that obviously won't be around as long as others.....what size is the tank???give me the dem. And material thickness I can help you with that.......

 

[rccub23]

i do see some "crazing". the tank is a 180 gallon. 72x24x24.
the thickness seems to be 7/16". he does not know how old the tank is. he said he has had water in it for two weeks, just to leak test it. if it is usable, i can buy this tank very cheap. the back is black, and has three 1 1/2 inch holes drilled it in for returns. pretty much all the info i have.

 

[Freed]

Mine is the exact same dimensions but a blue back.

 

[troylee]

If there is water still in it bring a straight edge check for bowing on the sides......acrylic has a saturation point so it does absorb water over a given period of time.....does he know how the tank was stored inside or outside???? Being exposed to elements in extreme weather conditions can have ill effects on acrylic.....there is a ton of variables including if the tank was ever cleaned with cleaners such as windex, alcohol etc.....these tend to break down the acrylic to......to be honest there is no def. Way of stating how long it will last but there are a lot of things that can contribute to premature failure....like the ones described above.......how bad is the crazing can you post any pics of it???????hth....