Friend giving me a 175 gal Oceanic Bowfront

[carrera mike]

Gents Ladies,

A close friend of mine is giving me their 175 Oceanic Bowfront. It has been idle since 2004 when Isabel hit us here in the east coast and with no power for 4 days, all their fish died. They cant seem to get over that and restart it again.

Anyway, the tank currently has tap water and a little bleach to keep it clean(does belach have bad effect on sealant??). I'm thinking its probably 5 years old tank. It's been sitting on a carpet with its Oceanic oak stand. When I tried to open the doors, they were really tight, a sign of stand bowing to the load(maybe because its on carpet). It's location in their house is on the third floor, which means that that heavy tank had been lifted/carried through 2.5 flight of stairs, and now we have to do another move if I take it(structure, seal fit weaken?).
1 more thing, I only have very few soft corals and more interested on fish.

With those to consider(and I know there are more factors to consider if you could only see the tank/I've only seen it briefly)My question is / or where I need all of your opinions is.

** You think, it would it be still good for few more years of operation? Risk of seal aging and leaking?

I am recently getting ready to get a brand new reef ready Perfecto 72X18X22. Do you think I'd be better off with this instead? I am leaning more into just getting a new perfecto cause of worries of the old oceanic might give. But I read and heard that Oceanic are built like tanks.

Thank you for all your help!

~Mike

 

[Sk8r]

should be fine.
Keep both. Set up one as a cheato seahorse domain/fuge and link to the other.
Set up one as a FOWLR. Set up one as a reef. Or nem tank. Many, many choices.

I'd get it to where I want it, fill it with tapwater. Leave it a week and look for leaks. Stand may need bracing if particle board. May need sanding on door. Or remove door and replace with 2 braces.

If it passes, order your live rock and go for it. I take it this one is not reefready, hence my suggestion as using it for a show fuge on a closed loop, running essentially [via your other tank's sump] as a connected annex. Lighted, with horses and pipefish, [no mandy: they eat too efficiently] and lots of inverts that won't bother the horses.

 

[papagimp]

Re: Friend giving me a 175 gal Oceanic Bowfront

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11403843#post11403843 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by carrera mike
But I read and heard that Oceanic are built like tanks.

I'd hope so! LOL.

I agree with sk8r on this one, a 175 is a 175, I"d find a way to make it work for the price your paying on it We could all use a friend like that. (hint hint to all my friends)

 

[BarkingCrab]

I'd be sure to find out why the doors are bowing and make sure there's no structural issue with the stand. 175g is a lot of water on your floor if that stand fails or bows under the weight. I bought a used oceanic and the doors on mine opened "hard" due to salt buildup and rust. I replaced the hinges and the problem was solved.

Put a line or straightedge on the thing and make sure it's sound. If so, bonus for you. That's a great tank, especially the price.

 

[o.c.d.]

I have a 175 Oceanic bow and definatly a lot of weight. I haved the curved glass front stand and It looked weak so I reinforsed it in a few places mainly the middle,I also jacked the floor under just for precaution.I also talked to a old guy whose been building aquariums forever and asked him how long the seal would hold,with no hesitation 25years really.He said if the tank is level shouldn't have any problems.Apparently built like a Tank sounds about right.