What is the life of a fish tank???

chase2931

New member
I just set up my 300 FOWLR tank that I bought from a friend. What I was wondering is what is the longest that some of you have had the same tank set up for? Is there an average age for a tank before the glue starts to seperate or any other big problems? Is there any signs of problems that I should be looking for besides cracks? Wife is a little worried and hopeful this can help calm her down. Thanks
 
I have four tanks (29, 50, 55, 110) running now that I've had for over 20 years. The oldest is almost 30. One of those developed a very slow leak on a vertical seam last year and I had to reseal it.
 
Thanks for the response. That is good to hear. I think her main concern is the size of the tank and the stress that could have been put on it when moving to out house. Anyone else.
 
As long as it has been well maintained and none of the seams have been mangled over the years I wouldn't sweat it. I've got a 16 year old 29 that is just like the day I bought it. If the tank is leveled and always has been you shouldn't have a problem.
 
Before you bring it in the house, fill it with water and let it sit for 48 hours to see if there are any leaks.
 
Also, make sure to inspect all of the internal sealing beads at along all eight seams. The silicone should be intact and unbroken. If you find any breaks or cuts then it should be resealed. If you haven't done this before, you might want to have it done by a glazier or aquarium builder.
 
I think the stand that is holding the tank up has a HUGE factor in tank life. If the stand is level & not causeing stress on certain areas of the tank it will last a VERY long time

however if the stand is crapp it might last weeks, months or a few years :(
 
Forever! There is a guy(PAULB) on this site that has a reef tank that is 35 years old. My tank is 3 years old and I bought it from a garage sale. Hope this brings you peace of mind.
 
I have read that tanks usually fail slowly, with a dripp in the corner, and not the dreaded loud splash in the middle of the night. I hope that calms your wife down. If the stand is old, make sure it is level and sturdy still. If it is warped, or weak the stand may collapse, or stress the tank and crack it.
 
I have had a tank that was owned by someone for 15 years before i got it and I still have it after 12 years! I think your tank will be fine:thumbsup:
 
really, I think they're built to last unless YOU do something or your stand is crap. I'd be more worried about an overflow flooding the sump than a tank leak.
 
Thanks guys. You all have helped a lot. My wife isn't going crazy anymore. That is all that she was picturing and then she got me believing it. But you guys have helped to calm her down. She is 7.5 months pregant so there is enough stress. Thanks
 
Heh, I just bought a 8mo old 75gal visio and was thinking the same dreaded thoughts of possible leaks. Now I feel better.
 
Chase,

Who made the tank? I wish I could chime in here with good news, but at least some manufacturers won't build glass tanks larger than 180 gallons due to seams splitting. What kind of bracing does the tank have? Is it sealed with regular silicone (translucent) or Dow 795 (white or black)? The latter seems to be stronger.

Here is what I wrote about large glass tanks in my Advanced Marine Aquarium Techniques book:

For most homes, the installation of an aquarium larger than 180 gallons will require the assistance of an engineer to measure floor loading, etc. The limit in size for all-glass aquariums seems to be around this volume as well. A pair of 300 gallon all-glass tanks in a pet store would regularly split their seams every two to four years. It seems that there is a point where silicone alone is simply not sufficient to bond panels of glass, even with the addition of corner and center braces. When designing large all-glass aquariums and determining their placement, thought must be given to what happens WHEN their seams will split (not IF).


Jay Hemdal
 
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