180gal glass tank questions.

[Idealconcepts]

Ok, guys and girls, I have a 180gal glass tank that I bought used about a year ago and it has been sitting in my garage next to the wall which on the other side is the interior of the wall. When I bought from the guy we filled it half way and it didn’t leak, but since it has been sitting in the garage for about a year I want to double check it holds water before I spray paint the wood trim black and build the stand for it. The guy had it for a few years and it was held water. My plan is to put it on top of those cheap grey mechanic mats on the garage floor and fill it. Let it sit for a few days and hope it doesn’t leak. I want to make sure it holds water before it gets moved into the house. If it doesn’t leak I plan on emptying the tank flipping it so I can spray paint the bottom and bottom trim blk wait a few days and flip it again and do the top trim blk as well, wait a few days and refill it to do a second leak test. The tank has fairly thick glass a center brace, so it takes four piece of glass to cover the top, which I need to purchase still. So my questions are:

1. How long, when I do the first water test, should I let the water sit in the tank and deem it safe to hold water? (24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120 hours?)
2. Is it ok to tip the tank so it can be laid on its side, then tip it again so it can be flipped over (so I can spray paint the bottom and bottom trim) with out actually picking up the entire weight of the tank? (I plan on doing this with two people possibly three, on mats or cardboard to reduce an shock or stress to the tank, and figure this will reduce the chances of dropping the tank)

Any thing else I might have over looked and need to be cautious about?

Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions.

 

[Dr Joe]

As long as you keep even pressure on the edges as you turn it and use folded carpet or those mats (something that crushes to conform to the edge and irregulatities in the floor)on the edge that's carrying the weight. (Make sure the helpers can hold the weight).

Put styrofoam under the tank with cardboard on top of it so you can IF there is a leak quicker.

If your not in a hurry, I'd test it for atleast a week, also helps age the tank by letting anything that is in it desolve so you can wash it out. Might even put a little vinegar in to help desolve any calcium deposits on the gas.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Dr Joe

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[Idealconcepts]

Dr Joe - Finally filled the 180gal last night (8:40PM Monday night), checked it this morning and no leaks, this is a good sign. I used those mechanics mats, they are about half and inch thick, and they are working. I'm probably going to let the water sit in the tank until this weekend so I can be sure it won't leak and figure out if I really want to flip it and spray paint the bottom and the wood trim.