how old is too old for used tanks

[lemcc]

iam thinking of buying a 10yr old 240gal tank
standard no leaks only empty for 1 month info from owner

if i get it i will resilicone seams before filling

anyway back to original ? how old is too old

 

[Oddball]

I don't know of any set duration. I have plywood tanks that are running without leaks 10 years longer than expected. I have old steel-frame slate-bottom tanks that are still holding water. I guess it would depend on not only how long they were dry but also where they were stored. If their storage has other things with dry rot you may have seam problems. Some manufacturers in the early 80s tried making large (55 and up) tanks with thinner glass but, I haven't seen anyone with these tanks lately. Perhaps they all already failed and are retired to the junk yards.

 

[guppy]

I still have an old slate bottom steel frame that was made in late 60s early 70s works fine (not a lot of moving parts)

 

[dialphantom]

i got a tank made in 1990 it sems fine no leaks just some of the silicon ripping off the sides

 

[orlok]

I too have a slate/steel frame tank.

It held water great for thirty years until I put my knee through it!

 

[rweedon]

if it holds water where you want to keep it and you don't do a lot of moving with it, it will most definitely be fine...

 

[Caveman]

I also have a tank from the late 80's its a 55 gallon but the glass is 1/2" thick. Works perfectly since I have had it.

 

[joeytoe]

I have a small old 20Gal Long thats easily from the late 80s an I just started it up an had no leaks.

 

[oscar1]

if it still haolds water and doesn't have any unsightly damage like scratches it's never to old

 

[piranha45]

my 200g must be at least 10 yrs old...

glass with silicon, wood trimmings. i've made no repair efforts and it works perfectly fine, albeit alot of scratches...