Interesting Fiber Tanks

[[PIMPIN]]

Not sure if this is the correct section but while out and about doing my tour of fish shops in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia for those on the other side of the world), I revisited a shop I hadn't been to in over a year. Previously, they had some interesting fiber tanks with viewing panels on the front but were poorly finished and came in ugly blue and black.

Fast forward to yesterday and they've improved tremendously. The finish is a lot better I guess due to them getting better in working with fiberglass. I'm very much tempted however the weight of the tank is a concern for me. Secondly, I have no idea how strong the tank is since I have no idea on the internal structure or bracing that holds everything together. Surely fiberglass on its own cannot hold such water? The front panel is made of glass by the way.

The price before negotiation is RM8,000 or USD2,500 at current exchange rates. Price includes filtration system (the tank itself is basically 6ft with the sump taking up the remaining 2ft to the side). Any idea if this will last, as in not start leaking etc after 2-3 years? If you were in the market for such a tank, would you go for this setup instead of traditional tank on a stand? Tanks are supported by Styrofoam by the way for what purpose I have no idea.

 

[JC_P]

For a second there I thought you meant aquariums made of carbon fibre.. lol, I was going to say "that's perfect, what better way to combine my two favourite hobbies; fish keeping & automobiles." lmao, guess not.. Those are still pretty cool though.

 

[[PIMPIN]]

Yeah, cars and fish keeping are my two hobbies as well.

Cars more so than fish though.

Rather new to fishes.

 

[Dan F]

I have several of the ugly blue fiberglass tanks with glass viewing windows. They are considerably lighter than equivalent glass or even acrylic tanks. They are extremely durable, but can be prone to pinhole leaks if the gel coat (inner coating) starts to fail. Mine are all 25+ years old and only one of them has developed this problem, so your odds are good that it will last a long, long time.

 

[Zoodiver]

I've used a lot of fiberglass with acrylic windows as well. Just don't drag them on the floor.... like Dan said, they can develop small holes. If you take care of them, they'll last forever. Another nice thing about fiberglass is you can get them round as well.

 

[JC_P]

Yeah, cars and fish keeping are my two hobbies as well.

Cars more so than fish though.

Rather new to fishes.

Cool lol, glad to hear I'm not the only gear head here!

 

[tanharold]

Is fiber glass cheaper?

 

[Zoodiver]

Yes, generally speaking fiberglass is much cheaper - especially when you get into BIG tanks.

 

[zoohouse]

I am also a gear-head first, but have kept fish for longer than I have been into cars/trucks. I got my first tank at 10 and my first car at 15. As for the longevity of fiberglass it really depends on the resins used in the manufacturing process. Also the thicker the gel coat the less likelyhood of a failure. As for structual, when you looked at them did you notice any bowing of the panels? And are they solid fiberglass or are they plywood that has been "glassed"?