So I posted a few days ago about a 150 gallon salt tank that was on Craigslist. It was only $250 for the tank, stand, and wet/dry, so I snatched it up. The tank is nasty but the glass itself looks in decent shape. It just needs a major cleaning. I plan to use it for freshwater. I did find a few things that are unusual about it, though, so I have a couple questions.
The tank looks pretty old. There are two wooden (or what look like wooden) braces on top, and there is actually a piece of glass siliconed in the center opening between the two braces. The ends are open. I have never seen a tank like this before, but I've only ever owned All-Glass/Aqueon. Is this common with another brand, and if so, do you know which one? I'll have to find glass tops that fit it. There's also a strange piece of glass siliconed under the braces to the tank itself, but it's hidden by the trim from the outside. Is this something common on older tanks/other brands? All my Aqueon tanks have thin black plastic braces, but these are actually more like wooden pieces.
The silicone seems pretty worn. I ran my hand down the silicone on the seams of the tank and in places it peels back fairly easily. It's probably from years of saltwater use and it looks like an old tank in general. There are no gouges or chips in the silicone, it's just not secure to the glass in some places. Is this really a big deal? I've heard the only seal that matters is the actual seal bonding the two glass panes together and that anything else is just excess, but I want to be sure.
I'm probably worried about nothing -- the guy bought the tank used on Craigslist 3 years ago and ran it continuously as a salt tank until recently when he upgraded to a larger tank. It's very obvious that the tank was in use because it's still got wet sand in it, and water in the wet/dry. It doesn't have any noticeable cracks and I don't see water on the stand where it could have leaked. I figured I'd rather ask and be safe than sorry, though.
I can post pictures if need be.
Thanks!
The tank looks pretty old. There are two wooden (or what look like wooden) braces on top, and there is actually a piece of glass siliconed in the center opening between the two braces. The ends are open. I have never seen a tank like this before, but I've only ever owned All-Glass/Aqueon. Is this common with another brand, and if so, do you know which one? I'll have to find glass tops that fit it. There's also a strange piece of glass siliconed under the braces to the tank itself, but it's hidden by the trim from the outside. Is this something common on older tanks/other brands? All my Aqueon tanks have thin black plastic braces, but these are actually more like wooden pieces.
The silicone seems pretty worn. I ran my hand down the silicone on the seams of the tank and in places it peels back fairly easily. It's probably from years of saltwater use and it looks like an old tank in general. There are no gouges or chips in the silicone, it's just not secure to the glass in some places. Is this really a big deal? I've heard the only seal that matters is the actual seal bonding the two glass panes together and that anything else is just excess, but I want to be sure.
I'm probably worried about nothing -- the guy bought the tank used on Craigslist 3 years ago and ran it continuously as a salt tank until recently when he upgraded to a larger tank. It's very obvious that the tank was in use because it's still got wet sand in it, and water in the wet/dry. It doesn't have any noticeable cracks and I don't see water on the stand where it could have leaked. I figured I'd rather ask and be safe than sorry, though.
I can post pictures if need be.
Thanks!
