I know we constantly hear stories about how someone's tank sprung a leak or popped a seam. Personally I'm a little paranoid about coming home one day and finding 100 or so gallons all over my floor. I just want to reassure myself and so I want to know how many people have never had a tank leak and how old their tanks generally are.
Tank Leaks
- Thread starter dennisdeng2002
- Start date
in 20 years of fishkeeping I have had only one leak. back in 1994 I had a 30g spring a small leak.
many of my setups were 15+ years old and counting when I moved out of mom and dads. never been resealed.
tanks last for a long long time if you aren't draining, filling and moving them around all the time.
Personally, I believe that the reason we see so many leaks/breaks these days is because with the popularity of internet classifieds, you have people buying more used tanks than ever before. and alot of these tanks are in pretty crappy condition a lot of the time.
the risk is higher in used tanks. you don't know what abuse the tanks have had prior to your getting them.
many of my setups were 15+ years old and counting when I moved out of mom and dads. never been resealed.
tanks last for a long long time if you aren't draining, filling and moving them around all the time.
Personally, I believe that the reason we see so many leaks/breaks these days is because with the popularity of internet classifieds, you have people buying more used tanks than ever before. and alot of these tanks are in pretty crappy condition a lot of the time.
the risk is higher in used tanks. you don't know what abuse the tanks have had prior to your getting them.
I've had one leak so far. It was a questionable tank at best. Other than that, tanks are always a crap shoot. Even the new ones. You take the risk to be in the hobby.
true, but I think its hard to deny that the risks of leaks with a brand new tank are much less than a second hand tank.
the risk is still there, but its lower.
buying used means you have a tank that has been full, drained down empty, refilled, possibly several times and transported as well.
all this puts a lot of stress on the seams, because the act of draining and filling takes all the pressure off, puts it all back on, transport can cause dings/chips etc.
the risk of a leak is always there, but it is minimzed by buying brand new IMO.
but you pay more though..
the risk is still there, but its lower.
buying used means you have a tank that has been full, drained down empty, refilled, possibly several times and transported as well.
all this puts a lot of stress on the seams, because the act of draining and filling takes all the pressure off, puts it all back on, transport can cause dings/chips etc.
the risk of a leak is always there, but it is minimzed by buying brand new IMO.
but you pay more though..
I've only had one tank leak on me. The stand it was on was press-board, screw press-board and bastard who decided that it makes a good aquarium stand. Had to move the tank as the stand was collapsing.
I worked for an aquarium maintenance company and we had to replace tanks due to scratches but never leaks.
I worked for an aquarium maintenance company and we had to replace tanks due to scratches but never leaks.
yeah, particle board stands are bad especially over time as they get wet.
sadly, many LFS stands are made of this stuff... I had to replace a 90g reef tank on one of these stands that was collapsing when I worked at my LFS..
sadly, many LFS stands are made of this stuff... I had to replace a 90g reef tank on one of these stands that was collapsing when I worked at my LFS..
I too have worked for a tank maintenance business, I had 1 tank leak and that was due to moving it without completely draining the water and removing the gravel. The added weight of gravel and water while moving caused the seal to break. I have 8 tanks set up and running in my house on 3 floors at this time and never have I worried about them leaking, getting broken by flying objects, now that is another story
the only used tank i ever bought leaked (it was only 4years old and i had it for 2) its no fun to come home and find your 265 is down to 65. in contrast my 110x is 22years old and holding strong from now on its new only
after reading this, and was considering to buy a used tank...I'm now leaning toward spending the extra money if need be to be safer =)