USED TANKS? GOOD OR BAD?

[gomezladdams]

Most of my tanks were free or cheap used leakers.Granted no big tanks,the largest are 3 125g tanks but after resealing Ive had no problems.
Theres been a few threads of new huge tanks failing catastrophically too.When you get past 180g the forces involved are enormous,and there is some danger because of that,used or new.

 

[steelshade]

If it's been sitting dry for a long, long time then that's cause for concern. Even worse if exposed to extreme temperatures while empty. Worst of all if all this happened while the tank was left outside. Never buy a tank that has been stored outdoors. These things can compromise the seals.

 

[JK47]

You have to remember buying a used tank is like buying an old car, you need to expect it to break down at the most inoportune time and take the steps to avoid the problem all together BEFORE it happens. If glass, have it resealed or do it yourself. With acrylic, proper examination of the acrylic, seams, stress cracks, imperfections, reseal/repair jobs and just plain knowing what thickness the acrylic should be for the tank height is invaluable. Manufacter can play a role as well.

That said, I have never paid the money for a new tank and only buy used tanks both glass and acrylic because of personal cash flow. I am a CL poacher and proud of it.

 

[12 Volt Man]

I only buy new.

as mentioned the risks of a leak/break are there even new, but the they are lower because the tank has not been filled, stablized, drained, transported etc. possibly multiple times before you end up with it. puts a lot of stress on the seams that you don't get when buying new.

my reasoning price wise is this:

for small tanks -they are cheap anyway, so why not get them new?

for big tanks - I want the extra security so I buy new

so for me, used is not usually an option.

also, buying new allows many things:

-get the exact equipment you want
-get custom variations done to the tank

eg. my Aqueon 150g I had custom done with black silicone. would be almost impossible to find that used.

although we pay much more for new tanks/setups, to me, the potential advantages/added security are worth the investment.

after all, we have tanks for many years. average out the increase over the lifetime of your setup (15+ years in many cases), and its peanuts.

 

[phillydog1958]

both of my tanks are used. i have not had any problems. the person who had the exploding 320 gallon , if i recall correctly, he filled the tank and he sat it in his garage, on uneven ground. that placed stress on the seams. i just priced a 220 gallon tank at my lfs. they wanted over $3,000 for a stand, tank and canopy. i know i can get a good used tank for much less.

 

[Thalan]

Pretty much all of my tanks are used. You run the same risk with new ones really. Test fill and test fill some more.

 

[Lupin]

I have only one tank that I bought secondhanded but it's a 10g. No issues so far.

 

[Deaths Sting]

I only buy new.

as mentioned the risks of a leak/break are there even new, but the they are lower because the tank has not been filled, stablized, drained, transported etc. possibly multiple times before you end up with it. puts a lot of stress on the seams that you don't get when buying new.

my reasoning price wise is this:

for small tanks -they are cheap anyway, so why not get them new?

for big tanks - I want the extra security so I buy new

so for me, used is not usually an option.

also, buying new allows many things:

-get the exact equipment you want
-get custom variations done to the tank

eg. my Aqueon 150g I had custom done with black silicone. would be almost impossible to find that used.

although we pay much more for new tanks/setups, to me, the potential advantages/added security are worth the investment.

after all, we have tanks for many years. average out the increase over the lifetime of your setup (15+ years in many cases), and its peanuts.

+1!!!!!!!

i got into a huge fight on another forum over this topic...


i used the words cheap and crappy though..

 

[jcardona1]

i have never bought a NEW tank simply because i dont like getting ripped off; the prices are ridiculous. ill let somebody else get suckered and then get a good deal when they sell

all my tanks have been used, even my 405g. the only time i will prob get a new tank is if i want something massive that needs to be custom built.

used tanks FTW

 

[tcarswell]

If it's been sitting dry for a long, long time then that's cause for concern. Even worse if exposed to extreme temperatures while empty. Worst of all if all this happened while the tank was left outside. Never buy a tank that has been stored outdoors. These things can compromise the seals.

Bingo! Exactly what I was going to say. Silicone can be compromised when stored dry. Its a good idea to keep a wet towel in any aquarium being stored to at least keep the humidity up.
For instance in high school I bought a 55g that was used for reptiles for a year and it sprung a leak due to the heat and lack of humidity. Bigtime user error on my part.
Ever since then I have resealed every tank I have purchased (Except new tanks) The only failure came from a NEW 55 gallon I bought from pet smart ... go figure

Oh and I dont like to drop names but it was an all glass tank on a perfect level surface brand new that failed
I dont remember who made the first failed tank..