What causes a tank to fail?

[jersey600]

Sometimes you hear of tanks that leak, etc.. what are the causes of these failures? can we list them here and elaborate on them? I can imagine that the silicone can get brittle and leak or fail completely. or perhaps if the aquarium is not on a level surface. is that because the user did not place foam underneath? And then, could all these failures have been avoided by any form of preventative measures or maintenance?

Just curious as to all the reasons a tank could leak and fail and how not to let it happen to us.

 

[dr_sudz]

I know that most tanks will fail if they are not properly supported over long periods of time. Especially if the tank is 5' and up. Foam Could help in this case as well. I think you will find most failures comes from the tank not being supported properly, or not being level. Its all about the initial setup. Shim it, make sure you have a sound stand, and you should be fine for years to come.

 

[gomezladdams]

A used tank that has been dry for a while.When refilled it will hold for a few weeks then let go.I had one 15g that after it leaked I pulled all the silicone out in one piece by hand.any used tanks I get that have been dry over a year get resealed before I use them

 

[RBE17]

A used tank that has been dry for a while.When refilled it will hold for a few weeks then let go.I had one 15g that after it leaked I pulled all the silicone out in one piece by hand.any used tanks I get that have been dry over a year get resealed before I use them

That's good to know. I've had a 55g dry for a few years now. I'm getting ready to set it back up. Maybe I should go ahead and reseal it. Or better yet, maybe I'll take it apart and use the glass to for viewing areas of two larger tanks.

 

[jersey600]

A used tank that has been dry for a while.When refilled it will hold for a few weeks then let go. any used tanks I get that have been dry over a year get resealed before I use them

that's good advice. i wonder why it would hold for a few weeks and then give way. i have a used tank I would like to set up but have no idea how long it has been dry for. better check the silicone

 

[bigredjeep]

if a tank is sitting uneven, the weight of water will be a whole lot heavier on certain parts of the tank, for example if the left side is higher on a 55g tank, the 450lb+ of water is pushing on the right side instead of it being distributed throughout all the sides of the tank.