How to buy a tank

[BlackJew]

Hey guy's
I'm picking up a used tank today and need to know.. what I need to look for just to make sure I'm not getting a lemon ... picking this thing up tonight. 75 gal

[tsunderl]

Best thing to do is have them fill it with water before you get there so you can see if there's any leaks. Check out the silicone seals for spots with peeling or no silicone. If it has a brace, make sure it's not loose. Look at the overall condition- Trim, scratched glass, ect. These are signs of how well the tank was taken care of.

Ask questions! How old is the tank? How many people have owned it? What did you have in it? (Do not get it if they say reptiles. Their urine soaks in to the silicone and can kill fish.) How long has it been empty? Where's it been stored? (Hopefully not in a garage during a Texas summer.)

Most of all, trust your gut instinct. If there's any doubt at all, pass on it. There will be another down the road.

Good luck!

[BlackJew]

Best thing to do is have them fill it with water before you get there so you can see if there's any leaks. Check out the silicone seals for spots with peeling or no silicone. If it has a brace, make sure it's not loose. Look at the overall condition- Trim, scratched glass, ect. These are signs of how well the tank was taken care of.

Ask questions! How old is the tank? How many people have owned it? What did you have in it? (Do not get it if they say reptiles. Their urine soaks in to the silicone and can kill fish.) How long has it been empty? Where's it been stored? (Hopefully not in a garage during a Texas summer.)

Most of all, trust your gut instinct. If there's any doubt at all, pass on it. There will be another down the road.

Good luck!


Here's what I know. They say it was given to them from a friend. No water for at least 6 months... and yes it's been in the garage. No lights no hardware. .. and it's very cheap. 75 gl with stand 60.00.. what do you think ?

[kSpieler]

Heh, if you don't want it...I'll take it! :D
Silicone is my friend!

But yes, even if you go ahead and get it... make sure you test it OUTSIDE to make sure it doesn't leak! ... and by test, I mean fill it all the way to the top (but don't over flow it) and let it sit for at least 24hrs. Then look for wet spots at the base, give it a jiggle or two - to make sure it doesn't fall apart under stress, then let it sit a while more to be SURE.

[tsunderl]

Here's what I know. They say it was given to them from a friend. No water for at least 6 months... and yes it's been in the garage. No lights no hardware. .. and it's very cheap. 75 gl with stand 60.00.. what do you think ?

More questions...

Why did the friend give them the tank? Why didn't they set it up?

For $60, even if the tank turns out to be a leaker, you wouldn't be out much to fix it. At the least you'll have a stand for the next 75 gallon.

Also, measure and do the math. I can't believe the number of people who don't know what size their tank really is.

L x W x H / 231 = gallons

tsunderl added 4 Minutes and 19 Seconds later...

Heh, if you don't want it...I'll take it! :D
Silicone is my friend!

Where would you hide it? In the closet? Under the bed? LOL

[fredtex]

Just buy it! if it leak's sell it for $60 as a leaker.and keep the stand.

[biggin]

Test it for at least 4-5 days out side. I have one on my porch that will hold water for around 3 days....

Make sure you are ready to commit to resealing the tank.

$60 is not bad for a 75g but is not too hard to walk away from either.

Make them fill it up to the top. Heat and time are bad on silicone.

[BlackJew]

I didn't get it... After talking to the owner. . a large Lizard made it it's home. inside was scrached up and the bottom part of the brace was cracked.. 2x4 home made stand. Looked like hell. No thanks I'll keep looking.

[masroberts9]

good call man.

[OOwl]

I hate scratches. If you're going to take care of a tank and spend money on all the stuff that goes on it and in it, get a beautiful one with no blemishes (and, in your case, no lizard pee). The last used tank I looked at had chips out of the glass on the corners. So, I'll add, run your hand down the sides of the glass to ensure no chips (because if those are deep enough they can go all the way through to the silicone) and that the glass edge has been polished (nicer tanks have that edge polished). Thanks for the educational post, even if you didn't get the tank, which really did sound like the best thing to do. Good luck finding your next tank.

[kSpieler]

eeeewwwww, leeezard pee ... I'de pass on it too!

[tsunderl]

Sorry it didn't work out, but that means there's a better one out there for you.

[BlackJew]

That's fine ... it's for my little girls room... they want a "Big Tank" ... So daddy has keep looking !!

[fishyjoe24]

um what about wallmart- you can get a complete 55G set up there minus decor,gravel,declornator, and stand for. $150.00-175.00

[AndrewH]

good sticky topic!

[supra11s]

good info guys

[Texscite]

Don't wal-mart tanks have thin glass?

[snow999ball]

i didn't even realize wal-mart sold tanks that large. :Whoa:

[jlcoop277]

I didn't know about the reptile pee, I bought my 55 from a reptile guy and I didn't have any problems with fish dying. I guess I got lucky. I would have had it resealed if I knew that. I couldn't pass it up for the $20 spot I paid for it.

[juice04]

Khrister has a 75 complete with wet dry for sale. Yeah a bit more but the condition speaks for itself