How long does glass tank lasts?

[fisbike]

Usually for how long and will it eventually leak?

[stormhawk]

No guarantee on longevity of tanks, if the workmanship is poor. I had a 2 ft tank that lasted 13 years with no leaks. Threw it away eventually since I upgraded to a larger tank. I reckon if I kept it, it would have lasted for my entire lifetime.

Though for most people, how long the tank lasts is how long their interest remains and when they finally decide to upgrade, the older tank is sold off/discarded. Leaks will happen if the layer of silicone sealant is not done right. If you are afraid of this, just get an acrylic 1 piece tank, aka plastic tank. Those don't leak unless a crack appears, but scratch very easily.

[LauHau]

Interesting question. I have one 2ft glass tank given to my from my father in laws and still in operation after about 20yrs. The tank is super heavy, think the glass is of good material and thick, workmanship superb.

[Blue Whale]

I have had about 4 2fts, one of them leaked after 1 year. The other 2 lasted 3 years before I give up on them, no leaks. Last one I am using at the moment. 3ft 4 years until one of parent knock it and cause a leak at the side, no visible damage to the glass though. Generally I would reinforce future tanks from the recent 2ft setup experience. I used the 3ft for 5 years, being the last year I reduced the amount of the water and the leak stops. It ran for another good 1 year.

Silicone itself won't last you forever. People like new things, so they just might decide to buy a new one along the way. It also depends whether you constant dose salt or not. If you have 6mm thick glass and constantly dosing salt, corrosion is bound to happen. You just have to realise it.

[BFG]

Eh, what does salt have to do with silicone? There are tanks used for saltwater aquarium too and they last long using the same silicone as the freshwater ones are.

The important thing to note to help in the longevity of tank is to place them in a correct level place. If you are using a cabinet or a metal stand, make sure it is straight and level. If it is not level and water is added, it would take some time for the silicone to give way, or worst, immediately after the tank is full of water.

Another point to note is to not stress the glass panel by placing items on it or by placing item on 1 side of the glass panel, affecting the weight balance on such glass panel. Given time, 1 side of the glass panel will stretch the silicone more than the other glass panel of the tank.

Workmanship quality is another factor to look into. When accepting a tank delivery, look closely at all the silicone part especially from the outside. If you see any bubbles whether small or large, that is where problems will crop up. Bubbles formed in the silicone area means that area has zero grip on the glass tank and when that bubble increase in size, it will loose the grip and water might seep into it and the tank will fail.

Hope this helps!

[Blue Whale]

Hmm...I was taught that marine tankers prefer to use 8mm and above whilst normal aquatic planting 6mm would suffice.

As I examine the remains of my 3ft, I do get some visible state of corrosion. The fert. base that was deployed is goned basically. It's a 5 years old tank so basically I could tell what I was taught wasn't incorrect. There is no problem with the worksmanship I guess, the tank give way simply because my parent trip, bang into the side of the tank (luckily no glass crack) and kicked the eheim; which I have to dispose it, no choice, body cracked, you can imagine the impact already.

Yes, the part on the stress on one side is understood. It's like common sense already.

[Blue Whale]

BFG,

Because you have known me starting to post since several years back I think you are in good position to discuss this...maybe something more visual.



Would you consider this stand to be iron or metal? It's iron basically. Now I have splash water don't know how many times on the stand itself but noticed that only the front portion shows the corrosion. The corrosion occurs after the tank is leaked.



Next picture is a focus onto the state of corrosion.

Now on any given day, the normal tap water after dechlorinated would most likely do not have salt content. Only the water in the tank have amount of salt, so just base only on this observation, would you not say the salt would have cause the corrosion?

Actually my CO2 tank is also corroded but due to the leak from the eheim. Again, there is visible rust there. But Biotope has help me to fix the tank when I sent it for topping up. =) So you see my point here? Silicone would give way if there is stress on one side like you said. So Silicone vs Corrosion, I don't know actually, I didn't link them up in the previous post. Personally I think silicone is not glue, just a material that prevents water leaks or more like water proofing there.

[BFG]

In this instance, you are wrong. Not only salt water would cause that but even tap water will have similar result. I have used such metal stand before and any water that trickle down the glass and rest on the metal gaps between the styrofoam will also cause the stand to rust. I've even used such cheap tanks too for my cories collection until a wild collected batch decimate the whole population of cories. The tank did not leak and I gave it away.

It doesn't need saltwater to cause rust on the tank stand. Ordinary tap water or even aged aquarium water will also cause rust to appear on such metal stand. By the way, I re-read your reply and nothing was said about tank stand, only tank. Which one are you talking about?

I have had about 4 2fts, one of them leaked after 1 year. The other 2 lasted 3 years before I give up on them, no leaks. Last one I am using at the moment. 3ft 4 years until one of parent knock it and cause a leak at the side, no visible damage to the glass though. Generally I would reinforce future tanks from the recent 2ft setup experience. I used the 3ft for 5 years, being the last year I reduced the amount of the water and the leak stops. It ran for another good 1 year.

Silicone itself won't last you forever. People like new things, so they just might decide to buy a new one along the way. It also depends whether you constant dose salt or not. If you have 6mm thick glass and constantly dosing salt, corrosion is bound to happen. You just have to realise it.

Since now you are talking about tank stand, let me point something out to you. You get what you pay for. In the future, should you be using salts in the tank, get a chenggai or kapur wooden cabinet.

Hope this helps!

[Fuzzy]

The reason marine tanks are usually recommended to be thicker than Freshwater tanks is because aside from the additional few kg of salt in the water, the amount of live rock and substrate in the tanks is usually higher than in any Freshwater setup.

Also like bro BFG mentioned, almost all custom built cabinets for marine tanks are built from tropical hardwoods like Chengal or Kapur timber.

Hmm...I was taught that marine tankers prefer to use 8mm and above whilst normal aquatic planting 6mm would suffice.

As I examine the remains of my 3ft, I do get some visible state of corrosion. The fert. base that was deployed is goned basically. It's a 5 years old tank so basically I could tell what I was taught wasn't incorrect. There is no problem with the worksmanship I guess, the tank give way simply because my parent trip, bang into the side of the tank (luckily no glass crack) and kicked the eheim; which I have to dispose it, no choice, body cracked, you can imagine the impact already.

Yes, the part on the stress on one side is understood. It's like common sense already.

[Blue Whale]

In the future, should you be using salts in the tank, get a chenggai or kapur wooden cabinet.

Hope this helps!

I am looking at rose wood, the two wood you are saying I am not familiar. Might need to research a bit. I kinda branch out a bit here and there, can't say I do not focus, I developed multiple interests, so able to branch out at different pace. Just Solar alone took me 5 years before I started buying the first kit. (Fuzzy, same reply), Ikea catalogue 2009 and 2010 still beside me, did not find something to my liking. Height is always a hinderance.
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Edited to BFG, Fuzzy,
Have noted down with pen and paper. Will look more into these two wood. I will key into my phone, when I walk around will see if it matches these two types and test the hardness, look at the density of the wood.

[tawauboy]

BFG,

... Personally I think silicone is not glue, just a material that prevents water leaks or more like water proofing there.

if it is not a glue, how do the 5 pieces of glass used to make a glass tank stay together? it is both an adhesive and a sealant. however, it is not a permanent adhesive.

other than the 2 types of wood being mentioned, selangan batu is another option that can considered. may not be common here.

[Blue Whale]

The 5 pieces I think they use glue, but the sides uses sealant. I have noticed so far from the different tanks. Anyway we are not tank makers. Yes, I do agree it has adhesive properties but it is still not glue =)

Guys,
I have started a new thread on cabinets. Look forward to your contribution on the woody wood. So far research on wood took me to look into even the rings of the wood itself. I found some interesting facts on chenggai wood too. Tomorrow evening should be able to share more in that thread.
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=64531