25 year old glass 55 safe?

[BradB]

I planned to tear down my tank today to move it a few inches and also remove any gunk settled on the bottom. It has not gone well, it is 1pm and I am still getting everything ready. I used to do this once a year, but I haven't in over a decade.

The plan was to put as much coral and fish into a 55 gallon spare tank that has been sitting in my garage. I just got to thinking that tank (along with a similar sized quarantine) is over 25 years old. It hasn't had water much of that time, but I know old tank can have failures of silicone. A small leak is not an issue, but a catastrophic failure is a risk I don't want to take. How likely is this tank to fail? Can I do anything, such as leaving it full of water in my front yard for a few days, to eliminate risk?

 

[KC2020]

25 year old silicone is probably pretty dried out. You could remove the seal inside the panes of glass with a razor blade and run a new, wide bead pretty easily. Let it cure 24 hours and then test the tank.

Or a couple of 20 gal Brute trash cans to hold everything for a day instead of the old tanks.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Even Costco storage tubs work

 

[ryanjohn1]

I probably wouldn’t do it and I like to live dangerously.

 

[Uncle99]

I’d water test it, inspect for cracks, then if good, I’d use that.

 

[Ironwill723]

It will be fine unless the silicone looks like it is gone or pealed away. You're not using a slate bottom metal rimmed tank with tarred seams that dry out.

 

[KrisReef]

I’m old but my seals are still reliable.

Fill it out side and see

 

[exnisstech]

All this to move it a few inches? If I had a tank that old holding water the only move I would make is to replace it. But I wouldn't have a problem leaving it up I just wouldn't move it.
EDIT: any images? I love looking at mature tanks.

 

[KrisReef]

All this to move it a few inches?

What?

EDIT: any images? I love looking at mature tanks.

This is a family site. Mature content is highly frowned upon by the community and the mods. Viewer discretion is advised?

Images are subject to evaluation.

 

[GARRIGA]

Some shops have 40 year old tanks. Leak test it for a weak if getting a large temporary tub not an option. Those old rimmed tanks were built literally like Tanks

 

[BeanAnimal]

25 year old silicone is probably pretty dried out. You could remove the seal inside the panes of glass with a razor blade and run a new, wide bead pretty easily. Let it cure 24 hours and then test the tank.

A few notes:

New silicone does not bond well to dried silicone. With that in mind, the "bead" of silicone inside of the tank does very little other than add insurance for leaks and a bit of protection for the actual mechanical joint. What holds the aquarium together under the pressure of the water is the thin layer of silicone sandwiched between the panel joints.

If the silicone is old and lost its functional properties (I am not sure to what it extend it does or did sitting in the garage) then the concern would be the mechanical joints and not the superficial bead around the inside perimeter.

So in a nutshell... if He's dead, Jim... He's dead!

 

[GARRIGA]

A few notes:

New silicone does not bond well to dried silicone. With that in mind, the "bead" of silicone inside of the tank does very little other than add insurance for leaks and a bit of protection for the actual mechanical joint. What holds the aquarium together under the pressure of the water is the thin layer of silicone sandwiched between the panel joints.

If the silicone is old and lost its functional properties (I am not sure to what it extend it does or did sitting in the garage) then the concern would be the mechanical joints and not the superficial bead around the inside perimeter.

So in a nutshell... if He's dead, Jim... He's dead!

Seen a YouTuber take the rim off and have the tank explode on them. Would it be fair to say a weak without leaks brings some insurance. What I’ve always known and I agree. How that tank was stored matters although not sure what conditions being detrimental such as perhaps dry heat. Guessing stuck in a Florida garage in dark and humid conditions likely helps. No clue. Why I ask although feel that leak test says a lot.

 

[KC2020]

A few notes:

New silicone does not bond well to dried silicone. With that in mind, the "bead" of silicone inside of the tank does very little other than add insurance for leaks and a bit of protection for the actual mechanical joint. What holds the aquarium together under the pressure of the water is the thin layer of silicone sandwiched between the panel joints.

OK good to know. I guess the 2 times I did this with an old tank the original seal was still good.

 

[BeanAnimal]

OK good to know. I guess the 2 times I did this with an old tank the original seal was still good.

I would assume so if you dod not have a failure.

Silicone is a pretty amazing material. When it cures, the molecules crosslink and form a network solid via covalent bonds.

There really are not many things that can easily break these bonds down.

Extreme temperatures (far outside if your storage temps) can. Extremely organic solvents or strong acids or bases (in some cases) can weaken the bonds as well, but nothing to be found during storage. The same with strong oxidizers. The two biggest risk are prolonged UV exposure and fungal or microbial activity.

 

[BradB]

25 year old silicone is probably pretty dried out. You could remove the seal inside the panes of glass with a razor blade and run a new, wide bead pretty easily. Let it cure 24 hours and then test the tank.

Or a couple of 20 gal Brute trash cans to hold everything for a day instead of the old tanks.

I also plan to use three 32 gal trash cans. Fish and coral IMO are better off in the 55 gallon, and I have a 270, so I need all the water storage I can get.

 

[BradB]

It will be fine unless the silicone looks like it is gone or pealed away. You're not using a slate bottom metal rimmed tank with tarred seams that dry out.

The tank is completely glass and plastic and looks exactly like it did when I got it.

 

[BradB]

All this to move it a few inches? If I had a tank that old holding water the only move I would make is to replace it. But I wouldn't have a problem leaving it up I just wouldn't move it.
EDIT: any images? I love looking at mature tanks.

I am moving a 20 year old 270 gallon acrylic tank a few inches, but also removing accumulated detritus. The first few years I had this tank, not only would I drain it like this, but I'd carry it to the back yard and use muriatic acid to remove any coralline and then put it back exactly where it was. I might move to another house in a year or so, that will be the time for a new tank.

 

[BradB]

Seen a YouTuber take the rim off and have the tank explode on them. Would it be fair to say a weak without leaks brings some insurance. What I’ve always known and I agree. How that tank was stored matters although not sure what conditions being detrimental such as perhaps dry heat. Guessing stuck in a Florida garage in dark and humid conditions likely helps. No clue. Why I ask although feel that leak test says a lot.

This was in a garage, but in Ohio. It doesn't get that hot, and is always humid, but it does get cold in winter.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Wow, I can’t see taking down a 50 gallon tank once a year to clean it, let alone an 270. That’s a ton of work but I guess if works for you that is all that matters.