Can a old reptile tank safely be used?

Miller535 · Mar 9, 2020

I have a 29 gallon tank that I let my son use for his ball python. He used it for his ball python that my wife humorously named Monty (Monty the python). Monty lived in this tank for several years but has passed. I cleaned it out and would like to use it as a QT tank. Is there any reason why I couldn't use it? Or why it wouldn't be safe now? Is there any special cleaning I would have to use? Other then letting some vinegar water run though it, maybe followed by some prime.

MichaelReefer · Mar 9, 2020

Only problem I could think of is the effects of a heater (if you ran one) on the silicone?

robbyg · Mar 9, 2020

Not worth it in my opinion. You can pick up a new tank for cheap and have piece of mind that 29 gallons of water won’t leak onto your floor. Silicone can get hard and brittle with age, so why take a chance.

Waterislife · Mar 9, 2020

No reptile pee makes that tank unusable for fish.

Miller535 · Mar 9, 2020

robbyg said:
Not worth it in my opinion. You can pick up a new tank for cheap and have piece of mind that 29 gallons of water won’t leak onto your floor. Silicone can get hard and brittle with age, so why take a chance.

Think that;s what I am going to do. It looks like petco is doing their $1 per gallon sale now.

lapin · Mar 9, 2020

I am polishing out a 200 gallon acrylic tank for parks and wildlife. They want to do native fishes. It had turtles and has some nice scratches. I see no issues with using it.

Quietman · Mar 9, 2020

Several years...silicone does have a life expectancy - 10 years before a reseal. Probably not worth for a 29 gallon tank but resealing the silicone (not the joint silicone) would probably be a good idea.

But as has been noted...not worth the effort. Be great for all those homeless pythons in the world. Give a snake a home.

User1 · Mar 9, 2020

You mentioned 29 gallon tank but not if it is an aquarium / fish or reptile tank. They are different due to the glass thickness. Aquarium / fish = water so built using thicker glass. Reptile tanks by nature are thinner thus weaker.

Other than that - you have plenty of good advise here but wanted to pass along the difference on glass.

SeaSickness · Mar 9, 2020

Better safe than sorry, so replace the tank.

Sailingeric · Mar 9, 2020

saf1 said:
You mentioned 29 gallon tank but not if it is an aquarium / fish or reptile tank. They are different due to the glass thickness. Aquarium / fish = water so built using thicker glass. Reptile tanks by nature are thinner thus weaker.

Other than that - you have plenty of good advise here but wanted to pass along the difference on glass.

That is what I was going to say, fish tank used for reptiles ok but not the othe way around due to thinkness of the glass

Miller535 · Mar 9, 2020

saf1 said:
You mentioned 29 gallon tank but not if it is an aquarium / fish or reptile tank. They are different due to the glass thickness. Aquarium / fish = water so built using thicker glass. Reptile tanks by nature are thinner thus weaker.

Other than that - you have plenty of good advise here but wanted to pass along the difference on glass.

It is an aquarium, not a reptile tank.

Miller535 · Mar 9, 2020

Quietman said:
Several years...silicone does have a life expectancy - 10 years before a reseal. Probably not worth for a 29 gallon tank but resealing the silicone (not the joint silicone) would probably be a good idea.

But as has been noted...not worth the effort. Be great for all those homeless pythons in the world. Give a snake a home.

I have wondered about seals. As my DT is going on 8 years.

Quietman · Mar 9, 2020

Miller535 said:
I have wondered about seals. As my DT is going on 8 years.

It's not a hard and fast rule. I wouldn't tear down a tank for it unless I noticed the seals deteriorating. But if I was starting up an older tank I would definitely consider it.

Mincal81 · Mar 25, 2020

This is a tough one because it's a quarantine tank. I would assume there isn't going to be much in it besides a fish or two at a time. Plus if you're running hang on back filtration and basic heater I'd say can it be stripped down and made safe for fish use? Yes. If you're looking for something to do while we are all spending a lot more time at home, go for it. But it you want a QT up and running quickly, I'd say just go buy the tank. *Applause* for Quarantine tank though!