Lifespan of an aquarium?

[Stomatopods17]

Now that my main display (125g) has been up and running for 8 years, I wonder if its worth investing in or if the integrity of it will eventually give. I have a few large soft coral but slowly picked away rock/frags for other tank builds and now I wonder if its even worth replacing or adding additional livestock or begin the emergency tank to transfer everything once the seals break. I heard 10 is the standard for when silicone fails.

How long do you think tanks typically can last? What's the tank doomsday signs and how can the timer be reset? What's the longest standing tank you still have? Do you think I should just salvage what's good still and abandon the tank or continue to replace old equipment and get new coral?

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

This is going to vary wildly. Going to need more ground rules in place. Acrylic vs Glass. Rimless vs Rimmed. etc

 

[Stomatopods17]

This is going to vary wildly. Going to need more ground rules in place. Acrylic vs Glass. Rimless vs Rimmed. etc

Mine is a rimmed silicone glass.

 

[Potatohead]

Mine is a rimmed silicone glass.

20+ years

 

[Brian_68]

My 125 rimmed glass tank is over 20 years now.

 

[fish farmer]

My 29 gallon is 13.

I had an Odell tank 120 gallon from the late 1900's, that was bought and moved from Florida in 2002. I took it down a couple years ago. Still held water.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

20+ years

Yup. I'm using a 25g display for a sump that's at least 20 years old.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

20+ years.
My oldest tank is 17 years old
Glass and Silicone can last many decades if maintained properly, no need to worry.

 

[Vette67]

My 75 gallon tank was purchased new in 1998 and has been set up ever since. 25 years now. I see no evidence of the silicone bubbling or separating. But my 75 is in my basement, so I don’t care as much. My 180, on the other hand, was purchased new in 2002. So going on 21 years old. As much as I’d like to replace the 180, it too shows no signs of the glass or silicon breaking down. Now the plastic center braces are another story, I’ve had to reinforce them with 2 part epoxy because they are showing signs of stress cracks.

 

[dennis romano]

I bought my fifty gallon tank used in 1979, so 40+ years

 

[death-by-reef]

My mom has a ten gallon rimmed glass that was handed down from her father that lasted 40+ years. Fishkeeping is in the family

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I bought my fifty gallon tank used in 1979, so 40+ years

That's a testament to quality or luck!

 

[albano]

My mom has a ten gallon rimmed glass that was handed down from her father that lasted 40+ years. Fishkeeping is in the family

Fun fact.. I also have an OLD 10g tank… it weighs about 3X as much of my newer 10g tanks!

 

[dennis romano]

That's a testament to quality or luck!

Here it is. I also have a 125 that I bought in the 1980s that currently houses cichlids. That tank sat empty in a backyard for 9 years.

 

[Brian_68]

My 75 gallon tank was purchased new in 1998 and has been set up ever since. 25 years now. I see no evidence of the silicone bubbling or separating. But my 75 is in my basement, so I don’t care as much. My 180, on the other hand, was purchased new in 2002. So going on 21 years old. As much as I’d like to replace the 180, it too shows no signs of the glass or silicon breaking down. Now the plastic center braces are another story, I’ve had to reinforce them with 2 part epoxy because they are showing signs of stress cracks.

For my 125 I covered the braces with white plastic trim so the UV and intense light did not destroy them as well. Seems to work so far after 20 plus years.

 

[Vette67]

For my 125 I covered the braces with white plastic trim so the UV and intense light did not destroy them as well. Seems to work so far after 20 plus years.

Yeah, there’s no doubt that 20+ years of halides are what toasted mine. I’ve rebuilt the parts that cracked. At least so far it seems to be holding. Only time will tell!

 

[xxjamesjohnxx1]

My dad has a tank that is over 25 years old. Once every few years has has a die off and the tank sits empty. I'll clean it and reset it every few years. It's a 150 gallon. I plan on taking it over and using it once I get my house.

 

[albano]

My dad has a tank that is over 25 years old. Once every few years has has a die off and the tank sits empty. I'll clean it and reset it every few years. It's a 150 gallon. I plan on taking it over and using it once I get my house.

That’s not normal… something is being done incorrectly

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I say 20+ years, if you maintain a tank properly it can last a while

 

[James Bardwell]

If you can see thin air bubbles developing in the silicone replace it, you have several months after that happens before a catastrophic seam failure in my experience