Buying Used Tank - What to Look For??

[jcm1229]

I've only bought new tanks until now, but just picked up a used ("unconventional size") tank since that is the only way I could get that size. I got it from a Saltwater shop where it once was a display tank.

I obviously did a visual inspection and there were no abnormalities, chips etc ...

But what else should one do??

I'll do a water test, but how long should I leave the water in it - 1 hour? 1 day?

I visually inspected the seams/seals.

What else should one do when purchasing a used tank?

Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

I would never buy a used tank again. The bottom line is that you have no idea how old that tank is or what condition the seals are in. My tank failed two years after I bought it used. What a mess and hassle.

 

[Ben1]

Was it a FOWLR display for reef display, if FOWLR be sure no copper was used in it. Also if it sat dry for a long time it may need the silicon scraped and replaced.

 

[Anonymous]

I would never buy a used tank again. The bottom line is that you have no idea how old that tank is or what condition the seals are in. My tank failed two years after I bought it used. What a mess and hassle.

I agree.

 

[Anonymous]

Was it a FOWLR display for reef display, if FOWLR be sure no copper was used in it. Also if it sat dry for a long time it may need the silicon scraped and replaced.

Before this was common knowledge I kept corals in a tank that was treated with copper without any ill effects to note. I am not sold on the copper in the silicone theory.

 

[Petsolutions]

Anemonebuff, my experience is the same as yours regarding copper, only I did it to myself before I knew any better. When I was a younger and less experienced lad, I had a fish only tank that I ran copper in several times over a period of a year. I then decided I wanted to keep inverts and corals, so all I did was drain the water, pull out the crushed coral, and add sand, rock, corals, inverts over the next few weeks. Ran that tank for years, didn't have any issues. Despite that, I wouldn't do that again, as I may have just gotten lucky.

 

[Anonymous]

I did the same thing. I had FO and treated with copper and that fish I was treating back then has been in my tank 13 years. I did not drain the tank either, I did some water changes, added more rock, and added soft corals. I still have some of the original rocks in my tank today.