Fishkeeper's Worst Nightmares?

Yeah your right. I baught a 20 gallon 10 minuts ago

 

Just to answer and hopefully clarify some questions and concerns that have been posted on this thread.

The little bubbles in the side seams are perfectly normal. You have nothing to worry about.

As far as integrity over time. It is recommended to reseal or replace your tank every 10-15 years. Smaller tanks will last longer. Resealing a tank isn't that large of a task, and pretty easy if you take your time. Just make sure you use the correct materials. There are plenty of videos online explaining how to do this.

 

Glass tanks require all four sides and corners to be fully supported on a flat surface.
If it's not that way, one or all the corners will eventually give out.

 

Hey at the very least you've got a new Aquarium that you shouldn't have to worry about for quite some time, plus you get to setup the environment better than before

 

If your tank is near any electronics or you have young kids that throw things, acrylic is the way to go. I have 690 total gallons of glass tanks in my fish room (were a spill is more of a mishap, than a major problem) ALL of which bought new. And 770 total gallon of acrylic in the house, all of which I bought used. No leaks in any of them (so far). The main problem with glass is when it's moved and has to resettle in it's now spot. That's when most leaks and mishaps occur. Glass don't bend, and acrylic does! I had a LFS in the same location for 26 years, it had 220 glass tanks up and running the whole time with only 12 leakers in 26 years! If I would of moved them around, I would have had at least 25% to 30% leakers. As far as acrylic, I've seen 1 real leaker ever. I only use the name brands of tanks. My oldest tank is a 38 years old acrylic 100 gallon, that's in great shape
. SOO you fishloreans figure it out.

 

If your tank is near any electronics or you have young kids that throw things, acrylic is the way to go. I have 690 total gallons of glass tanks in my fish room (were a spill is more of a mishap, than a major problem) ALL of which bought new. And 770 total gallon of acrylic in the house, all of which I bought used. No leaks in any of them (so far). The main problem with glass is when it's moved and has to resettle in it's now spot. That's when most leaks and mishaps occur. Glass don't bend, and acrylic does! I had a LFS in the same location for 26 years, it had 220 glass tanks up and running the whole time with only 12 leakers in 26 years! If I would of moved them around, I would have had at least 25% to 30% leakers. As far as acrylic, I've seen 1 real leaker ever. I only use the name brands of tanks. My oldest tank is a 38 years old acrylic 100 gallon, that's in great shapeView attachment 420690 . SOO you fishloreans figure it out.

Like I had said before.
It depends on how well it was made and by whom AKA Brand Name.
Some can last a lifetime if properly made and maintained nothing more nothing less.

 

This post is still relevant. I think some users who are new to this site should have a read

 

There is a lot of good info here for sure. I must add though that every tank I own now, other than my big display that was in cold storage for more than 10 years, was picked up used and most are flea market/craigslist with no history. When in doubt reseal and if the integrity is in any question cut apart and rebuild. If your not skilled at that you should start with tanks that really should just be tossed because the initial cost plus the re-seal or rebuild cost is close to getting a tank on a dollar a gallon sale. You come away with the experience and if you're even more adventurous you can use those tanks to learn how to drill as well. I'm cutting apart a known good, but I find iffy, 120 I got for a song. I'm going to rebuild it with my first external overflow. It's out in the shed sprayed down with WD-40 so when I finally find the time it will nearly pull apart by hand. I couldn't have fathomed doing such a thing to a usable tank 20 years ago.

 

Fissh I’m new to acrylic what do you use to scrape the algae off? I have the magnetic scraper for acrylic but it’s useless. Also is there a way to remove scratches from the inside of the tank while full? Thanks.

 

The following is an EXACT QUOTE from what ought to be the worst book ever (the worst of the quotes, there is a chapter full of this nonsense).

"There used to be in the window of a jewelry store, in an Ohio town, an ordinary glass fish globe, in which lived and thrived a saucy little brook trout."
"It is a great mistake to suppose that it is necessary to change the water in the aquarium every few days. The tank should be so arranged as to seldom if ever require a change of water. This is not difficult to obtain."
"The author has a tank 25 inches long, 11 inches wide and 12 inches high-far too narrow and deep; but these defects have been, in a measure, overcome by filling it only 2/3 full of water, and allowing the green vegetation to grow undisturbed upon three sides of the aquarium; the retaining side is kept clean by rubbing off all vegetable matter once a week with a long-handled bottle-washer. But one of the inmates has died since last summer, and that was a bachelor stickleback, who probably received a nip from the pinchers of one of the craw-fish. two of these creatures have their den in the rockery that occupies the centere of the tank. A German carp, from the Washington breeding farm browses all daylong upon the mossy surface of the rocks, or roots around the bottom, taking great mouthfuls of sand an then puffing it out again like smoke. a striped dace spends most of his time lying flat upon his stomach. a big and a little "killie" dart aroundafter the boat-bugs, which the seldom catch. A diminative pond-bass assorts his authority over the larger fish in a most tyrannous manner. an eel lives under the sand in the bottom."

 

wow

 

What book is that from?

 

The americ
an boy's handy book centennial edition

 

The author was born in 1850 and wrote the book in 1882. Different times indeed.

At that time, folks would go to the river and catch stuff, and just put it into a glass container.

There was controversy at that time because some folks found that you must change the water every few days.

But sometimes, certain fish (like this brook trout) would survive in this environment with water changes only done rarely like the author describes. That is where goldfish came from too. The selection of fish that can survive in bowls!

He found that all of the extra plants helped. They provided the oxygen and cleaned the water. He was on to something actually, since we know how and why that works now.