Use Tank That Previously Housed Turtles?

HI All,

I ended up purchasing a 165L tank that previously housed two turtles. I wanted to find out if a tank like this will be able to hold the weight of the water to be used as a fish tank? Overall, the tank seems to be on good condition. It's dimensions are:

36"wide x 14"deep x 20" high

Have also attached a picture of it.

Any advice on working out whether it can be used as a fish tank would be great!!

 

It looks pretty sturdy, but lightly bleach it before adding your fish to obviously clean it and kill the bacteria, caused by the former inhabitants.

 

Is it a reptile tank, or an aquarium? If it's a tank designed to house reptiles, the glass may not be strong enough to hold water.

 

The thickness of the glass would be the determining factor of weather its an aquarium or a lizard enclosure.

 

Thanks so much for your reply. I am unsure if it is an aquarium or not. How do you find that out and what thickness should the glass be?

Thanks!!

 

The thickness of the glass would be the determining factor of weather its an aquarium or a lizard enclosure.

Is there a rule of thumb that indicates whether glass thickness is appropriate for holding water? I often see set-ups on Craigslist that were used dry or the owners don't know if they're water tight. If there's a specific measurement to tell that would help.

 

These should help

 

Thanks for that. As you will see in the photo, there's no reinforcement in the bottom of the tank - is that going to be an issue?

 

Not sure what you mean about reinforcement in the bottom of the tank.

 

These should help

Thanks! Very helpful.

 

I guess I meant that the glass in the bottom has no metal ribs running through the centre, which I have seen in other tanks.

I am new to fish so I'm not sure about a lot of things, but want to make sure that I can safely fill this tank up!!

 

I have had a couple of 3 ft tanks that didn't have a brace on the bottom. Usually you see bracing in the 4 ft and bigger tanks, if the glass is thick enough it should be fine.

 

Thanks, I'll see if I can check the thickness of the glass - any advice on the best way to do this?

 

My 75 gallon tank is basically only 5 pieces of glass with a cross brace going across the top in the middle and a rI'm on top and bottom. I don't think ive ever seen a tank with metal cross bracing on the bottom.

 

I guess I meant that the glass in the bottom has no metal ribs running through the centre, which I have seen in other tanks.

I am new to fish so I'm not sure about a lot of things, but want to make sure that I can safely fill this tank up!!

If it's seated on and supported by the wood stand across its entire bottom it should be fine. I think folks get into trouble with tanks on metal frame stands that only support around the edges.

 

A pair of calipers probably would be the most acurate.

 

Is there any sticker on the bottom of the tank? Sometimes the manufacturer will put a note saying that the tank shouldn't be filled with water. You don't happen to know the brand of the tank, do you?

 

None of my tanks rest onthe glass against the stand they are all supported by the outer rim.

 

Is there any sticker on the bottom of the tank? Sometimes the manufacturer will put a note saying that the tank shouldn't be filled with water. You don't happen to know the brand of the tank, do you?

I'm not sure of the brand, will see if I can contact the previous owner to find out.

D

None of my tanks rest onthe glass against the stand they are all supported by the outer rim.

do you mean the tank is only sitting on the stand around the rims?

So sorry for all these stupid questions!!

 

If you do use for fish and don't want to bleach it you can also scrub with aquarium salt. I was always reluctant to bleach.

 

None of my tanks rest onthe glass against the stand they are all supported by the outer rim.

That's good to hear it's not been an issue. How are folks experiencing tanks breaking then - maybe moving them while full with heavy gravel and driftwood? If there's a common thing folks do wrong that results in those breaks I'd like to know so I can avoid it.

 

Personally I would measure it myself instead of taking someone elses word on it. I had an oscar that blew out one side of my 75 gallon tank it was not pretty. Every second hand I bought even if they said it was an aquarium ive measured up myself just for a little more piece of mind.

They brake for many reasons. Probably the biggest one is the tank stand wasn't set up level and had a twist to it which tranfers that stress to the glass which doesn't really like to be twisted. Test filling on an unlevel garage floor will do it as well. Mine broke because I had a big fish smash a ceramic ornament into the side.

 

Personally I would measure it myself instead of taking someone elses word on it. I had an oscar that blew out one side of my 75 gallon tank it was not pretty. Every second hand I bought even if they said it was an aquarium ive measured up myself just for a little more piece of mind.

They brake for many reasons. Probably the biggest one is the tank stand wasn't set up level and had a twist to it which tranfers that stress to the glass which doesn't really like to be twisted. Test filling on an unlevel garage floor will do it as well. Mine broke because I had a big fish smash a ceramic ornament into the side.

Thanks, hopefully I won't have that experience!! When you say "measure it myself", what do you mean? How can I do this?

 

Measure the thickness of the glass via the side of the tank would the piece join. The thickness of the glass + size of the panels will tell you if it can hold water.


I have a 75 gallon turtle tank meant for water/land turtle and it has ticker glass then a normal fish aquarium of the same size.

 

Yea that's definitely thicker than my 75 gallon aquarium. I would asume it would better for the abuse a turtle will put on a tank. That has got to be a heavy tank to move. Lol