How old is your large tank?

[afboundguy]

Looking at a dream tank of over 200 gallons through probably a custom tank manufacturer like Glasscages and curious how long people have had their 200+ gallon tanks last? I know Glasscages has a 3 year warranty if you buy their stand (1 year without their stand and have to prove the stand tank is going on is level and can support it) but curious how long I should expect a large tank with eurobracing with center supports and a rim to last?

 

[MarkSzy]

I’m no expert but I bought my 200 used and it was a well used tank, I have been running it for 3 years now after however long the previous owner was using it.

 

[Spaceman]

10years is my limit on glass tank. Google says 5- 15 but I haven't seen a silicone they use yet that says longer then 10years life. Red sea had failure of panels seams after 2 years in most cases I know of. Also a tank warrenty is basically nothing nowadays they cover just the tank if it leaks. This is directly from there site.
Warranty is limited to aquarium only and does not include, bulkheads, lids, hinges and overflow cover(s), aquatic life loss, personal injury, property loss indirect or direct, incidental or consequential damage arising out of use of aquarium.
Glass cages also offers a extended warranty and at max warranty you pay covers buying the tank twice for there longest warrenty. Kinda a hey it's gonna fail and we will replace it as your already paid for it is how I felt.
I went acrylic it will last the longest has best warrenty and can fix scratches and its bulletproof for a 9mm. Also acrylic is 2x as clear as the clearest glass imo.

 

[nickng]

10years is my limit on glass tank. Google says 5- 15 but I haven't seen a silicone they use yet that says longer then 10years life. Red sea had failure of panels seams after 2 years in most cases I know of. Also a tank warrenty is basically nothing nowadays they cover just the tank if it leaks. This is directly from there site.
Warranty is limited to aquarium only and does not include, bulkheads, lids, hinges and overflow cover(s), aquatic life loss, personal injury, property loss indirect or direct, incidental or consequential damage arising out of use of aquarium.
Glass cages also offers a extended warranty and at max warranty you pay covers buying the tank twice for there longest warrenty. Kinda a hey it's gonna fail and we will replace it as your already paid for it is how I felt.
I went acrylic it will last the longest has best warrenty and can fix scratches and its bulletproof for a 9mm. Also acrylic is 2x as clear as the clearest glass imo.

Hi, I’m curious about acrylic tanks too for my next 200+ gallon tank. Everyone I met says it scratches easily. I’ve seen the large one at Tropic Isle that houses their resident emperor angel. It has scratches but then again it is a very old tank. I’ve also seen public aquariums with huge acrylic panels and they don’t seem to be too badly scratched. Wonder what’s your take?
On the other hand if a glass aquarium is fully framed top and bottom and also framed on every side edge like the photo below.. will it last for 20-30 years?

 

[Cpage101]

my all glass 120g had to be over 20 years old

 

[nickng]

my all glass 120g had to be over 20 years old

Is it framed or eurobraced? And ever leaked or needed patching the silicone?

 

[Cpage101]

Is it framed or eurobraced? And ever leaked or needed patching the silicone?

framed and someone else is now running it. never leaked. silicone could’ve been redone, but it still never leaked and never had any issues.

 

[kgstei]

I’m no expert but I bought my 200 used and it was a well used tank, I have been running it for 3 years now after however long the previous owner was using it.

And I'm happy it's still going good. Love to see what it looks like!

 

[JBendel]

180 gal, euro bracing, ~ 18yrs, Glass Cages, no problems

 

[NeverlosT]

my 300 is still young, but with armored seams, 3/4" glass, PVC bottom, 3/4" eurobraced top, Stainless steel frames... this thing should last 15-20 years easy.

I already scratched the starphire in a few spots and it now haunts me but I am sure over a decade it'll get more...

 

[Spaceman]

Hi, I’m curious about acrylic tanks too for my next 200+ gallon tank. Everyone I met says it scratches easily. I’ve seen the large one at Tropic Isle that houses their resident emperor angel. It has scratches but then again it is a very old tank. I’ve also seen public aquariums with huge acrylic panels and they don’t seem to be too badly scratched. Wonder what’s your take?
On the other hand if a glass aquarium is fully framed top and bottom and also framed on every side edge like the photo below.. will it last for 20-30 years?

So there is many factors to consider with acrylic and most that have never had it say it scratches easy. Plastic razor blades make cleaning acrylic easy imo. I have no sand and started with dry rock so no real rock crumbles. My tank is 1inch think so a normal mag cleaner is a joke and floats away a mightmag works awesome with micro fiber on the outside and a magic eraser on the inside. I dont run sand and yes there is scratch or 2 in the tank from idk what but a viewing panel 10feet wide and 3 feet tall 13feet away I dont see anything that makes me go darn.

Acrylic bonds to acrylic and imo is almost a permanent bond. Glass to glass has to have silicone. Silicone has a shelf life of 30years max and sitting under saltwater that is abrasive on its own add extra stong reef light stimulating the sun its going to cut down its life also add the fact you can accidentally remove Silicone very easily with a metal scraper.

Those tropic Isle tanks have to be 40years old and so scratched because some one cleaning it used a blue pad not a white one and scratched it bad is my guess. A well taken care of acrylic is beautiful in 10 years. When choosing the acrylic tank maker take in to consideration the thickness there suggesting can always go thicker and plan for a buff in 10years and have a new tank again..

Glass also scratches and Is not fixable imo.

 

[nickng]

So there is many factors to consider with acrylic and most that have never had it say it scratches easy. Plastic razor blades make cleaning acrylic easy imo. I have no sand and started with dry rock so no real rock crumbles. My tank is 1inch think so a normal mag cleaner is a joke and floats away a mightmag works awesome with micro fiber on the outside and a magic eraser on the inside. I dont run sand and yes there is scratch or 2 in the tank from idk what but a viewing panel 10feet wide and 3 feet tall 13feet away I dont see anything that makes me go darn.

Acrylic bonds to acrylic and imo is almost a permanent bond. Glass to glass has to have silicone. Silicone has a shelf life of 30years max and sitting under saltwater that is abrasive on its own add extra stong reef light stimulating the sun its going to cut down its life also add the fact you can accidentally remove Silicone very easily with a metal scraper.

Those tropic Isle tanks have to be 40years old and so scratched because some one cleaning it used a blue pad not a white one and scratched it bad is my guess. A well taken care of acrylic is beautiful in 10 years. When choosing the acrylic tank maker take in to consideration the thickness there suggesting can always go thicker and plan for a buff in 10years and have a new tank again..

Glass also scratches and Is not fixable imo.

Really appreciate your taking the time to explain things to me in detail. The fact that those acrylic tanks at Tropic Isle are so old impresses me about the durability of those tanks. Also you mentioned plastic razor blades, where do you get those and what do you use? Will a tunze scraper work? Like this but without the metal razor blades https://www.tunze.com/en/details/0222.025-care-magnet-strong.html
Lastly where did you get your acrylic aquarium? I don’t know which builder have good experience with making acrylic aquariums.

 

[nickng]

my 300 is still young, but with armored seams, 3/4" glass, PVC bottom, 3/4" eurobraced top, Stainless steel frames... this thing should last 15-20 years easy.

I already scratched the starphire in a few spots and it now haunts me but I am sure over a decade it'll get more...

Wow do you have a picture of the tank with the stainless steel frame. Who’s the builder?

 

[NeverlosT]

Acrylic and Glass Exhibits (AGE) in Texas. This is the 2nd tank they have made for me.

Pics in my build thread:
build thread (look in early pages)

 

[cilyjr]

Hey Dave,
My old 180 in Rhode Island was made in 2002 and I took it down and sold it when I moved out here in 2018, as far as I know it's still running.

I am having The 470 gallon built by Glass Cages, here's what he said about the warranty. 1 year if you do not buy their stand but, he said if it fails it would be in the 1st 90 days and it would be caused by it sitting on a not completely flat surface. He was very clear. Doesn't need to be level. It needs to be completely flat, meaning if you've got a large tank and there's a slight twist in the top of the stand that could cause an issue.

 

[cilyjr]

Acrylic and Glass Exhibits (AGE) in Texas. This is the 2nd tank they have made for me.

Pics in my build thread:
build thread (look in early pages)

Hey Ben, if that is Ian Apple's company, that I am pretty sure that they are now merged with Planet aquarium also in Texas. I believe he is now the lead manufacturer there. Which likely means you will get the same quality tank.

 

[Nanoreef15]

my previous large tank was a 29g . (over 10 years ago)