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	Really Really Old Tank.
bettachris Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3875 Kudos: 4173 Votes: 452 Registered: 13-Jun-2004	i was given an OLD metal sytle 5 gallon tank. i have some concern on the rust in the tank. the tank is in bad shape with dirt and stuff, but it does hold water. is there anything that can happen to the fish due to rust?
Posted 01-Aug-2006 00:12
keithgh Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003	I think a bit of common sense applies here very well. If you are a bit concerned dont bother with it as it is. You have no idea how deep the rust is and how long the sealant will last (if very old thr glass could be held in with putty.) You would have no hope of removing all the glass with out breaking it and reusing it. You would have to do a full pull down then repair the rust and any other problem. buy new glass and reseal it. *Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info* Look here for my Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos Keith Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do. I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT? VOTE NOW VOTE NOW
Posted 01-Aug-2006 01:54
OldTimer Mega Fish USAF Retired Posts: 1181 Kudos: 1294 Votes: 809 Registered: 08-Feb-2005	Not really worth the effort to save it is it? Like Keith said a lot more problems than it's worth. The cost to get even a new 5 gallon tank has got to be less that $10 and I know you can get 10 gallon tanks at WalMart for less thanb $10, at least the one near me, so why go through all the headache? Jim Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain
Posted 01-Aug-2006 03:02
Calilasseia Ultimate Fish Guru Panda Funster Posts: 5496 Kudos: 2828 Votes: 731 Registered: 10-Feb-2003	It's salvageable. But you'll expend some effort (and possibly some mooney) doing it. If you want to keep it and set up a 'historical' aquarium (which is the sort of mad project I'd engage in if it was mine) then you could go to the trouble of de-rusting it and resealing it with modern sealants to make sure that nothing unpleasant entered any water that yui put in it. The question you have to ask yourself is, given the above (namely byuing a complete new modern aquarium that's twice the size could cost you less) do you want to do it? If you do, then I'd advise that you give the frame a thorough treatment with rust remover, then rinse it out MANY times to make sure the rust remover chemicals are gone, then seal EVERY possible source of water on metal contact with a top quality epoxy resin. To test its soundness, pop in a couple of feeder fishes once you've given it a basic set up, and if the feeders show signs of some kind of poisoning, then your efforts will probably have been in vain. But, if they live for a while in it, then the chances are your efforts will have produced a sound aquarium. At that point you can start looking around for projects that would press it into service in a historically accurate fashion (though if you go to the lengths of making your own undergravel filter in the tool shed the way aquarists did in the 40s then you'll invite some comments you probably don't want from a lot of people!). Get a copy of the old Innes book and have a look at some of the pics in there, then do something silly with it like put in a pair of White Clouds and some Hornwort for that authentic 1940s look! Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002
Posted 01-Aug-2006 03:29
Posted 01-Aug-2006 03:56	This post has been deleted
wish-ga Mega Fish Dial 1800-Positive-Posts Posts: 1198 Kudos: 640 Registered: 07-Aug-2001	I wouldn't risk an old tank. The thought of it leaking and ruining homewares/floors (& trust/confidence of those you live with!) is just too much.... Imagine if they saw the havoc a small tank causes with a blowout and say to get rid of the big tanks? eeeek. Nup no can do on the rehabilitate/recycle ye olde tanke. I wouldn't visit that neighbourhood. I would cut costs other ways. {regards rust: I don't like the thought of that in with my wishies, I don't have the chemistry to say why, just gut instinct... has stood me in good stead so far though...aaaand the magic 8 ball} ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~
Posted 01-Aug-2006 03:57


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