- 20,002
- 11,120
I have a 15g fish tank that's 11 years old. Should I be worrying about thr adheisive breaking down soon? Whats the average age of aquariums?
Can 11-year-old aquarium adhesive fail and when do tanks typically break down?
- Thread starter Greg Bernhardt
- Start date
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
15 replies · 15K views
Discussion
CrystalStudios
I would definitely recommend not using an 11 year old aquarium. The condition it has been in, temperature-wise, could have certainly loosened the adhesive. I don't know of any set age they last, but I wouldn't really use it just to be safe.
eNtRopY
As a salesman of aquariums I would say yes, it is definitely time for you to buy a new aquarium. You see the there is a basic flaw in the design of standard aquariums. They don't go gradually. They just go! One day you're relaxing in your living room enjoying the serenity that your tropical fish bring you... and all of a sudden * BOOM * the adhesives give resulting in a blast of glass fragments and blinding light. I never forget the summer of '98, there was an aquarium explosion just fifty miles away from my house, but we still felt the shockwave. I think somebody made a documentary about it... or maybe that was the eruption of Mt Saint Helens. Anyway, buy a new aquarium before someone gets hurt!
eNtRopY
cmdr_sponge
depends if u kept fish in your aquarium. if it has just been sitting on floor for 11 years it should be fine. unless dust mites have eaten the adhesive.
The Grimmus
- 199
- 0
you could try renforcing it with some crazy glue on bother sides...It's Caaa razy
- 20,002
- 11,120
Could I do something like this? Also, do they really shatter? I thought they might just leak.
Andy
- 76
- 14
I thought they just leaked, i always understood it to be safe. but also a good idea to fill the tank up with water and leave it for several days without anything else in it to see if the tank leaks or not.
cmdr_sponge
we need more information about the aquarium. has it been in use for 11 years or not? has it had hot or cold water in it? how regularly has it been cleaned? has it ever been sat on by a white rhino?
The Grimmus
- 199
- 0
No,no prably not but if it is going to fall apart your should try it anyway...then throw rocks at it because breaking glass is fun
- 20,002
- 11,120
It's been in use all 11 years with cold freshwater. I just drained it and will start to clean it up. It shows no signs of leaks and really was never moved or touched when in use. It's 15 gallons.
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
Gold Member
- 5,629
- 1,778
Date of manufacture? Anything commercial from the last twenty or thirty years should last longer than you will --- if it's something assembled by a hobbyist in the first half of the twentieth century, take it to a landfill. Eleven years for any of the major mfgs. is just getting properly broken in --- enjoy.
Mattius_
- 8
- 0
there is so much to aquariums that i never knew...
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
- 8,252
- 2,666
But then there is the ole risk-benefit ratio to be considered.
If you keep the old one, how much are you saving and how much are you risking?
Andy
- 76
- 14
he sint ricking anything because he already has the fishtank its just a question as to whether it still holds water or not.
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
- 8,252
- 2,666
To keep the old tank...
Risk: 15 gallons of H2O and some fish on the floor, table, desk, or maybe your dresser and clothes, or even into an electrical systems causing a fire...
Benefit: Value of one 15 gallon fish tank.
Of course, being new is no guarantee that something won't fail.
Last edited:
Andy
- 76
- 14
Anyone with anysense would put the tank somewhere where it couldn't cause any damage if it leaked whilst they test it to see if it still holds water. Then he can see if it does hold water if it doesn't then chuck it away if it does then keep it and save the money that you would have spent on a new tank, or spend that on beer!