How Long do Tanks last? Reply with your experiences and opinions.

[enlighten]

I want to know it all, any insight would be extremely helpful, even the smallest one. I just want to know what I am getting into costwise to size as well as longevity. Can tanks really last forever? Seriously, any input on the subject is very much appreciated.

 

[fishywishy]

Mine last a year or 2 until i lose most of my fish from some sort of disease.

so make sure to quarantine your fish.

 

[Dan_P]

I want to know it all, any insight would be extremely helpful, even the smallest one. I just want to know what I am getting into costwise to size as well as longevity. Can tanks really last forever? Seriously, any input on the subject is very much appreciated.

An aquarium can last forever, but an aquarist’s interest rarely does. A hobby is typically a short term interest, several years at best. Rarely is it a life-long passion.

If you think an aquarium could be a long term interest, keep in mind that an aquarium like a car has parts that wear out. Regular maintenance separates long from short term aquaria. Another, rarely discussed topic is the carrying capacity of the aquarium.

The aquarium carrying capacity is how many healthy organisms it can support. This number declines with aquarium age because the initial stock grows larger. Unless coral are harvested and fish die or are removed, the carrying capacity is exceeded and the system declines. Given today’s trend to overstock new aquaria, possibly all aquaria today are destined to exceed the carrying capacity in 2-3 years.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I'm currently using a tank I got in 2006, its been in use for 18 years and I have no concerns at all. A tank that's maintained properly should easily last decades.

 

[Bruttall]

The reef is about 18 months old, the tank is 30+ years old, Oceanic. I have had it for a little over 10 years now, the Doctor I purchased it from had it for a little over 15 years running with Fish Only, and it sat in his garage for 2 years.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm unlcear whether the question is about the glass/acrylic box lifespan, or the contents as an operating reef aquarium.

 

[enlighten]

I'm unlcear whether the question is about the glass/acrylic box lifespan, or the contents as an operating reef aquarium.

I guess it became about both. It was initially about lifespan of tanks and what is a better long term investment between glass and acrylic. But its a good point to bring up that tanks can crash within a few years if not properly maintained.

 

[timmyrules]

I certainly hope mine lasts decades…but I think the seams on one are starting to fail.

 

[Malcontent]

According to reddit, acrylic tanks inevitably yellow. They also only last 5 years.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

2 years still going strong!

 

[Subsea]

25 years young, 75G glass tank with 30G cryptic sponge & mud refugium and the system was bought used.

 

[JayM]

A decent quality tank will likely outlast the owner.

 

[AlyciaMarie]

@Paul B can tell you a little something about reef longevity...

There are so many factors that contribute to how long a tank lasts, but people can/have kept their reefs going for decades. I believe it comes down to the reefer's commitment to the hobby and commitment to trying to maintain a stable environment within the tank.

 

[RichReef]

I have a slate bottom chrome trimmed 30 gallon tank that is still going.

 

[Dburr1014]

Depends on who made the tank and if it was taken care of.
My qt was made in 1995 and I still use it.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Tanks will usually outlast the average hobbyist’s interest in reefing. That’s why I suggest to buy less expensive tanks as the first one. If it lasts you a few years and you are still interested, upgrade to a “brand name” if you choose. That way if it doesn’t work out, you are not out thousands of dollars in a year or less.

 

[o2manyfish]

Tanks will last a long time - if they are taken care of. Someone posted about Acrylic tanks yellowing in 5 years. That was the case prior to 1986!!!!

For my Bar-Mitzvah my parents gave me a 60g Tall Glass tank. When I moved to college my Dad took over my bedroom as a home office and kept the tank (Freshwater). When I came back from college we converted the 60g to Salt for a collection of rare eels I had. When I got a new home and took the eels the tank went back to Freshwater. The plastic trim on the top started to come off and my mom freaked the tank was going to break. But a $5 tube of silicone glue and I had my mom happy the tank was safe again. The tank is still in my Dad's office with a bunch of really ugly guppies (maybe 300+ inbred uglies). It's 2024 and I was Bar Mitzvahed in 1982.

For Glass Tanks, a well built tank will last a really long time. Go to any older public aquarium and look at all the glass tanks being used. Glass Tanks have an issue when they are used for a period of time and then drained and stored - especially outside. The silicone gets stretched (by design) when the tank fills with water and glass panels try to pop out. Then when the tank is drained and the stress comes off the glass it changes the shape. With older silicone which is harder the flexibility is less and the silicone will start to release. And if a glass tank is stored outside - the dramatic changes in temperature (expansion and contraction) can also weaken the silicone.

I had a 125g Acrylic Tank From College till an upgrade in 2000. I bought the tank used in 1988. When I sold it and we moved it out of the house and into the sun the new owner couldn't believe how good the acrylic looked. Barebottom for 12+ years and there were only a few light scratches on the tank.

From 2000 to 2020 I had a 400g acrylic tank. The 400g was 96x33x28.5 - What made this tank unique was that the entire top was open - ZERO bracing. We had a stainless steel frame made for the top rim and powder coated -- Well that's what we ordered. The builder used regular steel and textured spray paint. After 16 years the tank while 33" at the ends was over 36" in the middle - The tank was bowing because the steel frame had rusted and the corners weakend. But the tank was sound. I got 4 bar clamps and everyday walked by the tank and turned each clamp a 1/2 turn. After about 2.5 weeks the clamps had pulled the tank back to 33" wide for the entire length. Four years of the tank being clamped and we noticed one of the seams in the top right corner turn white. I contacted a friend who builds Acrylic tanks and he told me that was an impending failure - and that kind of of failure was usually explosive. Five days later we installed a 560g tank on the other side of the room and replaced the 400g.


Years before the 400g failure I had bought a 750g starfire aquarium (disassembled). We planned to remodel and make the 750g tank a walkaround tank in the center of our house. In March of 2022 we had a catastrophic loss. The 360g sump tank blew a seam and when the topoff kicked on it kept adding water while the water continued to drain out - and converted the system to freshwater. The 360g sump that failed was less than 2 years old. It was well built. An engineer friend helped me build the platfrom for the sump and when I say it was laser lever square - it was!

I told my wife I think I needed a break from the hobby for awhile, but she said No, build your dream tank. The starfire tank was sitting in the back yard. But glass tank failures (on big tanks) happen. And the thought of having 750g in the middle of the house held together with silcone didn't make me comfortable. I had had acrylic tanks for the previous 35 years (lots) and other than the 400g never had an acrylic tank come close to failing. While the starfire panels sat in the box in the back yard I called Titan Aquatic Exhibits and had them build me a 750g (the same dimensions as the tank in the box). The 750g is 120x48x30. But now we wanted the tank up against the wall. Short and chubby reaching the bottom or the back of the tank was going to be an issue. Titan took my weight and ran it thru some cool engineering software and built the top of the 750g thick enough so the top and braces support my fat butt. I can now lay on top of the aquarium and reach down and work on stuff in the back of the tank.


I also have a "spare" 180g acylic tank out in the yard. This was a 8 year old tank donated to me in 2010. The tank sits out in my yard, and then when a local reefer has a tank emergency it gets borrowed. The 180g has been used at least 10x and when not in use sits outside in the backyard waiting to be borrowed again. The acrylic is not yellowed. The tank is 100% water tight.

Tanks can lost a really really long time.

Dave B

 

[14 foot reef]

I custom built my 14' island tank 25 years ago. Made of 1/2 Glass and full triple plate eurobrace. I believe the over engineered eurobrace has given me the 25 years of peace of mind

 

[damsels are not mean]

Usually until they break or more likely you get too bored of the hobby and want to put something else there. Otherwise, it'll still be there for you. My tank has been neglected on and off for 12 years now and usually when I clean that glass after a long break it's flourishing. As long as you keep the lights on and keep everything underwater it will still be a reef when you get back.