New tank purchase USED need advice

[scott26]

Hey I am currently in the process of picking up a 110 gallon aquarium from a guy up in SLO and he has offered it to me for 150 and comes with a 30 gal sump and little giant pump. Few things that caught my attention hoping you guys can lend a hand on what the best way to go about it is weather to fix or walk away.

The glass looks great one scratch that I can see from a rock or something the slicone is in good shape on the connecting pieces but does not go out from the edge like most aqariums you see have like a .25" of build up on the corners is this a problem? I was just thinking that it would fine so long as I add some silicone.

Next is the thing I am most worried about the aquarium has a bottom frame that has been damaged a little in one corner the corner of the wood frame is cracked off about 5" in from one corner so... is this an easy fix as well possilbe siliconing an added piece for stubility other then that I see nothing wrong with the tank.

Any advice would be good maybe some last mintue things to check for.

Oh and I am having him fill it with water tomm. and I will pick it up Sunday.

[lordofthereef]

As long as it holds water, I wouldn't be worried. As far as the silicone, was it removed at some point? My feeling is that this too is fine and you may just perceive it as needing more? The wood you speak of, is that just the bottom trim? Is it still intact? If so, the flaw is probably cosmetic. If it is broken through I would probably consider replacing it.

[Chiefsurfer]

it sounds like the upper trim on the lower brace is cracked off. If it holds water, it should be fine. If any part of the plastic frames are broken, they should be replaced. It might be a bit of a PITA to remove, but buying, and replacing is EASY. Should take you about 15 min. and a big tube of GE Silicone I, 100% silicone. I know it doesn't contact water, BUT can't ever be careful enough, and GE SiliconeI is not much more than regular plain silicone.

If that piece of trim is broken, I would try and get it down another $50 to pay for the parts and your time in repairing it. I replaced the upper brace for my 55, the part was 12.95, $5 to ship, and $5 for the silicone. I also think the "regular build-up" you might be referring to is probably like a mass-produced tank, where I believe machines do the construction. If he has a more custom tank, there will likely be no build-up.

[scott26]

As long as it holds water, I wouldn't be worried. As far as the silicone, was it removed at some point? My feeling is that this too is fine and you may just perceive it as needing more? The wood you speak of, is that just the bottom trim? Is it still intact? If so, the flaw is probably cosmetic. If it is broken through I would probably consider replacing it.

No the silicone was not removed I am just used to seeing aquariums with a little bit of siclicone coming out of the corner inside the tank.

it sounds like the upper trim on the lower brace is cracked off. If it holds water, it should be fine. If any part of the plastic frames are broken, they should be replaced. It might be a bit of a PITA to remove, but buying, and replacing is EASY. Should take you about 15 min. and a big tube of GE Silicone I, 100% silicone. I know it doesn't contact water, BUT can't ever be careful enough, and GE SiliconeI is not much more than regular plain silicone.

If that piece of trim is broken, I would try and get it down another $50 to pay for the parts and your time in repairing it. I replaced the upper brace for my 55, the part was 12.95, $5 to ship, and $5 for the silicone. I also think the "regular build-up" you might be referring to is probably like a mass-produced tank, where I believe machines do the construction. If he has a more custom tank, there will likely be no build-up.

Where did you get your silicone and your parts from is it just basic wood? I was thinking of painting the trim black anyway do your think it would just be easy to replace all of it?

[Chiefsurfer]

It shouldn't be wood. It should be plastic that's "painted" to look like wood. If you want black, go for it. I was able to cut the top mount off of my tank with a fruit-knife(the one that's serated and a little bent at the tip) but it took forever. Wish I would have had a frame of mind, because using a dremel would have been 100x easier.

I got my frame, and silicone from glass-cages.com. I hadn't done enough reading to figure out I could use GE siliconeI, so I used theirs. At that, it's not a BAD price for a big tube. Their big tube is the type that goes in the silicone guns. I don't know if there are better places, but that's where I got mine.

[scott26]

It shouldn't be wood. It should be plastic that's "painted" to look like wood. If you want black, go for it. I was able to cut the top mount off of my tank with a fruit-knife(the one that's serated and a little bent at the tip) but it took forever. Wish I would have had a frame of mind, because using a dremel would have been 100x easier.

I got my frame, and silicone from glass-cages.com. I hadn't done enough reading to figure out I could use GE siliconeI, so I used theirs. At that, it's not a BAD price for a big tube. Their big tube is the type that goes in the silicone guns. I don't know if there are better places, but that's where I got mine.

Now would I need to replace the whole strip or just the area that is broken off?

[Chiefsurfer]

the entire frame. It will go around the ENTIRE bottom, all 4 sides, and possibly a strip in the center. Same with the top.

[scott26]

I guess I will have to try to get the guy to come down in price I am not sure if I should just go with a new aquarium I really want to try and save as much money as possible. This set up is the 110 a crappy stand a pump a sump testing equipment and a 10 gallon biocube for 200 I guess I can tell him cause of the damage I will offer 150 for it all and fix it myself... glass cages does not have any trim to help me though they only have it going upto 4 foot spans I need two 5 foot spans.