Possibly buying a used acrylic tank...what to look for?

[TavisB]

I'm going today to look at a used 36x36x20 acrylic reef tank. I've only had glass until now, what should I be looking for as far as problems?

How thick should the acrylic be for a tank this size? It looked a little thin to me in the pictures the seller sent. It also has a lot of bracing on the top.

I am meeting the seller at a half-way point so I cant ask to have it filled with water. I don't want to get this thing home and have it explode on me :).

Thanks!

[sabodish]

Travis...look for crazing at the seams (looks like spider webs in the acrylic), obviously scratches (anything you can feel with your fingernail most likely will not come out, unless you do some heavy rubbing).

as far as thickness goes, i have a 36x36x30 and its built from 3/4" acrylic with eurobracing on the top. your tank isnt that tall, so i would think anythign in the 1/2" range is good if it has the top bracing.

I hope you have some assurance from the seller that the tank does not leak...

[albano]

I have a custom built Clarity Plus 48X24X27h, 130g, that is over 15 years old, been filled and re-filled many times (used as holding tank), and it is LESS than 3/8"...SO, at only 20" tall, your tank is probably fine at 1/4", although I'd bet that it's thicker!

[khaosinc]

The main thing I look at is the seams. you should be able to see through them. No crazing or anything else. sections where it looks like it is white going in to the seam is seperation. Some hazing/scratches are basically normal on used acrylic tanks. especially the front side. wipe it with a wet towel (or some spit) and you will get a better idea of how it will look.

[TavisB]

I ended up buying it. Seams look great. It has a few scratches that I'll polish out, one good one on the front that will take some work, but overall very nice.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs670.snc4/61054_437061803597_530138597_5282389_7707524_n.jpg