Advise about buying a used tank

I've been offered a 125G acryclic USED tank with some LR.

My question is what signs should I be looking for? I'm afraid of leaks or
parasites on the rock.
How strong the stand has to be to support such weight?

Also, if I get it, metal halides are a must, but, I heard the should be
keep inside a canopy for safety reasons, how true is that?

And last, what's the difference between metal halides and HQI metal
halides?

Any comments would be appreciated.

TIA


Ruben

RubenD wrote:
Also, if I get it, metal halides are a must, but, I heard the should be
keep inside a canopy for safety reasons, how true is that?

They can throw off some UV light, but I abandoned my canopy with these
lights. They just generate too much heat to be enclosed like that.

I wouldn't stare at the lights, but most of it is downward directed.

I'd definitely give the tank a leak test if you're worried. If you
cycle the rocks, I wouldn't worry about parasites. I'm currently do
that with a tank that I bought a month ago. Still no livestock.

--Kurt

What Kurt said...

Parasites on LR should not be a real problem. Is the LR dry now or
what. If its in the tank its should be just fine. About all that
affects liverock is algae or aipstasia, and they are easy to deal
with....Look at the seems or edges where panels are joned. They should
be translucent, with no discoloration or air bubbles. That alone is
pretty good indication of a leakfree tank, but only real way to tell
is fill it up with water and look.......If the tank is already filed
and has the live rock init, then a leak would be reaily apparent and
easily seen. Why not use the stand its on now if its available?
Biggest problem with a lot of acrylic tanks is size. Lots of places
sell and build them so they may or may not ne a standard size......but
a stand is not hard to make or find one that is close and modify to
fit....

Unless yu make a hood with lots of fans and air flow, its best to
hang them pout of the hood to reduce heating effect. I hear its stil
best to have a filter type glass between the lamp and the tank though
to elinate UV....dunno really as I am not a user of MH

You can figure approx 10 pounds per gal which will take in sand, rock
and water and give you a close weight to figure with in regards to how
strong of a stand is needed.......

On Thu, 8 Feb 2007 13:00:28 -0800, "RubenD"
wrote:

I've been offered a 125G acryclic USED tank with some LR.

My question is what signs should I be looking for? I'm afraid of leaks or
parasites on the rock.
How strong the stand has to be to support such weight?

Also, if I get it, metal halides are a must, but, I heard the should be
keep inside a canopy for safety reasons, how true is that?

And last, what's the difference between metal halides and HQI metal
halides?

Any comments would be appreciated.

TIA


Ruben




-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

"Tristan" wrote in message
...

(SNIP)

We never had a problems on the other aquarium groups until you came along
and
trashed our groups by harassing and slandering other posters. Why is that
Roy Tristan Hauer? Why trash several other groups but not this one? What's
different about this group that keeps you from trolling innocent people? Why
do you feel the other groups don't deserve peace but this group does? Tell
us why you troll the other groups, including a an old lady and a disabled
veteran, and not this group?

What did these people you net-stalk and harass ever do to YOU Roy Tristan
Hauer?

I've been offered a 125G acrylic USED tank with some LR.

My question is what signs should I be looking for? I'm afraid of leaks or
parasites on the rock.

Fill the tank with regular tap water and see if it holds water without
leaking for a day or so, then you will know if it's ok. As far as the LR,
find out if its been sitting around for awhile or has it been in a tank. If
its in a tank, I wouldn't worry too much about it. If its been sitting, you
may have to cure it yourself. Seeing how this will be a fresh tank, you can
probably cure it inside the tank you're getting.
How strong the stand has to be to support such weight?

Go to your local LFS and see if they have a tank similar to what you're
getting, if they do, then you can see what type of stand you will need, if
they don't, Acrylic weighs less then glass; water is roughly 8 lbs per
gallon. Find something you like or there are plans on the net for a DIY

Also, if I get it, metal halides are a must, but, I heard the should
be
keep inside a canopy for safety reasons, how true is that?

Metal halides are a must for certain types of corals. If you're running a
FOWLR, then you wont need it

RubenD wrote:

My question is what signs should I be looking for? I'm afraid of leaks or
parasites on the rock.

Set the tank on a level surface where leaks won't be a problem and fill it up
for a few days to check for leaks. Parasites will die out if you quarantine the
rock for a month or so.

How strong the stand has to be to support such weight?

Once set up, you're into the 1,200 pound range. You need a stand with a
perfectly flat top; mine is a grid of 2x4s spaced about 12" apart and covered
with a sheet of 3/8" plywood. Torsion box construction also works well. You also
need a box frame at the bottom of the legs to spread the weight out over the
floor. Mine is 2x4s laid narrow side down. My stand has 6 legs. Each is a
sandwich of two 2x4s nailed together. One 2x4 fits between the frame of the top
and the base box; the other one runs from the plywood top to the floor. The back
is open, and the legs are braced with other 2x4s nailed at a 45 degree angle to
the top frame and the legs. The plywood sides of the stand form the bracing for
the sides.

I intend to build a new stand soon. This one will have a watertight catch basin
a few inches high on the bottom. I've had too many cases of equipment failure
sending water through my hardwood floors.

Also, if I get it, metal halides are a must, but, I heard the should be
keep inside a canopy for safety reasons, how true is that?

Absolute bull. I've never seen metal halides put inside a canopy. They generate
way too much heat for that. Usually they are suspended about a foot above the tank.

And last, what's the difference between metal halides and HQI metal
halides?

Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HQI . Be sure to follow the link to
aquarium lighting.

George Patterson
If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess to
anything.

Sure a tank if its acrylic or glass is fixable. Acrylic is easy to fix
over glass. If acrylic its easy to wick in some weldon #3 or #4
solvent, and / or apply a bead or so of Weldon #16, or even apply a
patch of acrylic over a crack usuig weldon solvent..

Glass is just as do able by replaceing internal silicone seals or
fillets, and even glass panels can be replaced......





On Fri, 09 Feb 2007 18:57:54 GMT, "RubenD"
wrote:

The tank will have about 300# LR with everything (corals, inverts, anemones)
because I will transfer everything from my actual tank.

In the event the tank has a leak, is it fixable? How is that done?

Ruben




-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

The tank will have about 300# LR with everything (corals, inverts, anemones)
because I will transfer everything from my actual tank.

In the event the tank has a leak, is it fixable? How is that done?

Ruben

The ultra tall canopies seem to be all the rage on lots of commerical
tanks in doctors offices and such in this part of the woods. There is
a church here with a 210 gal with MH and its canopy has to be at
least 3 feet high. Even the lfs that specializes in SW stocks a few
extra tall hoods as well. He does not stock stands made by the various
aquarium manufactuers, but instead has a local retired fellow make
them for him.....Somewhat cheaper and better made and custom odds and
ends is always an open option. Turns out this old retired fella was
the owner of a large cabinet business here, who has retired and turned
it over to his sons to run, but he plays in the cabinet shop making
stands and hoods as needed.......

IIRC the majority of thr tall hoods have most of the top open to the
atmosphere, as well as 6" diam mufin fans installed. About the only
place there is wood that covers anything is if florescent lights are
added in....

On Fri, 09 Feb 2007 14:13:01 -0500, Add Homonym
wrote:

George Patterson wrote:

Absolute bull. I've never seen metal halides put inside a canopy. They
generate way too much heat for that. Usually they are suspended about a
foot above the tank.

I have seen plenty of metal halides supended about a foot above the
tank, yet still inside the canopy. I'm guessing you just haven't seen to
many canopies that are made for this sort of thing? (ie: canopies that
are 2-3 feet high)



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

George Patterson wrote:

Absolute bull. I've never seen metal halides put inside a canopy. They
generate way too much heat for that. Usually they are suspended about a
foot above the tank.

I have seen plenty of metal halides supended about a foot above the
tank, yet still inside the canopy. I'm guessing you just haven't seen to
many canopies that are made for this sort of thing? (ie: canopies that
are 2-3 feet high)