Older steel-framed tank

There's a cheap 5 foot tank on eBay, not far from where I live. It's an
older steel-framed job, on a steel stand. I was thinking of grabbing it
as a home for my soon-to-be-acquired Murray Crayfish.

I've only ever had all-glass, silicone constructed tanks, so I'm not
sure what I should be looking at when I inspect this tank.

Can any older aquarists offer any advice, please?

On 2 May 2006 20:34:00 -0700, "Rod Bacon" wrote:

There's a cheap 5 foot tank on eBay, not far from where I live. It's an
older steel-framed job, on a steel stand. I was thinking of grabbing it
as a home for my soon-to-be-acquired Murray Crayfish.

I've only ever had all-glass, silicone constructed tanks, so I'm not
sure what I should be looking at when I inspect this tank.

Can any older aquarists offer any advice, please?


Rust. It may be sealed with a tar like substance, I had one sealed
with wax, but that was a LONG time ago. If it leaks you will probably
want to reseal it with silicone.

its the same thing, with steel frame, depending on its age u may want to
resilicon it

"Rod Bacon" wrote in message
oups.com...
There's a cheap 5 foot tank on eBay, not far from where I live. It's an
older steel-framed job, on a steel stand. I was thinking of grabbing it
as a home for my soon-to-be-acquired Murray Crayfish.

I've only ever had all-glass, silicone constructed tanks, so I'm not
sure what I should be looking at when I inspect this tank.

Can any older aquarists offer any advice, please?

Rod Bacon wrote,
There's a cheap 5 foot tank on eBay, not far from where I live. It's an
older steel-framed job, on a steel stand....

I like the looks of the older tanks - the older, older tanks, have a
slate bottom. They were sealed with tar - if it leaks all you have to
do is fill it with warm water, it will reseal itself. I would reseal it
with silicone myself.

I'm not
sure what I should be looking at when I inspect this tank...

Already pointed out - rust. I would also look for carcks in the slate
bottom. Around here, those old tanks go for around $ .50 per
gal............ Frank