Old tank from storage

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by David de Beer, Aug 24, 2020.

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  1. David de Beer

    David de Beer

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    Even though my little 50 liter Betta tank is still getting cycled, MTS has bitten me hard so I retrieved my bigger tank from storage this weekend, with it's stand and canister filter. When my last fish died I just basically emptied the tank and put it in the garage.

    The tank looks to still be good, I'll do a test later this week, I do need to clean the white gunk off the glass though. Any tips?

    Anyway, the canister filter seems to be OK, it was sucking some air in but I found that an O-ring had fallen out where the water intake goes into the canister, replaced that so it should be good now.
    Interesting thing, when I opened the canister I realised that I never cleaned it out before storage. It was still moist inside, probably almost a decade since I last used it! So I included a pic of the mechanical filters for you, still dirty from an age ago :D

    This tank will be a bit of a project, so it's not going to be up and running too soon. But hopefully I'll be able to post updates as I go ;)

    I also bought some hardscape and things for my Betta tank.One thing I can tell you is when Seachem says you need to rinse out their Flourite substrate properly...do that! Don't be like me :rolleyes:

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  3. fux940510

    fux940510

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    The white stuff on the glass is a hard water deposit, usually of calcium. Dilute some vinegar in a spray bottle and spray it on, leave for a few minutes, then attack with a kitchen sponge. If it still isn't coming off, i had good luck with a Stanley Utility Knife blade in a pair of vicegrips and scraped it off.

    Good luck!
     
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  4. OP
    David de Beer

    David de Beer

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    Thanks @fux940510. The words escaped me for a while there, but yes, calcium deposit.

    I have to redo the styrofoam under the tank, the sheet that I had there is just decimated.

    And the the stand has to be sanded and repainted. If I'm feeling crazy I may attempt to clad it and turn it into a cabinet as well.
     
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  5. JohannKotze

    JohannKotze

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    Although not the safest method, I’ve used pool acid where vinegar has failed. It works :)
    Be careful of the HCl fumes though.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
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  6. SalmonAfrica

    SalmonAfrica Batfish

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    Another vinegar trick you can try - with less effort - is the place a piece of tissue paper/paper towel/newspaper over the spot, and spray with vinegar. The paper will stick to the spot, so you can leave it clinging. Ensure the paper is soaked. Then leave overnight. This gives the vinegar time to really do it's work on the calcium, and usually requires a little less elbow grease and scratching when it comes down to it.

    Good luck!
     
  7. OP
    David de Beer

    David de Beer

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    That makes perfect sense, and I just bought an entire garage roll so I'll definitely start here. Thanks.

    @JohannKotze Thank you, will keep that in mind if the vinegar fails. I would really like to avoid making scratches in the glass.
     
  8. OP
    David de Beer

    David de Beer

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    The cleaning went OK, the calcium deposit came off rather easily. I do have something that looks like mold on the silicone in some places, but I haven't tried to remove that as yet. Hopefully I can get it off without having to remove the current silicone.

    The tank is currently undergoing a leak test, I filled it yesterday and I'll probably empty it again on Wednesday if it holds up.

    HOWEVER, when doing a closer inspection I saw a few chips and nicks, the first of which was the worst.
    Can you tell my if you'd trust a tank inside your house (less than 3m from some pretty expensive speakers) with these chips?
    Can they be repaired?
    I've never replaced glass panels on a tank myself, so not too keen on doing it if it can be avoided.
    And if they have to be replaced...is it worth it, or would it be cheaper to just buy a new tank?

    P.S. The final pic isn't actually a chip out of the glass, the glass is still there. Semantics, but just for clarity.

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  9. OP
    David de Beer

    David de Beer

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    P.P.S :Struggling to upload the last pic.
     
  10. OP
    David de Beer

    David de Beer

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  11. Whoknows

    Whoknows Moderator

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    1 and 6 look a bit worrisome in my opinion. The rest are likely fine and won't cause issues.

    I have a few tanks running with small chips like that in.

    Replacing vs fixing depends on the size of the tank though.
     
  12. OP
    David de Beer

    David de Beer

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    Hi @Whoknows

    The tank is 1.2m long and the volume is about 235 litres.
    If I recall correctly replacing the tank would be about R2000

    Chip 1 is really my main concern as well.
    This is what comes from storing a tank in a complex garage that you share with another tennant.
     
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  13. Whoknows

    Whoknows Moderator

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    Sounds like a stranded 4 footer. 4fts are quite expensive new but you have a few options. You could replace the back glass but I see you didn't want to did that. So maybe try and find a used 1.2 that's in good condition rather?

    People should leave your half alone then IMO
     
  14. OP
    David de Beer

    David de Beer

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    Luckily I've moved from there.
    I think what happened is just that stuff was stored badly and fell over onto the tank.

    Let me see what it would cost to get that back piece cut from the same thickness. I already have some marine silicone at hand.
    I'll try my hand at replacing it and then hopefully that front chip isn't an issue.

    It's too bad, the back panel is actually painted really nicely.
    It's black, but right on the glass there's a sparkle effect spray that I haven't seen for sale in a while.
     
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  15. Whoknows

    Whoknows Moderator

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    Sorry man that sucks. :(

    Good luck I'm sure you'll manage then we'll see it filled soon soon :thumbup:

    I wounder if you can get that stuff from automotive shops. Sounds like a really cool affect :)
     
  16. OP
    David de Beer

    David de Beer

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    I'll do a photo of the background for you this afternoon when the sun hits it so you can see.
    I can't even remember what brand the spray was, nevermind anything else.

    Otherwise maybe I'll get some clear holographic paint and spray that on the new panel with the airbrush, if that seems like a good option at the time.

    For the replacement, am I jut getting normal domestic sheet glass?
     
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  17. Whoknows

    Whoknows Moderator

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    Thank you. Would like that :thumbup:

    Worth a try. As long as you can clean it off if you don't like it?

    Yes that's it. Unless you want to make the back the front now then you can put on low iron glass too
     
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  18. OP
    David de Beer

    David de Beer

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    First quote in, rear panel looks like it'll cost bout R540 to supply.

    I did ask if the same guys do low iron glass, let's see what they say ;)

    ETA : Low Iron for the same size would be R1190
     
    Last edited: Sep 8, 2020
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  19. Whoknows

    Whoknows Moderator

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    That's crazy :eek::eek: for the low iron wow
     
  20. f-fish

    f-fish #unspecified

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    But so worth it, Esp on thicker glass is does make a big difference.

    I would not mix ... you will keep seeing the green from the other class in your low iron sheet (even if you just imagining it).

    Later Ferdie
     
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  21. Whoknows

    Whoknows Moderator

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    So in other words new tank? If he wants low iron?
     

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