I have access to a 48 gallon tank with a beautful oak stand for 175.00 CDN. New this tank is worth about 500 - 600 (with stand). But as I have never bought a used tank before what do I look out for? The guys is selling as he is moving to an upper level condo that does not allow tanks over 20 gallons....Sounds legit, but I dont want to get burned.

ANy advice would be greatly appreciated.

I don't really know, but what I would do is check wether it leaks or not. Should be pretty easy if he still has water in it.
If it's empty and you put in new water that is colder than the room and the tank, you might get water outside but most like it's condense water and not really a leak. In that case, dry the tank, let it sit for a while to acclimate and check again...

Other than that, I would just clean it to make sure you don't get any diseases or stuff... There are some articles in this newsgroup about how to clean a tank and what cleaners to use and what not.

Doesn't allow tanks over 20 gallons? Sounds pretty stupid if you ask me.

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Signed,
April Wall
Moderator of Freshwater Fish

My sites:
www.geocities.com/aprilwall13/myrats.html
www.pintos-page.20m.com

It probably has to do with their insurance April. Or it could be a variety of other reasons too, weight being one of them. 20 gallons of water is still a mess if it spilled, but imagine 200 gallons flooding your neighbor below you, not good!

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Joe Hackman

Yes, but in my opinion, if you make the mess or do damage YOU should have to pay to get it fixed. To me that sounds resonible, but I don't know what everyone else thinks. In my neighborhood we are not allowed to keep outdoor livestock (horses, cows, pigs), you could have a pig, if you kept it inside, the same with the other pets. I think, as long as we're paying for the land (the subdivision is fairly new), we should have free choice of what to keep on our land.


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Signed,
April Wall
Moderator of Freshwater Fish

My sites:
www.geocities.com/aprilwall13/myrats.html
www.pintos-page.20m.com

Yeah, we have plenty of ordinances and they don't always seem to make sense. Though with an Apartment building owner, they set the rules that work best for them, and renters can look elsewhere if they don't like those rules. Things take care of themselves that way. I use the same analogy when I discuss a variety of issues with people. People should live where the rules suit them best, they will be happier that way [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]. The cool part in the U.S. is we have some say so in the matter, being a Democracy and all. Imagine having to deal with things being dictated to you by one or a few people? What a drag that would be.

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Joe Hackman

Dr. Joe do you have your own talk show??? hehe
You always have these philisophical conceptes to share!!!! I like your logic.

To the original question I would look for the most obvious: cracks, repairs, or scratches in the tank. If you can, I would see if you can see it full of water to see if it leaks, ubt I know this is not alwas an option. When I said repairs I meant like factory silcon is pretty neat, but most people that are re-sealing a tank are not and you can tell. Hope this helps

James S.

Hehe James [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

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Joe Hackman

Just as a point of trivial information, since I don't have any suggestions beyond the ones already listed for buying a used tank, the US is not a democracy; it is a republic using democratic process. Historically, there has never been a true democracy that did not fail miserably. A true democracy is too easy to corrupt; that's why we went with the republic with democratic process. It is the best available system in a less-than-perfect world.

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The best name for a plecostamus is Fred.

I've bought 3 used tanks and had no problem.
A 55 with everything filters/powerheads/ugf/substrate/ test kits for 90$ and a 75 tank only for 60 and a 15$ for like 15$ and had no problems...
just slap down some water and you'll be fine..

Hey,
Is this fish talk or politics.

If you want to buy the tank it is a good idea to start off cleaning it out with Lime Off. Fallow the directions for the Lime Off and wash it out really well. I wouldn't take any used gravel if he offers it to you though if it is parasites and stuff that you are worried about. Good Luck