Tanks Not Designed For Aquariums

[Mikaila31]

A few have probably noticed you can buy reptile tanks and on the bottom it says "Do not use as a aquarium" anyone know what is different about these tanks? Why are we not suppose to use them as aquariums?

My 20gal high is one of these tanks and it has been holding water for 1.5 years now without a problem and it is 7 years old .

 

[K.J.]

I believe the glass is thinner.

 

[WILDER]

Not meant to use a reptile tank when it been used something to do with the reptile urine I think.
Or the tanks not sealed the same way.
Not sure would be interesting to find out.

 

[groovitudedude]

A few have probably noticed you can buy reptile tanks and on the bottom it says "Do not use as a aquarium" anyone know what is different about these tanks? Why are we not suppose to use them as aquariums?

My 20gal high is one of these tanks and it has been holding water for 1.5 years now without a problem and it is 7 years old .

I suppose it's okay with smaller tanks like yours (no offense), but when the water starts weighing like 3, 4, and 5 hundred lbs., it's a totally different situation. It's probably a better idea to buy an aquarium for use as an aquarium.

 

[Mikaila31]

My brother has a 80gal reptile tank he uses for his hedgehog. I just measure the thickness of the glass and it is the same as my 55gal, which is about 5mm. Anyone know how thick glass is on a 80gal aquarium?

 

[groovitudedude]

My brother has a 80gal reptile tank he uses for his hedgehog. I just measure the thickness of the glass and it is the same as my 55gal, which is about 5mm. Anyone know how thick glass is on a 80gal aquarium?

My 100G acrylic's thickness is about 8 or 9 mm

 

[WILDER]

Say it mainly due to the ammonia of the reptile soaking into the silcone.
http/en.allexperts.com/q/Fish-1472/Oscar-tank.htm

 

[PRW1988]

Depending on the brand of reptile tanks you can use it as an aquarium opposed to a terrarium. Reptile tanks generally use a weaker silcone seal, aswell the glass is not tempered as most aquarium glass is, therfore the water pressure may cause the glass to "bend". Some reptile tanks can be used as aquariums if not filled more than halfway.

 

[Matt_northants]

Say it mainly due to the ammonia of the reptile soaking into the silcone.
[URL="http/en.allexperts.com/q/Fish-1472/Oscar-tank.htm"]http/en.allexperts.com/q/Fish-1472/Oscar-tank.htm[/URL]

Just read this page and he says your going to have trouble if when filled you can detect ammonia and then when telling you how to start you aquarium he advises a fish-in cycle! Surely you could just use the ammonia that leaches out as part of the fishless cycle, and leave the poor fish in the shop where they belong, until the tanks ready for them?

 

[WILDER]

I didn't agree with what he said about using fish to cycle a tank.
Just was interested in part why its not advised to use reptile tanks as fish tanks.
He said that the ammonia can leak from the silcone for months
You could just reseal it with some more aquaruim silcone.

 

[smmetz]

If it leaks at a constant rate, then the bio-filtering in the tank should be able to handle it, I would think. Perhaps it would require more bio-media to support a larger colony?

Also, I heard the same thing about glass thickness not being the same for terrariums.

 

[rdd1952]

Having not Googled this, this is purely a guess but it could be not so much because the silicone is too weak but because it isn't aquarium safe.