Tank Storage Question.

[Poseidon]

I recently purchased a used tank that i plan on using in a year or so.
i want to store it until then, in my garage.
i was just wondering, whats the best way to store a tank without worrying about it cracking/silicone drying out etc.?
is there anything i should do to protect it/prevent anything from happening?
thanks!

 

[Big_Als_London]

I recently purchased a used tank that i plan on using in a year or so.
i want to store it until then, in my garage.
i was just wondering, whats the best way to store a tank without worrying about it cracking/silicone drying out etc.?
is there anything i should do to protect it/prevent anything from happening?
thanks!

You can store it at my house and I will keep it full for you so the silicone doesn't dry out.

 

[Poseidon]

You can store it at my house and I will keep it full for you so the silicone doesn't dry out.

haha i have large doubts i will be able to get it back without a court order in a year or so haha

 

[Jewel]

I'd wonder if the Silicone will dry out or even temp swings, winter, summer fluctuations are going to be a problem, Ideally you want to store it in a climate controlled area. there should be something you can put on the silicone as to protect it. Like baby oil, I guess it depends if the tank is old and what the silicone is like to start with.

 

[pulpfiction1]

silicone repells water so i dont think even full it would do anything to prolong the life of silicone,my guess would be temp swings,expanding and shrinking might cause seperation issues if it happens enough times.

 

[jeffopentax]

Get scubasteve to reseal it for ya after you move. Seems he's good at it!

 

[EricTMah]

I'd highly recommend storing it indoors if possible. Like everyone said. The temp swings aren't good for it at all. If you MUST store in garage. I've had success with putting it on a thick piece of styro and wrapping it in a heavy blanket(the thicker, the better. Or even many blankets). As for the silicone. I've stored tanks before for up to two years. I used a bit of vaseline on the silicone inside the tank. But make sure it's cleaned very well before you use it.

 

[Poseidon]

i hate the idea of vaseline in my fish tank lol
but its in a guest room we have in the garage, it is insulated and i CAN regulate the heat in the winter, keep it around 10 degrees or so without ramping the power bills up too much lol
but there is no a/c for the summer, its not moist in there at all

so keep it from freezing, and i should be ok?

 

[EricTMah]

Vaseline will help the seals from cracking. Especially since it's going to sit for a while.

Its drastic temp changes that will cause the most problems. So a insulated room would be ideal. Is it a finished floor? If not, I'd still throw it on top of a thick piece of styro

 

[Poseidon]

it is finished, AND there is a 3/4'' piece of styro on the bottom of the stand, and underneath the tank as well haha

 

[EricTMah]

Perfect! You should be golden.

Other than the silicone drying out