Tank usefulness

[Ed_r]

Ok i have heard that once you keep a snake or reptile in an aquarium it will no longer hold water. First off is this true? Second if it is true, how can I refurbish it so that it will hold water?

I've gotten the bug to keep african cichlids again. I have a bunch of 29 gallon tanks not in use, and needing to be filled.

Would it be as easy as applying aquarium sealant on the seams?

[kerri4776]

y wouldnt they hold water? and if u need to get rid of those tanks u arent useing send them this way....lol

[toker]

The only reason I can think is it might be damaged via heat pads/lights. My advice is, fill er up and see what happens, if it leaks, go from there.

[haroldo359]

i don't see why they wouldn't hold water, unless you were getting rough with them. i would think filling a tank full of water would be more stressful to it than putting a snake in it. and barring something major, i don't see where you would need to do anything other than apply aquarium sealant. but i really don't know any of this for sure.

[eddie]

Depending on urates penetration of the subtrates, where it urinates at, how fast it is cleaned, what it is cleaned with etc can all be a factor in how well tank can hold water.
Just remember that not all tanks are constructed equally as most meant for dry conditions will usually be thinner glassed and less sealant in comparison to a real made just for fish fish tank.
You can reseal the tank using aquarium sealant as sold in most pet stores and fish suppliers, but it may be a trade off as whether to invest in that much sealant or to just but a new tank.

[Ed_r]

I think i heard from Brett that snake urates dry out the silicone and make them leak.

[Ed_r]

These would be actual fish tanks, not the critter keepers. I guess all i can really do is try it out.

If i were to reseal them would I just apply the silicone over the existing seal, or would I have to strip it down and re-apply it?

[eddie]

Single edge razor blade in a scraper handle
Get it all out, super clean the glass. I reccomend vinegar & water mixed and newspaper, so it gets any oils left behind and leaves virtually no residue or lint.
Then use latex gloves and your finger tip to make sure it is pressed fully into the joint and be sure to do the entire tank at one time so it all cure together.

If you were to use the sealant on top of the old sealant, it will take quite a bit more than it would by removing the old AND you have the benefit of leaks due to trapped urates as well as other foriegn objects, such as old cleaning solutions, dirt from the substrate etc, old sealant not being adhered properly and allowing the new sealant to work loose.

Just a waste of time to take shortcuts on resealing tanks.

[Lfsabch]

depending how long the tank is dry will determine how safe it is, especially with heat lamps being used