Tank for Fahaka

[ScallyWag]

Hi guys, i've a problem. I was about to get a 4ft x2ft x2ft 120 gallon tank for my 4" Fahaka puffer but just realized that the other half of my door gate could not be ledge open. I tried all ways to get it open, some thick iron rod beneath it got stuck in concrete floor. The small gap between the floor and gate is just millimeters and i'm out of ideas now. I live in a small apartment, theres no other way now!

So i was thinking, would a 4ft(L) x 1.5ft(W) X 2ft(H) (90 Gallons) be alright for my Fahaka to grow up in?

Regards,
Magnum

[ScallyWag]

Sorry! I forgot to add that my gate would not be able to fit a 4ftx2ftx2ft tank but it will fit a 4ftx1.5ftx2ft tank!

[Hilly]

A 90 should do until he hits about 12" after that you should probably look at upgrading.

[Nick]

Get some WD40 and a small hammer, and work at it a few times a day over a couple days, the rust will die,and the rod will move.

[ScallyWag]

I've decided to take the 4x2x2 120gal tank anyhow. I'm gonna try to get it into my house through the corridor window. It's gonna be tough as the tank is 12mm thick, i'm cynical about bringing it through the window. Wish me luck!

Magnum

[Hilly]

Good luck with getting it in.

[manutius]

Good luck with that I would get at least 3 freinds to help out if I were you

[kimmers318]

One of the reasons I am so glad we have a set of sliding glass doors in the kitchen, and french doors in the living room.....so much easier to bring the big items into the house!!! Good luck, can't wait to see pics of your fahaka in his new tank......someday when my kids are all grown up and out of the house (of course, I keep hearing that never happens) I will have a fahaka!

[OraLacerta]

Good luck to you! If it looks like it's going to be too hard do get some help lest you break the tank or even worse injure yourself.

[ScallyWag]

Hi guys, i'm gonna give a little update on my tank.

I'm so dismayed that the tank has been damaged during the moving. The seller got a couple of guys to help transport and move the tank into my room. The tank has this water inlet/outlet valve as the bottom corner for ease of water change. Ok, so here's a re-enactment. I heard a loud crack, sounded like glass crack, i was in my room then preparing to move the tank in, i immediately went out to check out what it was. One of the guys moving the tank just brush it off saying he has accidentally hit the valve and nothing happened and it was still ok.

I proceed to pay the seller the full amount although the tank was far from what i expected. He told me it was a 12mm tank, it was actually an 8mm and when i asked if there were any cracks or scratches, he said non. What a load of rubbish, the tank has scratches on the front panel and one of the 2 glass beams on top of the tank was cracked or should i say broke into 2 separate parts. Ok never mind those, the tank could still be used anyway.

To my horror, when i filled the tank with water, the valve was actually leaking.Upon closer inspection, i found that the valve had broke. It was the guy that had earlier on made that crack sound. It all then made sense to me that he had actually tried to lift the tank by holding the valve. How stupid!! Now my room is semi flooded. He was so irresponsible to sound out to me that he had broke the valve, instead he proceed to pretend that nothing happened and tried to give me some small talk on how good the tank looks.

I've got back to the seller asking him for a small refund as i've spent extra money trying to fix it and even more time, effort and frustration dealing with the enormous hole in the tank. He kept shunning my point(small refund) off by telling me how to fix the leak. Now he doesn't even reply my messages or answer my calls. This is really such a bad experience for me

I've tried to use silicon glue to fix up the gap, i used lots and lots of it, it looks so messy and ugly! It's my 2nd attempt to seal it up now. My 1st one failed, it still leaked, now my second attempt is successful(so far). I'm praying very hard hoping that there will be no leak but i'm very skeptical that my amateur silicon skills will work. This is really depressing, I'm still a student and do not have any money to get a second tank. moreover, this problem has kept me busy and affected my study schedule for a major exam coming next week.

Anyway, thanks pufferforum for hearing me out. Sorry for sounding so whiny. Just felt like sharing my problem cus it is really stressful for me and that my parents nor my girlfriend understands or support my hobby.

Regards,
Magnum

[ScallyWag]

Ok i've just checked. It's leaking again. I've used a tremendous amount of silicon already... What should i do?!?! Please help me!

[Hilly]

They damaged it moving it in, they should replace it. 8mm glass on a tank that size is a bit thin, i'd be wanting 10mm for the walls and 12mm for te base at a minimum.

Sounds like a total mess to be honest, if they refuse to replace after selling you sub-standard goods, seek more legal advice, trading standards etc...

[ScallyWag]

Hi Hilly, thanks for advice. I forgot to add that it's a 2nd hand tank that i bought from a guy that advertised his tank online. He seem really nice, sincere and polite until 'this' happened. I don't know any way to take legal action against him or whatsoever. I only have his name,email and cellphone number. Now i regret not taking any extra caution... Any ideas how to fix the tank? The hole is neatly cut and is 2.6cm in diameter. What could i use to fill it with?

[Hilly]

If this valve isnt broke mate and just the seal is gone I would empty this tank out razor blade off all the silicone, check the valve fully for cracks and then re-silicone. Then let the silicone cure for a day or two so it's completely set and then to a small test fill, say 1/4 of a tank, let it stand for several hours. Then fill to 1/2 way and see if the seal holds, the more water, the more pressure pushing on this seal so steady as she goes. until you get it full up. I hope you can do this outside. As for the cracked cross beam at the top of the tank. You will be able to get another one of these cut, razor blade off the old one and insert the new one.

Theres always a risk buying stuff 2nd hand mate, you're not the only one thats been burned. I bought some 2nd hand wheels for my car a couple of monthes ago that that were supposedly professionally refurbed.... professionally refurbed my arse.

The tank aint going nowhere so concentrate on your exam and then once you've got that stress out of the way you can get back on the tank but I would do the crossbeam at the same time as the valve. You dont wanna fix the valve just so the glass bows and splits.

[Myaj]

Personally, I would never try "patching" any tank larger than 30 gallons. Thats a whole lot of weight pressing on any patch or repair. Think about it, 120 gallons at 10 pounds per gallon.. yeah, over 1000 pounds!

Maybe you can try reselling it as a reptile tank and get some of your money back so its not a total loss.