What does the stand look like? Do you want it? Most used tanks that I've seen
with a stand have stands that are either so ugly that I wouldn't want it or are
so water damaged that I wouldn't trust it.
How much can you get a new 180 for, if the stand is not really what you want?
You can easily get a 125 for less than $300, minus stand, brand new, which
might be a better way to go and would save you some hassle since it would come
with a warrany. Stands can be built for cheap, even ones that look good.
I doubt that the shop owner is going to be willing to stand behind this thing
at all. I have worked in many a store, and know many store owners and
managers, and don't know ANY of them to stand behind used tanks, if they're
even willing to sell them.
So, the bottom line is this: If you think it's a good deal, go for it. I
doubt that there's any reason the tank won't keep fish alive, but realize that
there is some doubt as to whether or not it will hold water, and for how long.
As to the water softener thing, I'm not the resident chemist, but as I
understand water softeners, most use NaCl (Sodium Chloride), and exchange
sodium for whatever they're taking out of the water, by means of an
ion-exchange resin. This means that while you lose the carbonate, you get a
lot of sodium in your water. A potassium chloride softener will work the same
way, only it will put a lot of potassium in the water. I know from experience
that water from a normal water softener doesn't kill fish, but good luck
breeding them. Cellular membranes have things called sodium potassium pumps,
which by some mechanism that I've fogotten from high school bio use sodium and
potassium ions to move something or other across the cell membrane. An excess
of sodium screws up the equilibrium and makes these things not work well, and
fish eggs don't seem to cope with this, alhough the fish will. It seems
reasonable to expect that potassium would have the same effect. Whether or not
it kills fish is a question for someone else to answer.
The best way to go is to use a water softener, and then run the water through
the RO unit. This makes things easier on the RO unit as there is not as much
for it to remove, or something, and is supposed to extend the life of your
membrane. And, if I remember correctly, a water softener only reduces
carbonate harness, but does not reduce total dissolved solids, as you only
exchange one ion for another.
If this stuff isn't 100% correct, then I'm sure somebody can correct it for me,
as I am drawing togheher classes I took 5 years ago, stuff I've read, and
conversations I've had with the aqauculture extension professor at Michigan
State University. Just my...well, I guess this is like my $2 worth.
And, for the record, I'm a pet store person, have been for a long time, and
barring major economic upheval in the fish world, plan on being in the aquarium
industry in on fashion or another for the rest of my life. So, if you can't
trust your pet store people, find a store with people you can trust. They're
out there, you just have to look. We're not all bad.
>
> Howdy Jim; My past pet store days are over so you can trust me, but then
> again, until recently I was an Army Recruiter, so maybe you couldn't (I
> know I wouldn't) trust me. An animal that passed any urine in the tank,
> and it wasn't a fish with a lot of water that gets changed, would put that
> tank off limits to me. It use to be a real bad problem with the old black
> slate bottom tanks. Now I would beleave the seals may have tanken some of
> it on also. If you did get it ( maybe at a cheaper price) I would keep
> filling it and testing for any and everything, then treat it too. JiM C.
>
> >From Sunny and warm Florida where it is FREEZING ??????
>
> Jim Priest wrote:
>
> > Good Morning...
> >
> > A couple of questions for all you wise and witty list members.
> >
> > 1) I have an opportunity to purchase a used 180 gallon, "Island" brand
> > aquarium from a local pet shop dealer. The tank looks OK and even has a
> > stand, all for $300.00. This seems like a pretty good deal to me. But
> > you know, I don't trust pet store people. This stems from my early days
> > when I used to get so much misinformation from them. All for the cause
> > of making the sale, I suppose.
> >
> > Anyway, he says the tank "looks" about 3 years old. My feeling is that
> > how it looks depends on how the previous owner took care of it. He has
> > been keeping ferrets in the tank, as well, and I am a little worried
> > about possible damage to the tank seals from their claws. He says he
> > will fill the tank for me, but I'm more worried about the tank holding
> > water in 3 years than I am about it holding water now.
> >
> > Any sharing of tips and/or past experiences with used tanks is welcome.
> >
> > 2) How about these potassium or sodium salt run water softerners? I have
> > always used RO for my water changes but thought I could kill two birds
> > with one stone by purchasing a water softerner run with potassium
> > chloride. I was thinking of using this unit not only to fill my tanks,
> > but to bathe and wash my clothes in as well. What a concept. Does
> > anybody use this type of soft water in their tanks? What are the pros
> > and cons?
> >
> > Does the softener impart potassium to the water? I would sure hate to
> > induce cardiac arrythmias in my fish, he he he!
> >
> > Jim
>
>
>
>
Goin' nutz...
"I've just been fishing with Salvador Dali.
He used a dotted line...
caught every other fish."
-PSB "It Couldn't Happen Here"
Chris Benes
beneschr at pilot.msu.edu
http://www.msu.edu/user/beneschr/
Rainbowfish Study Group http://home.earthlink.net/~sbuckel/
Michigan Cichlid Association http://www.ole.net/mca/