Habitat - Indoor :: Free 50-gal! Cool!...I think...

[FLhaven4strays]

Our neighbor gave my son a 50 gal tank w/ screen lid that had been used as a home to a bearded lizard until "the great escape" several months ago.

Anyhow...I was thrilled - a great home for his map hatchling for a good long time. Then I looked at the tank. There is no plastic edging on the top of the tank, and the sides don't look like they'll hold even with good amounts of silicone. (I was warned that it currently leaks)

I'm really concerned that even if I get it to hold water (we have plenty of silicone to use) it will spring a leak since the sides are already bonded together kinda uneven & the tank seems pretty unsturdy (It's a long tank: 48" long / 20" deep / 12"wide) My husband isn't thrilled about the 3rd turtle anyway. 50 gal of water on the floor would be too much!

Has anyone ever encountered a problem like this & gotten it to work out? Any suggestions on how to ensure it's leakproof?....Or give it up as too risky & "just" try to talk hubby into the snake that my 2 teens & I both want?

[Blue Flamingo]

What I would do is take the tank outside silicone it very generously. Let it cure. Then fill the tank up outside, Let it set out there for the day (or however long it takes) and see if it leaks. If it does, find the leak make sure you mark where it is cause you may forget. Then just dump the water out in the yard and repeat. Its a long process but if you get it to work, it will be worth the time that you spent.

[untsmurf]

I agree with blue. If that doesn't work I say make it into a viv.

[ashleygamergirl]

get the snake and another tank for the turtle haha then its win win

[N4784N R4613]

Lol, or a lose-lose for her husband.

[grey goose]

The plastic edge provides the lateral support for the top of the tank, preventing the sides from separating under pressure from the water. It really doesnt sound very safe to me.....

[killrmack]

you could also build sort of a frame for it as well

[untsmurf]

That's what I was thinking.

[FLhaven4strays]

Well...I slathered on the silicone, and found out I am just NO GOOD at putting that gunk on (lol!). Looks like a toddler played w/ silicone. It's sitting on our pass-through countertop drying for a couple days, then I was thinking of taking it out & filling it to see if it leaks.

Does anyone know if you can you buy that black top edging for the tank and install it yourself? Would that even make a difference?

Someone mentioned a "frame" could be build for it - what's that? I'm not much of a woodworker. Honestly I don't know if I want to put that much more into it...I did a really bad silicone job and it looks pretty messy, and the tank wasn't great to begin with. Might be easier to just look for tank when we have the $$.

Wish hubby would just ok a snake & put this issue to rest!!!!

[tennisnut]

...for really really cheap on craigslist.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/for/485954418.html

I'm not sure if this is a terranium or a fish tank though. It doesn't look all that sturdy to me, and I REALLY don't want 50 gallons of water on my floor.

What do you guys think from the pictures?

[FLhaven4strays]

I decided not to take any kind of chance and donated the tank to the neighborhood ma / pa petstore I frequent, making sure I told them it was for terrarium use only. Right now Jimi the map is happy in his 25 gal rubbermaid and hubby would FREAK if I brought home another pet. I'll give it another few months....