Has aquarium technology improved much in the last 5 years?

Question

im thinking of buying a 5 year old aquarium, with 5 year old pump, heater etc.

is it obsolete now? i mean, a 5 year old TV would be hardly worth what you paid for it 5 years ago.

Answer 1

I would check some stuff out first. Is the tank full of water? If it isn't than I would request the owner to fill it with water so you can see that there are no leaks. If it hasn't been filled for a long time the silicone can dry out. It is not something you want to fix. As far as the pump/heater etc you will be just fine. Just make sure the heater has no cracks and everything works well. That being said, the fish hobby can get expensive depending on what you are setting up. Do lots of reading before you attempt to set anything up.

Answer 2

Yes and No. The actual glass aquariums that don't have a special glass like starfire are the same now as they were 5 years ago and some of the 50+ year old tanks I have are still working great with much stronger and thicker glass than they use now. Silicone has improved though that's over a long period of time and a tank that is 5 years old has the same silicone as one that is 20 years old. If the tank was dry for 5 years I would be concerned though if it has been used until recently I wouldn't worry about it. Heaters age and the technology of ceramic, titaniam and other no break heaters has improved a lot over the last 5 years though most glass submersible heaters are the same now as they were 5 years ago. Remember heaters give out over time and this is older than a new one though my 200 W Visa-term from Hagen broken due to my error about 3 years ago after working great since 1986. My 3 new metal Guardian heaters all leaked and put electricity in the aquarium in less than one year. I found this out by being shocked twice. Not a pleasant experience. Filters: It depends on what type you have. Canisters are very similar to the old one's and last very well for a long time. They newer canisters are a little easier to clean though only one canister has dramatically improved the industry in the last 5 years and that's the Fluval FX-5 though unless you're putting it in a tank of at least 90 gallons it's too strong and it would create quite a current in a 90 as well. Hang on the back filters are basically the same as they were 20 years ago. Make sure there isn't a lot of stuff around the impeller, clean it out well and you'll be fine. Lights: Lighting technology has really improved in the last 5 years though most people aren't buying LED lights, power compacts or taking advantage of the higher efficiency balasts anyway. If you are planning a reef tank or live plant tank then there have been a lot of changes in lighting. If this is just a basic fish tank don't worry about it.

Bottom line: 5 year old aquarium equiptment is very similar to what is currently available. I have no idea how to give you specific advice because I don't know the size or type of products you are considering though I purchase a lot of used equiptment as well as new and I don't have any concerns about the used equiptment that seems to be in good shape. For the price you can usually purchase used equiptment overall you are way ahead of the game.

Answer 3

I don't think that home aquarium technology has changed all that much. You may be able to find better thermostat heaters than you used to, but as long as you watch your heater so that you don't overheat the tank, what you have should be fine. Just inspect the heater before you put it in the tank, make sure that there are no cracks or any blemishes that would compromise the integrity of the heater.
One of the only improvements I've seen is in the filters. Most brands now have filters with a biological media pack to help establish colonies of beneficial microbes in your tank. You can still buy filters without the bio pack, so it isn't absolutely necessary, it just takes a little longer for the biological filter to establish itself in your tank.

Answer 4

well some advancements have changed in the last few years but not many.. for instance bio wheels are pretty new to the fish community. One thing to make sure when buying a used five year old tank is to make sure where the tank has been held for all those years. For instance if the tank has been laying in a garage for 5 years can have major repercussions due to the temperature of the garage. The glass will expand and contrast because of the temperature changes. When buying a used tank make sure, before you put any fish in, preform a leak test. This is vital for almost any new tank. Other than that you should be fine

Answer 5

Technology has nothing to do with good husbandry of fish.

The essentials are good oxygenation and excellent water exchange and filtering. You also really need an adequate water heater/thermostat, sufficient to maintain the temperature of you tank within 1 or 2 degrees.

It may be a good idea to dispose of the old strip lighting and replace it with a couple of LED lights, preferably the colour-adjustable type.

BEFORE putting any fish into your tank, ensure you have:

1: Stabilised the temperature, which will take at least a week.
2: Make sure the pump, filter and oxygenator have been operating for the same period.
3.: Using an approved anti-bactericide, from your local aquarium supplies shop, dose your tank and let it circulate with the stabilisation setup, to ensure that every aspect of the aquarium has been properly disinfected. (do NOT overdo it with this stuff!)

Have fun!

Answer 6

Yes, there have been modest improvements. Still though a dry fish is usually a dead fish regardless of the aquarium.

Answer 7

You can get a total setup especially around the holidays for like $ 10 for a ten gallon tank

Answer 8

its just a glass box, glass quality maybe improved in 5 years, but its glass, maybe u can tint the color of it or put some stickers on it but still glass.
u dont need a heater\freezer unless its a penguen,
box of glass should be around 20-50 bucks, in 5 years it never changed, but if u prefer titanium or steel cage its price might change a little.

Answer 9

dont do it, ive jus got a new aquarium, i was put of a old 1, cos the have developed lots it lyk the last 2-3 years their much more efficiant and reliable i reccomend a aq3 tank, they r really up to date.