Vintage Aquariums

When I was a kid in the 60's I had about a 10 gal tank, corner filter in the bottom with the floss and carbon. I kept mostly guppies and minnows in it, along with a cory cat an algae eater and some swordtails. When it got dirty I took all the fish out and put them into a bucket and then took the tank into the back yard and washed the whole thing out with soap and water, then re-filled it with tap water and put the fish back in. In those days I had never heard of adding the decloranator and I doubt I even checked to make sure the tap water was warm enough lol. I didn't loose too many fish but I'm sure they suffered for my lack of experiance.
I found one of those stainless steel tanks not long ago (10 gal) with the slate bottoms, thought it was the coolest thing, but after having it up for a few months it got broken and I had to toss it, which was sad because I loved that tank. :(
 
Y'all are making me feel better about my 10 gallon slate-bottom tank I had as a kid in the late 60's/early 70s. I did the same thing - changed the floss and carbon in the box filter and topped off the tank, and every once in a while I put my SIX Angelfish in a bucket and took everything apart to clean it all. When the fish got too big (WAY too big) for the tank, I gave them back to the LFS and took down the tank. Didn't lose a single fish. I started with 6 and ended with 6.:lipssealedsmilie:
 
So ran across this thread when searching for info on my find this weekend. Complete 2.5g. Unfortunately (and as expected) it failed the leak test. Picked up the whole lot for $7. Tossed the carbon and filter floss though. If the floss wasn't gummed up, I woulda just rinsed it and kept it for nostalgia purposes.

I'll be having the motor checked out by a friend this week. Will also need to find a replacement belt for the pump.

The real trick is going to be resealing it. Someone on another forum suggested to use DC795 overtop the existing tar rather than try to disassemble it.

Miss Jinx has already given me some good info on these. If anyone has anything to share, please feel free to post.

Help me bring this beauty back to life.

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I know the slate bottomed 10g I started out with used a black tar-like sealant. These tanks were made well before the advent of silicone sealers I'd think. I've heard that you can heat up the original black tar like stuff and re-form it.

Either way, COOL looking equipment! I'd save that piston air pump for display purposes.
 
Wow, I remember that crazy black and white edge on the corners of the tanks. My dad had one when I was a kid, and had that same kind of pump with the big rubber band going round and round and the piston going back and forth. The filter had glass wool, (which could really hurt you), and charcoal. I think it was a 15 gallon tank. It seemed huge to me. Also way overstocked , but who knew in those days? Great thread. Thanks for the memories.
James0816 said:
So ran across this thread when searching for info on my find this weekend. Complete 2.5g. Unfortunately (and as expected) it failed the leak test. Picked up the whole lot for $7. Tossed the carbon and filter floss though. If the floss wasn't gummed up, I woulda just rinsed it and kept it for nostalgia purposes.

I'll be having the motor checked out by a friend this week. Will also need to find a replacement belt for the pump.

The real trick is going to be resealing it. Someone on another forum suggested to use DC795 overtop the existing tar rather than try to disassemble it.

Miss Jinx has already given me some good info on these. If anyone has anything to share, please feel free to post.

Help me bring this beauty back to life.

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