Cracked glass

[Bri Guy]

At least the tank is dry and hasn't been set up yet.

I was putting the bulkhead on and tightened it too tight I think. There is a piece of extra glass on the inside and the cracks don't strech out past the silicone and its on a 10g what do you guys think, get a new tank or what.

I know what I did wrong too, I put the silicone BETWEEN the 2 pieces of glass and it made a small gap between them where the bulkhead goes, I think I should of just siliconed AROUND the edge of the glass. Oh well too late now.

Jason, what do you think am I out of luck, we may need to drill another hole (unless your getting sick of drilling, ha)

 

[jmkarcz]

It's a (Wednesday) tough call. You (Wednesday) may be ok. I can't (Wednesday) say when (Wednesday) I'd be (Wednesday) up to drilling another (Wednesday) hole. I'm out of (Wednesday) 10 gallon tanks though (Wednesday). I think I even (Wednesday) might have caused that one (Wednesday). That thin glass is a tough (Wednesday) one to drill. If ya do (Wednesday) opt to have it drilled some (Wednesday) day, I would peel that plate off (Wednesday) and (Wednesday) glue it to your new tank (Wednesday) before you drill it.

You may be safe forever too. as long as you don't torque it, that crack may never grow.

Sorry, with the price of gas (Wednesday) and the cost of a tank - its a (Wednesday) though call.

Don't know if I have time (Wednesday) this week to (Wednesday) do it for (free) 100$.

Jason
(Wednesday)

 

[RCS]

Personally, for ten bucks and 15 minutes of time, I'd drill another tank rather than chance it. What was the purpose of the piece of glass on the inside?

 

[Bri Guy]

The purpose of the extra piece was because 10g glass is so thin it might crack. lol

Do any of you have bulkheads going through 10g glass without the extra piece of glass?

By the way there are 4 sm cracks!! I don't think that was your fault Jason, I should have tightened the bulk head when the silicone was still wet, It wouldn't have bent then. Even though its only $10 Im kinda straped for now so not (Wednesday) but I will need a new one drilled in the near future.

 

[jmkarcz]

pm sent.

 

[RCS]

What size hole do you need drilled? I've got 10g tanks all over the darn place and I need some more practice drilling glass yet. My first hole was in a 20 long tank and it went smoothly.

 

[Bri Guy]

Really, do you have the smaller bulkhead bit?

That would be awsome, I put water in my tank setup tonight and tryed the sump for the first time (my first sump, scary), but couldn't set up the Refugium cause of the crack (bummer)

The faster I can get that done the faster I can start on my cycle

Let me know I would take you up on that offer.

 

[sticky]

I drilled my ten gallon refugium with a dremel and had no problems. You do need to be careful when snugging the bulkhead. You just have to be patient when drilling through thin glass.

 

[RCS]

What size hole do you need? The hole saw I've got is 45mm I believe. It's for a 1" bulkhead, but I'll have to doublecheck that.

 

[Bri Guy]

Alright I just measured the hole Its just under 1 1/2 inches, 5/32 under. It fits the smaller of the two common bulkheads you find at Fleet Farm.
Ive got a 10g tank you can turn into swiss cheese for practice.
I see the cracks grew outside the silicone, so a new one is a must.

Jason what is the size of your 2 drill bits?

 

[jmkarcz]

Your gonna make me go all the way down there at this hour? It's dark, and I'm tired...


Jason

 

[jmkarcz]

Got a bowl of ice cream while I was up...

the jig says 2 and 1/4" and 1 and 3/8"

Now I gotta take this thing all the way back down there...

I'd like to see you use something like a 15 or a 20, the thicker glass will be a ton load more stable. Or, reclaim that patch we made, silicone it on, and then drill when dry.

J

 

[Bri Guy]

1 and 3/8 Is the size we used on mine.

Jason I can't help that you didn't hack on the computer at work today, but waited untill you got home like the honesy guy you are. thankx

I would love to use a larger tank with thicker glass, but 2 10g are all that will fit under my stand. Should have built it bigger.

How would you go about taking that extra glass piece off. Its on there good, and it would be hard to get a blade to cut it.

 

[jmkarcz]

After some thought what I would do is use a cable saw to get under or around the bottom corner. I think you may be able to pull it up and thru... carefull you don's slip and trun it into a Polish Boxing Match. (hit yourself in the face)

Failing that, I would try a sharp, long dangerous kitchen knife. No... Seroiusly... a large wide putty knife.

I it were me, I wouldnt remove it at all. I woud cut out the silicone arount the entire panel, and coax it out with a hammer. Yep, I'd break it out. I'd cut the silicone so I didn't blow out another pannel though.

I would clean up the mess, scrape it all down. get rid of the mess and silione. I would then measure for a new panel, and get one made that is thicker. I just called Packerland glass in Green Bay here. They tell me a 12" square, (your smaller than..) is 6$ and 1/4" thick (I would go 3/16" usually, but it's the same price) I would get it drilled, then silicone the pannel back in.

Here's why. EVERY 10 gallon tank you buy is going to have that same thin glass. Remember when I drilled my resiviour for the wall of 40's, that I went thru 4 of the same 10 gallon tanks we drilled for you. The are cheap. They are not made for drilling. I feel that they will continue to break.

Then you can tighten the fitting as tight as your heart desires.

That and 10$ for a new tank, or 6$ for thicker glass and 3$ for silly-cone.


Jason

 

[jmkarcz]

Be very carefull handeling glass, especially that thin!!!

 

[Bri Guy]

Thankx for the info jason, but im thinking that you are double posting so you can have a shot tonight, you could have edited. lol

Ill try to get that piece out, otherwise I bought it in Neenah for $2 ill buy another

 

[jmkarcz]

Replace the whole side...

Replace the whole side...

I think that you are correct!