Cracked my tank

[JLee1469]

I almost got my 40br going until I noticed this during my leak test. Is this anyway salvageable? Hoping someone can tell me siliconing it would suffice. Crack is from bulkhead to rim. My friend and I drilled last week and I'm pretty sure we didn't cause it. Tightened bulkhead too much? Stress from pushing in pvc to glue? No idea ugh might just find a RR or stick with my biocubes

 

[slief]

If I were going to attempt a repair, I'd remove the bulkhead and make a template from the base of the rim to a few inches below the bulkhead hole. I would include the hole in my template and take the template to a glass shop. I'd have them cut me two square pieces of equivalent thickness glass matching the template with holes drilled for the bulkhead. I'd then silicone one on the outside and one on the inside and let it set up. Then I'd reinstall the bulkhead and allow the silicone to fully cure. After that, I'd keep a eye on it to make sure it doesn't get worse.

 

[Reefed419]

Honestly, if it were my tank I would silicone the hell out of it. I don't think a crack that size in that placement is going to affect to structure of the tank that much.

With that being said, if I were setting the tank up for someone else, or in a rental house I would replace the tank.

You can always try a brace template like suggested above, or you could replace the whole back panel.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[Drae]

I wouldn't sleep right at night. Jmo

 

[mark54321]

Replace the tank, get another 40 breeder during $1 Petco sale. Not worth risking 40 gal. of water on your floor.

 

[oquockyo]

Ouch i would get a new one. Like Drae said I couldnt sleep at night either.

 

[Palting]

If I were going to attempt a repair, I'd remove the bulkhead and make a template from the base of the rim to a few inches below the bulkhead hole. I would include the hole in my template and take the template to a glass shop. I'd have them cut me two square pieces of equivalent thickness glass matching the template with holes drilled for the bulkhead. I'd then silicone one on the outside and one on the inside and let it set up. Then I'd reinstall the bulkhead and allow the silicone to fully cure. After that, I'd keep a eye on it to make sure it doesn't get worse.

This +1. Or, you can do the same thing using acrylic plates and cut it yourself including the holes, which is what I did in the past. Just sandwich the original glass between two plates, silicone both sides of the glass to each plate, then hand tighten the bulk head to squash everything together. Should pretty much last as long as any other glass pieces held together with silicone and frames, like, uhm..., our tanks .

 

[CAPSLOK]

Out of curiosity, how big is the tank?

If it is a 40B or something, I think the Petco $/gal sale may still be in effect...

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I do not think that crack will be a problem and I would sleep okay at night using it. That said, if it's going to bother you, you are still very early in the project, better to replace it now than later.

 

[phantomg23]

silicone it. the water really wont exceed the top of the bulkhead unless the pipe got clogged