Hairline crack
- Thread starter Margin55
- Start date
Ok there are many things you can do, if you can afford it you can totally replace the tank, but that's just not practical. But what I would do is I would buy a piece of acrylic cut a piece to cover the whole crack and then some and silicon it to the glass over the crack it might not be the sightliest fix but it should do the trick and it would be cheap too
tkeracer619
New member
Silicone will not adhere acrylic.
Is the tank glass? Please post a picture. You may be able to fix it, you may need to replace the tank.
Is the tank glass? Please post a picture. You may be able to fix it, you may need to replace the tank.
Well I really don't know much about silicon not adhering to acrylic because it really worked well for me and the only reason I say use acrylic is because it's a little cheaper and plus to cut a little square of glass you'd need a glass cutter and why pay for one for most likely a 1 time use. But you just have to cut a square that is a lot larger then the crack, like try to get atleast 1 1/2" bigger then the crack on every side because glass is weird because technically it's not a normal solid because it doesn't transfer energy to the entire molecular structure of the glass and that's why you can shoot a bullet through a normal pane of glass and it doesn't shatter into a million pieces but leaves a bullet hole, so if you can get a square to cover the crack and then some you'd be using the surrounding structure of the glass to support it. But after all of that hopefully it really is just a scratch lol 
A picture would certainly help. Also, the location of a crack makes a lot of difference to how problematic it is. If it is in a top corner and the crack has run to both the top and the side with just a small triangle of glass affected, it may be something you can live with. If the crack can run across the full breadth of the pane than it is much more of a problem and I'd argue the tank would need to be replaced.
tkeracer619
New member
Silicone will not stop a crack from advancing in glass. Rob, I am not trying to be difficult, I want you to be informed. Your situation is either a ticking time bomb or the glass was already done cracking. I would use caution and consider an upgrade or replacement.
Please post a picture so we can see what you are dealing with. Most cracks are not cracks but scratches.
Silicone will stick to acrylic but it won't create a strong vacuum bond which is what holds aquariums together. I purchased my 360g tank from someone who tried to fix a busted pane by laminating it with a panel of acrylic. Flooded his house. He is lucky he wasn't electrocuted or chopped in half when it went.
Please post a picture so we can see what you are dealing with. Most cracks are not cracks but scratches.
Silicone will stick to acrylic but it won't create a strong vacuum bond which is what holds aquariums together. I purchased my 360g tank from someone who tried to fix a busted pane by laminating it with a panel of acrylic. Flooded his house. He is lucky he wasn't electrocuted or chopped in half when it went.
+1... Acrylic siliconed to glass is not a good repair.
Aquavim160
New member
Pls let me know what the result was? Aqua vim warranties their tank for 5 yrs.
ericarenee
New member
This.. They do make kits to repair Plate Glass .
But its a bit involved and Requires Drilling a small Round HOLE Right past each end of the Crack.. DEEPER Then the crack itself..Then using a special Glass Resin to fill the Crack and those holes.. The holes are actually done with a Grinding bit that does not cause Fractures..
I have never done this myself but in the past have had to have glass panes fixed in commercial Buildings..Have watched the repair people do it many times..
As others have said a image will help. I have a Crack in my sump running from a Bulk head to a area about 6 inches up on the tank... Since my sump is in the basement and there is a low water shut off switch on my pump circuit i Decided to fix it...I laminated a piece of glass on both sides big enough to Cover that Bulkhead hole and all the way to end of the tank. was about 10 inch piece of glass. spread a very thin layer of ADHESIVE Silicon on the pieces of glass . Then pushed them against the tank Squeezing the adhesive out while twisting the pieces to insure NO Air bubbles. THEN Clamped them tight for 24 hours.. If the Crack runs the length of the tank or is heading in a Direction that it would do so if it busted I WOULD NOT REPAIR BUT replace the pane or the tank..
Wonder if the repair worked?
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