HELP! Broken Tank Bottom

[Reefed419]

Ok, Well Let me start this whole thing off by saying I have been in the hobby for about 7 years now. I have a a few tanks along the way, my longest running was my original 55g tank. Well I wanted to start another tank and decided a 60g cube was what I wanted. Well after getting all things up and running over the past few months. Had a MAJOR setback last night. The bottom of my tank cracked in half. Now luckily it was just dripping and I was able to save all my fish and my few corals I had. I have gotten a piece to replace the bottom of my tank. My question is how hard is it to replace it successfully? I have instructions and they sounds easy enough, but if anyone has actual hands on experience please help me! Thanks in advance!

 

[tkeracer619]

I would be more concerned about why the first one broke. Fixing the tank itself is pretty easy.

Who made it and what kind of stand is it on?

 

[thegrun]

The easiest although not the "best" method is to simply undersize the new glass piece and silicone it on top of the broken piece. As long as you are not going bare bottom noone will know the difference. Be sure to silicone not just the corners but also along the crack.

 

[rite_eh]

That sucks. Was the tank level and supported properly? What do you think caused the crack?

 

[topfun2010]

Firstly, find out the reasons make your tank crack and solve it, otherwise it will be disaster again in future.(check with your base supporter and lever), change with the thicker glass and silicone

 

[Reefed419]

Ok, Well The tank was made by marineland, It is a standard 60 cube no reef ready, as i wanted to drill it all my self. The stand was built by me, I have built for fair share for a LFS and know what I am doing. The bottom cracked after I had been doing maintenance on my closed loop and must have bumped my plumbing coming out the bottom of the tank. The seals are all still good. I do not believe there to be any manufacturing problems, and its more of an user error. Just looking for if its worth the hassle to save $200 or not...

 

[tkeracer619]

Must be very thin glass on the bottom if bumping caused it. Is the top of the stand level?

The only way I would repair it is if the glass is really thin on bottom and then I would beef it up with a thicker pane instead of buying a new equaly poor built tank.

How old is the setup? I am willing to bet over 85% of new tank failures are caused by improper installation or stand. the rest is mostly manufacturer errors. Its probably impossible to tell without pulling it apart and looking for any defects. Some tanks that are built right and installed right still fail due to imperfections in the glass itself.

 

[Captn Obvious]

Just looking for if its worth the hassle to save $200 or not...

Hmmm, depends. If your going bare bottom, not for me. Also, can you get a cheap piece of glass or plexiglass? Do you have time to fix it etc. I would just cut out the upper silicone and reseal with new pane on top if I were to keep it. A couple suction cups and an hours work? Not too bad.

 

[James77]

I would not even attempt to replace an aquarium panel, and i am extremely handy. You are not going to save all that much money over just buying new, and that is assuming everything goes perfectly. I would, as others suggested, figure out why it cracked in the first place....

 

[Dr. Reef]

i always use a 1" thick styrofoam under the tank same size as the tank jut to keep the un-levelness of the wood away.

 

[john rochon]

Do not just silicone a new piece of glass over old!
Do not use foam on bottom. Most tanks have raised bottom and foam is NOT recommended and does nothing.
Don't bother and buy a new tank. Bottom panels are a pain to replace and you'd basically have to redo entire tank! new silicone does not adhere to old very well. Glass would be at least $50 plus. I hate bottome drilled tanks.