I'm now BROKEN hearted - What to do?

[firebirdude]

So I just cracked my 29 gallon Biocube trying to drill out the back. I don't know what went wrong. Took my sweet time, and after 10 solid minutes of cutting, right as the hole fell out, the glass pane cracked badly. Due to this being the second time that's happened (previously on a 55g), I'm pretty ****ed.

So now I'm stuck on what to do next. I already have the stand for the 29g Biocube and I was in the beginning stages of doing an LED lighting setup for it. So do I just get another 29g Biocube tank and, this time, pay someone to drill out the holes for me? Or should I just scrap everything and move to a different setup?

It seems like I can get a larger used tank with stand for $100 easy off craig's list. I see them all day long. And the Biocube tank is about $150 (tank only). So I could take that $150, sell the stand and lid I have for another $150 or so, and put that $300 towards a different setup? I don't have much money, so maybe keeping up with a larger setup would be too tough. My LED lighting project would turn from a $250 setup for the Biocube into and $500 setup real quick. More live rock, more sand, more everything.

 

[sikpupy]

How did it crack? Is it a crack crack or did it shatter into tiny little peices?

I would not worry about the price of the tank. I would sit back and think what i would like to look at the most, a cube or a big rectangle tank. What would go good with my decore, etc. If it does not matter, get whatever is cheap. Remember, once you have the tank, you can always add later. Whatever fish you plan to have in the cube, would be fine in the bigger tank with the same amount of sand and rock. You can always add fish rock and more sand later when you save up a little so dont even worry about that route. Lights... eh... You could get a t5 strip light for the whole tank (just to have light all the way across) and maybe have half of your home made light on one side of the tank, for now, to take care of corals.

 

[sedor]

Sorry about the broken tank, that sucks! Maybe buy a cheap 10G and just drill holes all over it for practice. Who knows, the next thing you know you'll be the guy everyone in the city comes to to get their tanks drilled

I would get another cube, finish of that dream, and then when your feeling something else, go with that. On a side note, this probably has no relevance, but was the bottom of the cube tempered glass?

 

[darkdruid]

Keep looking on Craigslist, this one is for sell here locally right now. 29 gallon Biocube. Only 3 months old. The whole setup, tank, stand, sand, rock, cuc, everything, even a coral $175
http://knoxville.craigslist.org/for/1277964458.html
You never know what you'll find.

 

[darkdruid]

Heck, call them and work something out about buying the whole setup. I'll be in Sarasota in 2 weeks, I'll pick it up and bring it with me. A couple hours drive and you'll have a whole new system.

 

[noahm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15379318#post15379318 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ryandlf
Sorry about the broken tank, that sucks! Maybe buy a cheap 10G and just drill holes all over it for practice. Who knows, the next thing you know you'll be the guy everyone in the city comes to to get their tanks drilled

I would get another cube, finish of that dream, and then when your feeling something else, go with that. On a side note, this probably has no relevance, but was the bottom of the cube tempered glass?

+1 all the way around. Thinner glass is tougher. Make sure you have a good amount of water for cooling. Maybe set up a garden hose trickling over the surface. I am assuming you made a reservoir ring out of putty? Practice a bunch on some cheap 10g, then go for it on the new cube.

 

[Pacific Reefs]

I feel your pain.

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

I tend to think when a tank breaks after the hole has been drilled (like yours) that the tank had an unusual load on that surface which was causing a distortion. That distortion manifested into a crack only when you (unknowingly) created a weakspot via the hole.

Think about how you had it sitting when you were drilling it, is there anything that comes to mind that would put a load on the pane of glass?

 

[firebirdude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15379555#post15379555 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by darkdruid
Heck, call them and work something out about buying the whole setup. I'll be in Sarasota in 2 weeks, I'll pick it up and bring it with me. A couple hours drive and you'll have a whole new system.

That is extremely generous of you. I REALLY do appreciate it. But Sarasota is a solid 3 hour drive one way for me. It would be an easy $50 in gas for me...... That is a damn good deal on that tank though. I'll have to think about it...

I found an ad for one in Orlando already drilled out for a decent price. I emailed him to see if it's still available.

 

[Cbravo212]

Don't let it get you down. If it makes you feel better, the 55 was all tempered so it was destined to fail anyway.

I agree with the above posts in that practice makes perfect. Finish your bc as planned. You must have had an intrest to want to drill it and set up your own lights.

Good luck and keep us informed of how it turns out.