Ruined tank?

[Tat2demon]

So, I had a massive bout of stupidity the other day when I was moving my tank to so some work on the overflow and stand.

I put it on a 2 wheel cart and not thinking I put it glass edge down instead of trim down.

While working on the overflow I noticed that the weld on the cart broke part of the edge and a circular crack popped inward all the way past the inner pane of glass to the back of the silicone.

I ran it over to my LFS and talked to the the main fish guy. I have trusted him for over 15 years but I need to make sure on this.

He said that even though it goes beyond the inner pane of glass it is still a ways within the silicone and the cracks are circular so shouldn't spiderweb out. He recommended that I stand it on end and put superglue on it and let it work its way into the crack as a precaution and just keep an eye on it. He also said that the black silicone on here was extra heavy duty stuff which made him feel better about it.

I asked him if this was his tank would he continue to use it and he said yes he would. Now, I respect his opinions and experience and the fact he could have made an easy sale on a new tank, but is going to be in my house, not his.

Is this salvageable or did I just throw away $170?

 

[cjs3055]

Me personally i would fill it with water somewhere you could careless if it gets full of water and see if it holds.

 

[Tat2demon]

Well right now it holds. Its a bit down the road Im worried about. Even if a leak were to form I could drain it and buy a new one but I'm not real crazy about putting all the work into it if its structurally unsound.

I plan on putting in a foam wall. If I spray that directly on the back would that help at all being it would be covering the area?

 

[Lynnmw1208]

hmm that's a tough one. if it were me, I wouldn't use it. I would be thinking about it every day wondering whether today would be the day that it would let go. i'd hate to put a bunch of fish in there and then it decide to go one day and all the fish die. that's just me though.

on the other hand, it may hold. maybe you should consult a glass company to see their point of view on the whole thing. I'd think they would know more about the strength of glass than the guy at the fish store would.

 

[sys578]

IF you had the money, I would buy a new tank. That is a real bad spot to be damaged. Imagine the PITA it will be to drain, remove, and setup another tank. :/

 

[shrimphead]

couldn't you get a small section of glass a bit larger than the crack and silicon that over the top of it?

 

[JeF4y]

$170 now, potential $1700 (livestock, new tank, water damage) later.

Personally I'd buy a new tank and try to recoup $50 out of this one to somebody willing to take the risk. I'm not a risk taker when it comes to indoor flooding.

 

[RaeRae]

Cheapest part of this hobby is the tank. No way man get a new one.

 

[RcToners]

What size tank?

 

[zoohoot]

I would agree with getting a new one. No point in taking the risk.

 

[dublo8]

What about using that epoxy they use to fill in chips on the front of your windshield? you can pick it up at your local autoparts store. I think that would be a better idea. I had a window that I pulled out of an old car and broke the window...(it was already cracked) but there was a chip that was fixed with that epoxy. After the window shattered into a million pieces that peice that was repaired with the epoxy was the only thing left still fully intact. definetly strong stuff.

 

[mayjong]

i'd get a new tank(good excuse to get one, too!)

 

[RVANANO]

I wouldn't even consider using it. I had a small chip on a brand new 120 and just sold it and bought another. As much as we spend in this hobby, the glass box is probably one of the cheapest components so long as you are talking standard size tanks...

 

[steelhead77]

No way would I put that in my house. Like others have said, it may hold, but I would always be thinking about it and worried that everyday when I come home from work, would I find it still in one piece. Get a new one and use this for a frag or quarantine tank out in the garage. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Gdevine]

$170 now, potential $1700 (livestock, new tank, water damage) later.

Personally I'd buy a new tank and try to recoup $50 out of this one to somebody willing to take the risk. I'm not a risk taker when it comes to indoor flooding.

I totally agree. I wouldn't trust it no matter how well you patched in. I was thinking you could use a marine epoxy as well but the more I thought about it I would just trash it or use it for other type of non-marine critters.

 

[PeeperKeeper]

Someone who keeps reptiles would probably still pay a fair amount for that tank (not sure of size, but they get into it as much as we do, so probably just about any size would be useful for someone) and it wouldn't be holding water. I'd Craigslist it and replace.

 

[unclejed2]

Well right now it holds. Its a bit down the road Im worried about. Even if a leak were to form I could drain it and buy a new one but I'm not real crazy about putting all the work into it if its structurally unsound.

I plan on putting in a foam wall. If I spray that directly on the back would that help at all being it would be covering the area?

Sorry but I wouldn't even think of using it. Check around, I am sure you can get a deal on a new one.

 

[mscarpena]

Its is at the bottom so it is a bad spot. I agree. I would buy a new tank.

 

[Tat2demon]

Survey says.......new tank! Really kicking myself in the *** for this. I got it a couple weeks ago. Hasn't even had water in it yet. :/ Hopefully I can find someone that wants to buy it for a reptile. It's a 75 btw.

 

[julie180]

Bummer Tat2demon. You are the only person that has ever done anything so stupid....NOT. I can't count the number of stupid things I have done over the years that cost me more money. Consider it the price of life, still better than sitting in the corner doing nothing.

Get a new tank and move on. Really cute kid there