Help! Cracked my tank!

[Jacular]

The bottom section of my tank has cracked. Water everywhere. Any ideas on how to fix it?

I thought I could get a piece of glass and silicone it down over the crack water proofing, and strengthening it, and then with rocks over the top you wouldnt really see it. Any other ideas?

:cry: Don't say buy a new tank, because I can't.

 

[pepper]

What about just silicone it without the glass bit added? Or is there a Big hole there?

 

[slim6y]

A lot would depend how much water is in the tank... If it's a 200L tank and you have it filled, that's 200kg of water in there... A fair whack of weight.

Good luck

 

[redbellybite]

crack you may fix but hole ......BUY A NEW ONE

 

[grizz]

The bottom section of my tank has cracked. Water everywhere. Any ideas on how to fix it?

I thought I could get a piece of glass and silicone it down over the crack water proofing, and strengthening it, and then with rocks over the top you wouldnt really see it. Any other ideas?

:cry: Don't say buy a new tank, because I can't.

If you do that make the new piece the same size as the internal dimensions of the existing piece to reinforce the whole panel, and be sure it is heavy enough to carry the wieght.

 

[Ramsayi]

best way to stop it leaking would be to empty it!

 

[falconboy]

best way to stop it leaking would be to empty it!

One of the most intelligent things I've heard on APS for a long time. Good work.

 

[redbellybite]

well was under the impression it had been emptied already .........did I assume wrong?

 

[daniel1234]

I have a tank that has this done to it but new peice is on inside of tank. Is only about one third the size of the back of the tank (where the crack is) Old tank as well and repairs were done by grandfather (Opa). I used it for a spare when babies were born. Tank is 30x14x14inch (100ltr).

Agree it is better to cover whole panel if you can, especally larger tanks that are prone to splitting after 8 to 10 years (built cheap, no reinforcing). Charles, the guy who built my tank runs a second strip of glass along each edge for this reason, but it costs more and people can't see the point unless the silicone gives way one theirs, then Charles is god

 

[Jacular]

First thing I did was empty it! Well tried to find the crack, and when I couldnt I emptied it, only to find a crackalong most of thebottom. There isn't a hole, but it's a pretty nasty crack. I thought I'd get a piece of 5mm glass cut to the internal dimensions and basically make a false bottom (just with no gap between the new bit and the old bit)Sound good? Tank is 2ft long. 1.5 high, and 1 foot deep.

 

[Jacular]

I'm just glad it was this one and not the 6 ft turtle tank, with breeding guppies,mollies and tetras in there. That would have been the worst!

 

[falconboy]

If its only a 2 ft tank, to be safe I'd buy a new one. They aren't that expensive.

 

[redbellybite]

I agree with that ...its a little tank you would spend half as much if not a bit more fixing it when you can get a new one or even a second hand one in good nic ........