Bowing and crazing 300g tank

[Graphic]

H

ok so the process is you empty the tank, dry it out, clean the corners out real well, tip the tank onto the corner and pour the weld-on #40 into the corner and allow it to bond just the way it is in the corner. you dont spread anything around.

How long does it take to cure? The tank weighs a lot in assuming 400-500lbs so that will not be an easy task. Any suggestions on how I can have this thing tilted without causing damage?

 

[Graphic]

So what I'm thinking is place it on one of my moving blankets, then tilt it to one side by putting a couple pillows under it. Then do all the seams

 

[Frank Castle]

H

How long does it take to cure? The tank weighs a lot in assuming 400-500lbs so that will not be an easy task. Any suggestions on how I can have this thing tilted without causing damage?

400-500lbs??? maybe empty lol water is 8.3lbs per gallon, so you have well-over 2,500lbs , probably 3,000lbs counting the weight of the tank. Unless that is what you meant lol sorry. I'd take P predatorkeeper87 and Wednesday13 's advice, these guys know their stuff. That typ e of bowing and a tank that size only 5/8" would scare me too......my 120g All-glass had 5/8" and it bowed 1/2'' too

 

[Graphic]

400-500lbs??? maybe empty lol water is 8.3lbs per gallon, so you have well-over 2,500lbs , probably 3,000lbs counting the weight of the tank. Unless that is what you meant lol sorry. I'd take P predatorkeeper87 and Wednesday13 's advice, these guys know their stuff. That typ e of bowing and a tank that size only 5/8" would scare me too......my 120g All-glass had 5/8" and it bowed 1/2'' too

I meant dry weight. Yes I'm going to take their advice. Going to pick up Weld-40 from tap plastics. Thank you guys! I've seen their posts on previous stuff so I feel they have solid input.

 

[wednesday13]

So what I'm thinking is place it on one of my moving blankets, then tilt it to one side by putting a couple pillows under it. Then do all the seams

I really dont see anything detrimental to ur tank other than the patches placed on with silicone.. those will eventually fail, silicone does not adhere to acrylic... u can cause more harm with the weld-on #40 than good on already crazed and bowing material. It heats up as it cures and will reveal more crazing up to 2-3" away from ur glue areas. Ur seams all look to be in good shape....standard 300's are sold in 1/2" very often and they all bow like that. its not going to explode, its just underbuilt a bit and bows. You get what u pay for and most companies skimp on material these days. Being overly cautious is never a bad thing...in ur case i think its unnecessary tho past redoing those patches in silicone. I have a feeling ull be more disapointed with what the #40 does to ur tank when it heats up rather than just leaving it alone for now. All i see is normal wear/tear. The tank looks fairly new. If you want a "show tank" dont use the #40... if u want to reinforce it and arent concerned about aesthetics go for it. Id be the 1st in line tellin ya to use #40 if i thought it was beneficial. ive repaired a dozen tanks with it by now. They were all in far worse shape than what ur showin me. again...all acrylic tanks bow...

 

[Freshwater4Life]

Your glass

400-500lbs??? maybe empty lol water is 8.3lbs per gallon, so you have well-over 2,500lbs , probably 3,000lbs counting the weight of the tank. Unless that is what you meant lol sorry. I'd take P predatorkeeper87 and Wednesday13 's advice, these guys know their stuff. That typ e of bowing and a tank that size only 5/8" would scare me too......my 120g All-glass had 5/8" and it bowed 1/2'' too

your glass tank bowed ?

 

[Frank Castle]

Your glass
your glass tank bowed ?

yup, crossbrace was broke - bought the tank used for $100. I coulda re-built a brace out of 2X's but I ended up selling it last year cuz I wanted a bigger one. I still got over 2 years out of it for fish, and another 4 for snakes

Shoulda thought that one through a little better. Sold one of my 75g and a two 65gs too. I know, im a dumbass lol I just wanted money

 

[Freshwater4Life]

Ahh ok.

yup, crossbrace was broke - bought the tank used for $100. I coulda re-built a brace out of 2X's but I ended up selling it last year cuz I wanted a bigger one. I still got over 2 years out of it for fish, and another 4 for snakes

Shoulda thought that one through a little better. Sold one of my 75g and a two 65gs too. I know, im a dumbass lol I just wanted money

Ahh ok. The brace was broken. Was wondering how you had a bowing glass tank lol.

 

[Frank Castle]

Ahh ok.
Ahh ok. The brace was broken. Was wondering how you had a bowing glass tank lol.

even smaller ones do it....I had a 70g that did it, even got a standard 30g and 29g's that do it......it's not ALOT but it's still enough to make you wonder. Always seems to be taller tanks

 

[Graphic]

I really dont see anything detrimental to ur tank other than the patches placed on with silicone.. those will eventually fail, silicone does not adhere to acrylic... u can cause more harm with the weld-on #40 than good on already crazed and bowing material. It heats up as it cures and will reveal more crazing up to 2-3" away from ur glue areas. Ur seams all look to be in good shape....standard 300's are sold in 1/2" very often and they all bow like that. its not going to explode, its just underbuilt a bit and bows. You get what u pay for and most companies skimp on material these days. Being overly cautious is never a bad thing...in ur case i think its unnecessary tho past redoing those patches in silicone. I have a feeling ull be more disapointed with what the #40 does to ur tank when it heats up rather than just leaving it alone for now. All i see is normal wear/tear. The tank looks fairly new. If you want a "show tank" dont use the #40... if u want to reinforce it and arent concerned about aesthetics go for it. Id be the 1st in line tellin ya to use #40 if i thought it was beneficial. ive repaired a dozen tanks with it by now. They were all in far worse shape than what ur showin me. again...all acrylic tanks bow...

Okay cool! I threw my fish in there. 5 seconds after I read your post lol. They hate me right now as they are acclimating. Hoping my arowana eats soon. I'll post up some pictures for you guys once it's ready to go. I have been breaking many fish rules when it comes to tank mates and have been very successful over the years.

The 300 gallon transplant:
2 Koi Fish
Blood Parrot Cichlid
Tiger Oscar
Pictus Catfish
Redtail Catfish (who will probably get his own tank or I will give him to a good home as he gets bigger)
Electric Yellow Cichlid
2 common plecos
Silver Arowana
Red Tail Shark
Dojo Loach - which is absolutely a cool fish. It lets me pet it, hold it etc. I'm hands on with all my fish and they are all really cool with me but this one is almost like a normal pet when it comes to personality.

The tank also came with a catfish that has a marking on the side that looks similar to an eye. So far day 2 of it's new tank mates and it's the first time I've seen that fish perk up since I've had him. The catfish lost all it's tank mates due to a power outage when the original owner was on vacation and it's been hiding from me up until now. It's definitely playful, I just hope it doesn't kill my other fish as he/she's a little bigger than everything else.


Excluding the new addition all have been living together for 6 months except for my redtail, he's been in there for about a couple months so. I watch him as I don't trust him but he tends to be very friendly with the other fish and hides with them when it's scared. Seems to be very fond of the oscar as they tent to just always be 1/2 away from each other at all times unless I'm feeding them. So hopefully it goes well.