Just picked up this 300 gallon(8'X24"tallX30wide) glass aquarium the other day, sadly it obtain a crack during transpiration. The bottom of the tank is made out of two pieces of 1/2 glass, each with 4 large 3-4" holes for bulkheads in the two overflow boxes. It also is trimmed along the inside of the bottom of the tank with 3" wide 1/2" glass. The top layer of the bottom glass has a crack that starts at the edge and curves thru the middle. There is a second crack that seems to be in the second layer and curves. I have highlighted the cracks in one picture. The crack is smooth the touch.
Aquarium has a double layer bottom, two glass overflows with 2 3-4" holes in each box, 3" glass trimming the inside of the tank and top, the 5 glass braces along the top are made of two strips of glass, and the top corners have triangular pieces at the top. It is sitting on a wood frame that I am going to reinforce and eventually trim and support the entire tank.
I have to get this tank up and running for my 26" silver aro and 18" RT/SN catfish. I have been asking around for idea and looking for a way to fix the aquarium and not be force to trash the tank. So far I have received three different ideas from people.
1. Place a large peace of glass over the crack in the tank and silicon it down. Even over the entire bottom of the tank, but it would be hard because of the overflows, and 3" trimming. Silicon the panel down, and give the tank a wood or metal framing around the top and bottom for extra support.
2. Someone told me that i could try fiber glassing the entire bottom of the tank. I dont know if fiberglass works well with glass. If possible i wonder if i can fiberglass over silicon, get the fiber to cover the bottom and the edge trimming with a water tight seal, and if i could transport the tank after the fiberglass has been tested outside without messing up the fiberglass.
3. A friend said i should replace both glass bottom layers. Im not sure how much two 8X2' 1/2 thick sheets of glass with 4 large holes drilled in would cost, but prob a lot more then what i paid for the tank and stand. Deconstruction and construction would be a big job, I have never took up a tank this large before.
Lastly what brand and type of silicon do you large fish tank owners/builders use on ur large tanks? Whatever i end up doing, im planning to resilicon the entire tank. So i will need large amounts of silicon, hopefully it comes in the tubes that fit in cocking guys. I heard of brands I can find at hardware stores but I want to make sure I get the best for aquariums and also in large amounts. I know to remove all the old silicon and use rubbing alcohol to clean the area. Since there is so many pieces of glass on this tank i prob would not be able to do it all at once, one section at a time.
Any information would help, and gladly appreciated. Anyone that sells glass or silicon feel free to contact me. Thank you for your time. MFK for life!
The aquarium
The overflow and trimming along inside of the tank.
Crack
Crack
Chip, it is either from the crack or caused it.
Aquarium has a double layer bottom, two glass overflows with 2 3-4" holes in each box, 3" glass trimming the inside of the tank and top, the 5 glass braces along the top are made of two strips of glass, and the top corners have triangular pieces at the top. It is sitting on a wood frame that I am going to reinforce and eventually trim and support the entire tank.
I have to get this tank up and running for my 26" silver aro and 18" RT/SN catfish. I have been asking around for idea and looking for a way to fix the aquarium and not be force to trash the tank. So far I have received three different ideas from people.
1. Place a large peace of glass over the crack in the tank and silicon it down. Even over the entire bottom of the tank, but it would be hard because of the overflows, and 3" trimming. Silicon the panel down, and give the tank a wood or metal framing around the top and bottom for extra support.
2. Someone told me that i could try fiber glassing the entire bottom of the tank. I dont know if fiberglass works well with glass. If possible i wonder if i can fiberglass over silicon, get the fiber to cover the bottom and the edge trimming with a water tight seal, and if i could transport the tank after the fiberglass has been tested outside without messing up the fiberglass.
3. A friend said i should replace both glass bottom layers. Im not sure how much two 8X2' 1/2 thick sheets of glass with 4 large holes drilled in would cost, but prob a lot more then what i paid for the tank and stand. Deconstruction and construction would be a big job, I have never took up a tank this large before.
Lastly what brand and type of silicon do you large fish tank owners/builders use on ur large tanks? Whatever i end up doing, im planning to resilicon the entire tank. So i will need large amounts of silicon, hopefully it comes in the tubes that fit in cocking guys. I heard of brands I can find at hardware stores but I want to make sure I get the best for aquariums and also in large amounts. I know to remove all the old silicon and use rubbing alcohol to clean the area. Since there is so many pieces of glass on this tank i prob would not be able to do it all at once, one section at a time.
Any information would help, and gladly appreciated. Anyone that sells glass or silicon feel free to contact me. Thank you for your time. MFK for life!
The aquarium
The overflow and trimming along inside of the tank.
Crack
Crack
Chip, it is either from the crack or caused it.
