Acrylic Seam Strength? Failure?

[thecoolguy]

I have recently become VERY paranoid that my new tank is gonna blow at the seams....

can someone with some experience or first hand eye-witnessing tell me what acrylic that is failing at the seams looks like?

on my tank, the seams on some joints are not super clean - but have held for the previous owner for years...i am guessing it was just made a little messy but is 100% fine....but the thought of 300gal of water on my floor doesn't help me fall asleep at night...

thanks a bundle

 

[jd300]

could you post a pic of the seams or problem area please?

 

[thecoolguy]

sure thing....was working on getting a pic that would show it true to form....

now before everyone tells me to empty my tank cuz it is gonna blow....i must say the obligatory "it isn't as bad as it seems...."

now, the location of what is pictured is kind of hard to describe - since the tank is in the shape of an octagon - the seams are actually not just standard 90 degree connections.....

and i believe the actual pressure per side/seam is a lot less that a standard rectangular tank because there are actually 8 sides to spread it out between?

either way....here is a pic -

in person - it looks like air bubbles that got potentially trapped when it was cemented together? with micro - ice crystals around them....

let me know what you think

 

[thecoolguy]

ok, so i studied location some more...and here is a top view (looking down through the acrylic seam) explanation....

 

[jd300]

i think you will be just fine

 

[basslover34]

no worries ... you've got a good seam there!

 

[thecoolguy]

well that is the thing....if this is a good seam, what the heck does a bad seam look like with acrylic?

 

[brianp]

It it was my tank, I would go to TAP Plastic and get a bottle of methylene chloride (or related acrylic solvent) and refuse this area. If nothing else, it will remove the crazing and improve the appearance.

 

[Wolf3101]

Your seams are fine. As stated previously you can easilly fix them up cosmedicly but IME acryllic seams either fail suddenly from stress or movement or they last forever. They don't wear out like some silicone seals do on glass tanks and they dont age.

The seams Your talking about ARE stronger by the way because of the greater contact area and the picture you posted is probubly due to manufacturing defects. Honestly I wouldn't worry too much about it...just support the tank well and of course...avoid dropping it.