cracked tank.

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H

hamster

Gambusia
MFK Member
May 17, 2011
432
0
16
Ipswich England
Hi all. I just finished plumbing in my new glass breeding tank. I go to move it the tiniest bit and crack from top to bottom on the back. To say I'm irritated would be a huge under statement. I grabbed my silicone and covered the crack inside and out but I have a feeling that you guys are going to tell me it's not enough. Dimensions are L6' H15" D1'. There is a glass divider in the middle where the crack is.

Thanks for any advice.
 
youre lucky it is only 15" tall, so maybe get the biggest glass piece you can and silicone it well to the crack area, covering the whole crack, even this is risky, I would probably not do it myself...
 
buy a sheet of glass from your hardware store, it doesnt hace to be thick at all, 2mm glass will do.
cut out two pieces to the size of the cracked pannel of glass (maybe subtract an inch from each edge).
when you go to stick the pieces of glass on either side be extremely genorous with the silicone. apply too much.
once thats dont let her sit for 3 or so days. fill it up with water and if it leaks at any place, dry it out and you can plug the hole with silicone.
it shouldnt be too bad
good luck!
 
Hello; I have repaired cracked tanks wirth success before. The silicone you just put over the crack likely will not hold and if it does may fail at any time. I would scrape it off and clean the surfaces well. I agree with placing sheets of glass over the crack as others have suggested. I would try one sheet first as one sheet has worked for me in the past.

As you have a divider on the inside, perhaps a patch on the outside will be a place to start. I usually patch on the inside for the first patch. Get the patch sheet sized and lay it up over the crack to double check that it fits and lays flat on the tank glass. If you are lucky the cracked glass edges are not sticking out and the patch will be flush. Clean the surfaces well. Do not worry how it looks with the silicone oozing out and about and use plenty. Try to put the patch where you want it the first time if possible and press it gently untill the silicone spreads out all along the crack and to the sides of it for a distance. Give it plenty of time to cure, say three days at least and test it.

Sometimes a small leak can be addressed around the one patch. If not a patch on the other side is worth a try.

Once the silicone gets a good grip it may well be impossible to remove the patch without breaking the glass. I have an ugly tank that I patched over thirty years ago. The tank was one of my first and had an iron exterior frame which rusted away in the 1970's. I cracked a panel or two and patched it.

good luck
 
Thanks for the help everyone. I will patch it tomorrow when I get home from work. I have a glass place up the road so I will ask in there. I will leave the silicone on the inside and patch the back. If it leaks at least it's not in the house.
Thanks again for the help you clever people.
 
Btw is indoor outdoor silicone safe to use it has no anti mold in it. If not I'll have to buy another tiny tube for £5.
 
Is the glass divider kind of wedged in there? I cracked a sump I had built because I didn't cut the glass down enough and kind of wedged it in there. Ran fine for a few months before it cracked.
 
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