Free Acrilic Tank (cracked) Need help

[JK47]

I picked up a used 55 gallon acrylic tank on Craigslist yesterday for free. I was really pumped on the deal but the guy "couldn't get a picuture". When I got there the tank was in bad shape. (cracked, melted from lamp ) It was holding water at the time just fine and does not show any signs of leaking after a 24 hour water test here, completly filled above the cracks. This is my first acrylic tank so I am not exerienced in fixing them.

Questions:
1) If the cracks do not leak today, will they down the road? The water level will be 10" so water would not even touch the cracks.
2) There is no framing on the tank, is acrylic strong enough to support the weight/pressure from the water?
3) The stand it came with is 3" narrower than the tank. (Stand is 13" deep, tank is 15") I am not confortable with the tank overhanging the entire width of the tank by 3". Is there a way if possible I put some kind of plate (ideas please) under the tank so the weight is distrbuted evenly, or build a whole new stand?

Should I just cut this in half and build a wet/dry? I know right where the inlet plumbing would go! LOL

 

[snaggle]

If you where to only use it as a grow out tank or QT tank, I would just get a small patch glue it on and be done with it.

 

[zerojquan85]

I too have a Acrilic tank, its in worst shape than yours.. mine's a 75 gallon.. at the moment.. i'm not using it.. but it does leak on the top.

For your tank, I'd say u can fix it up.. its not too bad for you right now.. just make sure that the damage area on your tank is patch up nicely. Use stuff from hardware store like liquid nail or epoxy.. i suggest using Bathroom sealing products.. i get them from home deport..

 

[Druu]

I too have a Acrilic tank, its in worst shape than yours.. mine's a 75 gallon.. at the moment.. i'm not using it.. but it does leak on the top.

For your tank, I'd say u can fix it up.. its not too bad for you right now.. just make sure that the damage area on your tank is patch up nicely. Use stuff from hardware store like liquid nail or epoxy.. i suggest using Bathroom sealing products.. i get them from home deport..

This works, but you need to be sure not to get the anti mildew stuff b/c that's got chemicals that can be harmful to your fish long term. I know GE-I silicon is good, but GE-II has the anti mildew.

 

[JK47]

This works, but you need to be sure not to get the anti mildew stuff b/c that's got chemicals that can be harmful to your fish long term. I know GE-I silicon is good, but GE-II has the anti mildew.

I read somewhere that you can't or shouldn't use silicone on acrylic. Is that not true?

 

[TRENT]

Turn it into a sump.

 

[liberator177]

Since he said there will only be about 10" of water in it, and his avatar I'm assumeing he wants to use it for mudskippers?

 

[JK47]

Since he said there will only be about 10" of water in it, and his avatar I'm assumeing he wants to use it for mudskippers?

You guessed it. I have two africans about 5" - 6" each and I want to seperate them before they start getting aggressive. I was going for a cheap turtle dock setup on this tank.

The stand is concerning me the most. Think I could laying 4 or 5 "2x4" pieces under the tank to spread out the weight would be enough?

 

[hbluehunter]

If you have access to a TAP PLASTICS, just grab some Acrylic "freeflowing" cement and the aplicator for it. It costs under 10 bucks and should fix that crack no probem. They even have youtube video's by TAP on how to do it.

 

[JK47]

If you have access to a TAP PLASTICS, just grab some Acrylic "freeflowing" cement and the aplicator for it. It costs under 10 bucks and should fix that crack no probem. They even have youtube video's by TAP on how to do it.

Thanks! I'll try and find some. Sounds like I am in decent shape for dealing with the cracks. I heard it was allot more of a big deal.

Any thoughts on the weight distribution over the stand?