Is my tank about to break? Help!

[Cichlidsanders]

WAIT!!!

Before you drain that tank are you certain that it is not the thermostat on your heater clicking?

I thought mine was breaking too, and it turned out to be the heater clicking.

The trim on most tanks does not hold the glass together alone.
The 20 gallon hospital tank I use does not have trim at all anymore and it has held together just fine so you should make sure its not your heater first IMO.

 

[hcky4206sic6]

If it was me I would drain and fix...use something like a JB Weld or a 2 part epoxy...but more importantly, if it was me, i would be looking for what cause the shift, floor shifting, stand shifting, stand and tank out of level???? do you have a piece of foam between your tank and stand to absorb your floor shifting.... As it gets warmer out house and apartments move, im not a betting man but i would bet that your floor is moving due to it getting warmer out and you created a stress point between your tank and stand...

Yeah I'm real curious myself as to why this happened. I do not have any foam between the tank and the stand and the stand and the floor... something I will be looking into doing. I didn't know the tank being unlevel could cause that... it is out of level to the side this happened on. (When I fill it, the water reaches the top on the right side first) It is only about an inch difference, but something to consider... but really didn't think a tank out of level could do that.

WAIT!!!

Before you drain that tank are you certain that it is not the thermostat on your heater clicking?

I thought mine was breaking too, and it turned out to be the heater clicking.

The trim on most tanks does not hold the glass together alone.
The 20 gallon hospital tank I use does not have trim at all anymore and it has held together just fine so you should make sure its not your heater first IMO.

It is definitely not the heater. This was enough of a sound to get me to jump a bit and to get small tremors in the water. It sounded like the stand shifted some then when I went to investigate, noticed the two cracks.

If the plastic is not what holds the tank together then I think I am good for now. But I will be taking everyone's suggestions. Foam will be placed where necessary, leveling will be done, and repair of the plastic will be done. Also more support underneath the house and in the stand will be accomplished.

Anymore comments/suggestions are welcome. Thanks to all again.

 

[stingraybob]

Yeah I'm real curious myself as to why this happened. I do not have any foam between the tank and the stand and the stand and the floor... something I will be looking into doing. I didn't know the tank being unlevel could cause that... it is out of level to the side this happened on. (When I fill it, the water reaches the top on the right side first) It is only about an inch difference, but something to consider... but really didn't think a tank out of level could do that.



It is definitely not the heater. This was enough of a sound to get me to jump a bit and to get small tremors in the water. It sounded like the stand shifted some then when I went to investigate, noticed the two cracks.

If the plastic is not what holds the tank together then I think I am good for now. But I will be taking everyone's suggestions. Foam will be placed where necessary, leveling will be done, and repair of the plastic will be done. Also more support underneath the house and in the stand will be accomplished.

Anymore comments/suggestions are welcome. Thanks to all again.

Theres your problem, the floor its sitting on could be moving due to it warming up outside and buy not having that foam under there its creates stress if one side rises or dips and the other doesnt move...i wish i could explain it better or make pictures....drain, fix, and get a half inch piece of pink insulation board or white styrofoam and put it under there...problem solved!

 

[hcky4206sic6]

Theres your problem, the floor its sitting on could be moving due to it warming up outside and buy not having that foam under there its creates stress if one side rises or dips and the other doesnt move...i wish i could explain it better or make pictures....drain, fix, and get a half inch piece of pink insulation board or white styrofoam and put it under there...problem solved!

You explained well enough... are we talking about that firm foam (Dow board) that you would get at Home Depot or Lowes?

 

[Tropical Dude]

I have seen people use everything from hard insulation foam to self-leveling foam compounds. Any foam that can give a little bit (but not flatten out) under the weight of the tank should do. I would personally get another opinion though.

 

[Pharaoh]

Theres your problem, the floor its sitting on could be moving due to it warming up outside and buy not having that foam under there its creates stress if one side rises or dips and the other doesnt move...i wish i could explain it better or make pictures....drain, fix, and get a half inch piece of pink insulation board or white styrofoam and put it under there...problem solved!

You explained well enough... are we talking about that firm foam (Dow board) that you would get at Home Depot or Lowes?

I have seen people use everything from hard insulation foam to self-leveling foam compounds. Any foam that can give a little bit (but not flatten out) under the weight of the tank should do. I would personally get another opinion though.

Please read.......
Faom will not help you in this situation. If the floor is unlevel, foam will not correct that. If the stand is uneven, the foam will not correct that. If the plastic is cracking, the foam will not correct that. You need to address the issue at hand and make sure that there is not something serious going on. If this tank is shifting, there might be REAL issues with the floor. I would definitely look into this. Although trim does not support the tank all the way around, a broken/cracked piece of trim could in fact place unever pressure on the tank. Not having trim is an entirely different issue that having broken trim on a tank. Please verify that the plastic trim is not a risk and that your floor is still structurally sound. If you post a picture, we might be able to tell if it is a risk factor or at least give you some ideas.

Foam is strictly to eliminate small inconsistencies such as pieces of debris. Not, I repeat NOT, for correcting uneven stands, unlevel stands, or broken plastic trim pieces.

Please read the thread below. It is very information.


http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179982

 

[hcky4206sic6]

Thanks for the link. I read part of it so far and it is a good discussion. From what I have read, most people seem to agree with you. But this does not mean I am just going to discard the recommendations of the others. I think the leveling issue is major, and I will check it out.

As for a picture, I will get one up here later this afternoon. I am at work today and have to go to a sonogram with my wife (to verify we are having a girl ... among other things) after work but I will get one up here. I hope you guys will be able to better evaluate what is going on here.

Will post again later...

 

[CHOMPERS]

...But this does not mean I am just going to discard the recommendations of the others...

Pharaoh knows what he is talking about and he gave you good information. But if you would rather listen to a thirteen year old with an expert opinion, there is no shortage of them.

 

[CHOMPERS]

The events are not related. However, people are going to be quoting the original post as evidence for several self perpetuating myths.

There isn't enough strength in the plastic to hold the tank together or to be considered structural. It is there for looks and for assistance in the assembly of the tank at the factory. There are many tanks with cracked frames that have been in use for years. There are many more that are frameless (the construction is the same).

The water movement can not be related to the plastic breaking unless there was also sufficient movement in the glass. It would be noticable.

 

[hcky4206sic6]

Pharaoh knows what he is talking about and he gave you good information. But if you would rather listen to a thirteen year old with an expert opinion, there is no shortage of them.

Lol I'll stay away from the 13 year olds. I don't doubt Pharaoh does. I checked the level of the stand, and it is low on the side the plastic cracked. The floor itself is level so I'm good there. The pic I posted is the side. The crack goes from lower right to upper left. If you were looking at the back of the tank, it would be going from lower left to upper right. So it is basically making a "V" shape at the corner... but each crack is not touching each other or the corner itself. What can you figure out from the info on the crack and levelness that I provided?