Is my tank about to break? Help!

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hcky4206sic6

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 3, 2009
69
0
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Rome, NY
Sorry if this is posted in the wrong spot. I was sitting in the room where the tank is, I hear a noise and see the water move like something settled or shifted. I look at the home made stand, everything seems to be okay. The tank itself though has about a six inch crack on the plastic piece that surrounds it on the bottom. There is a crack on the side and the back bottom plastic section. Does this plastic hold the glass together? I don't know if these cracks were there before since I bought used. I supported the stand just in case that's what it is. Is my tank about to bust open on me? Please send all your help. Thanks.
 
Well, the bottom plastic piece does not hold the glass together, the silicone does that. However, if it is cracked, it may not be supporting the glass evenly, and could cause the glass to fail. Is it located on a piece of foam or anything similar? I've alway's placed a .5" piece of foam under my tanks to absorb any inconsistencies in the stand.
Good luck, hope you make it through okay.
 
I would definitely address this issue. Foam isn't going to help the situation. I would look at draining the tank and repairing the plastic trim or replacing it altogether.
 
ok... I think first thing is first, what moved to cause that to crack?? I would think that would have had to be something worth looking for....
 
80 gallons is a lot of towels.... i would drain the tank and do some fixing and repairing asap... maybe it will last forever if you do nothing... but at the same time it may not..
 
Yeah... I agree with everyone else...

Figure out what fell...

Did it break the plastic...?

Be safe... drain the tank and address the problem directly... in otherwords... it won't get any better.... and it will just stress you out... not worth it...! IMHO

mm
 
My 55 has had a broken part in the plastic at the bottom for a few years with no problems. Not saying you will be ok for sure, but it has not caused me any problems.
 
Pharaoh;2994047; said:
I would definitely address this issue. Foam isn't going to help the situation. I would look at draining the tank and repairing the plastic trim or replacing it altogether.

Any idea on how to repair it?

stingraybob;2994744; said:
ok... I think first thing is first, what moved to cause that to crack?? I would think that would have had to be something worth looking for....

I think I may not have described what happened very good since I typed in a panic. The sound I was hearing was what I believe to be the plastic cracking. The movement in the water was caused by this. Now what caused this to happen I am not sure...possibly lack of support?? Thanks for the input.

chesterthehero;2994767; said:
80 gallons is a lot of towels.... i would drain the tank and do some fixing and repairing asap... maybe it will last forever if you do nothing... but at the same time it may not..

malawi mayhem;2994769; said:
Yeah... I agree with everyone else...

Figure out what fell...

Did it break the plastic...?

Be safe... drain the tank and address the problem directly... in otherwords... it won't get any better.... and it will just stress you out... not worth it...! IMHO

mm

Yes 80 gallons is a lot to clean up and I definitel do not want to even think about that happening. I am on edge with it right now and probably will be thinking about it until it gets fixed. But nothing actually fell on it... it just happened on its own. It would be great if nohthing happend forever, but I think there is a problem somewhere causing this. Any ideas on how to fix the plastic?

Angler;2994772; said:
My 55 has had a broken part in the plastic at the bottom for a few years with no problems. Not saying you will be ok for sure, but it has not caused me any problems.

Potentially good news... but it still definitely doesn't ease my tension, lol. It wold be great if I didn't have to do anything, but think it would be neglectful if I didn't.

Any other ideas on this out there on MFK, send 'em this way.
 
You could try using a plastic epoxy or something like JB Weld to repair the broken trim.
 
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...
 
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