Repair or Restart?

[mcox3]

As some of you might know I recently put together a 650g tank.

The bottom and two long sides are 1/2" glass and the two short sides are a combo of plywood/concrete board coated with drylok.

I had the tank assembled and it held water (300g) for about 2 weeks. We filled it up to about 500g and the next day we woke to find our house flooded.

My first thought was that the glass to drylok seam had busted only to find the bottom glass to side glass seam had busted the entire length of the tank.

My question to you is...

Do you cut the silicone off that side... rebead and retest?

Or do you rip it all down and start over?

My father in law thinks that the seam busted becuase I didnt use clamps vertically. He thinks starting over with the use of clamps will be a safer bet.

 

[repsol46]

yeah., i think i would go with your father-in-law., just to be safe bro.,

 

[mosthated]

man, if it was me i would probly re do the entire thing..
but this guy said he didnt have any problems with old to new silicone..
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/diy/27814-building-75g-all-glass-tank.html
so i dont know.. safe bet is to do it all over..

 

[pitbullfish]

post some pix so we might be able to help you out. my best guess is to start over

 

[mcox3]

Alright... I'll take some pics tonight...

I was hoping to hear... "oh yeah, just repair the leak, you'll be fine!"

haha.

 

[amehel0]

no i would redo it all the difference in between his tank and urs is -600+ gallons.

 

[jamey0615]

OVERKILL is the key! Just when you think you have done enough, double that!

 

[brianp]

Based upon your description of the failure, it sounds as if the walls/bottom of your tank may not have sufficient rigidity. The failure of an entire seam suggests that the tank may be flexing too much when filled with more than 300 gallons, and this is tearing the seam apart. Therefore, regardless of how you choose to repair this seam, you may want to consider reinforcing the structure. Of course, in the absence of pics, I'm only speculating.

 

[mike.murf1999]

Start over and rebrace the btoom and sides. The weight of the water is what forced the seams apart. brianp is right, sounds like not enought bracing and support.

 

[mcox3]

well i decided to repair... i'm going to add braces to the bottom.

If this works then great, if not, then i'll start over.

I've lost a lot of motivation with this thing failing... but its time to get back in gear.