Small Chip on Front Corner Glass (12mm, 3m Tank) Safe?

[LaurentB]

Hi everyone,

My name is Laurent from Paris and this is my first post here on MonsterFishKeepers! Nice to meet you all.

I recently moved to a new place. I used to keep a Tanga cichlids tank, and during the move my tank got a bit scratched/bumped when it rubbed against a kitchen countertop.

Tank specs:

• 3.0 m × 0.7 m × 0.7 m (approx. 1470 L / 388 gal)
• 12 mm glass
• 3 cross braces
• Tank is currently empty

After the move, I noticed a small exterior chip (~4–5 mm) on the front glass corner edge, located about 12 cm (5 inches) above the bottom. The chip is on the outside only, it does not reach the silicone seam, and I don’t see any visible cracks radiating from it.


Photos:


My questions:

1. Is this kind of small corner/edge chip generally safe on a tank this size?
2. Since it’s relatively close to the bottom, should I be worried about structural integrity?
3. Would you recommend any kind of reinforcement, or is monitoring enough?
4. Any specific fill-test procedure or warning signs I should watch for as I slowly fill it?

Thanks a lot in advance for your help!