Bought a 100 gal tank off CL for $100, it had a small stress crack, and by the time we got it in the house, it had another.
I have done repairs before to smaller tanks, but never one this large, my plan was to sandwich the cracked glass between 2 other pieces.
The hardest part is to use a razor blade to remove the old silicone
Next to silicone pieces to the outside and let cure .
I put a thin layer on the crack itself and then the perimeter of the sheet.
The outside sheets are 3/16.
Next the inside pieces, I bought 1/4 inch glass for the side with the largest crack, it is large enough to cover the entire end wall. Just like the outside sheets, I again siliconed the crack, and around the sides.
For the small crack, on the back wall of the tank, bought a sheet large enough to cover far beyond the crack, and anticipate where it might continue to fissure under pressure.
After all silcone applied yesterday, I braced a rock against the side wall, to hold tight and let cure again.
Today was check for leaks day. So I rerouted a return line from another tank using its old water to leak check, making it a large water change for the other in use tank.
When full I added 50lbs of pool filter sand, couple rocks, and a pump.
No leaks so far.
Am now crossing my fingers that the silicone and triple panes of glass are enough keep it together.
By the way, the cost of 4 panes of glass, and 1 tube of GE I silicone was @ $65.
I have done repairs before to smaller tanks, but never one this large, my plan was to sandwich the cracked glass between 2 other pieces.
The hardest part is to use a razor blade to remove the old silicone
Next to silicone pieces to the outside and let cure .
I put a thin layer on the crack itself and then the perimeter of the sheet.
The outside sheets are 3/16.
Next the inside pieces, I bought 1/4 inch glass for the side with the largest crack, it is large enough to cover the entire end wall. Just like the outside sheets, I again siliconed the crack, and around the sides.
For the small crack, on the back wall of the tank, bought a sheet large enough to cover far beyond the crack, and anticipate where it might continue to fissure under pressure.
After all silcone applied yesterday, I braced a rock against the side wall, to hold tight and let cure again.
Today was check for leaks day. So I rerouted a return line from another tank using its old water to leak check, making it a large water change for the other in use tank.
When full I added 50lbs of pool filter sand, couple rocks, and a pump.
No leaks so far.
Am now crossing my fingers that the silicone and triple panes of glass are enough keep it together.
By the way, the cost of 4 panes of glass, and 1 tube of GE I silicone was @ $65.
