Acrylic Tank Leak!

[Lowell Lemon]

I would assume it is because once it has started leaking in one place, the entire tank has failed.

That is a big assumption as acrylic is more than 6 times stronger than glass on impact. Acrylic is tough by glass standards and worth the repair if it is a well constructed tank to begin with.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

I saw an episode of Tanked or Fish Tank Kings where they had a seam bust a leak and they fixed it on site. I would guess it can be done by anyone with some experience in acrylic work. I have used acrylic silicone on some that I wasn't worried about cosmetics.
Resealing a glass aquarium can absolutely be done. My 25 year old 180 gallon has been resealed twice.

If you delivered a new acrylic tank to me and it leaked I would question the ability of the fabrication crew to begin with. I would also send them packing and get my money back. Tanked has a reputation for blowing up large tanks if you look around the internet (customer was in Canada). Acrylic should only be bonded with either a two part or solvent mix that created a chemical weld in the joint. Built hundreds of them...only one leaked in 20 plus years of business. Using acrylic that is to thin for the tank design is the greatest cause of failure and the use of improper solvents.

 

[vetteguy53081]

If you delivered a new acrylic tank to me and it leaked I would question the ability of the fabrication crew to begin with. I would also send them packing and get my money back. Tanked has a reputation for blowing up large tanks if you look around the internet (customer was in Canada). Acrylic should only be bonded with either a two part or solvent mix that created a chemical weld in the joint. Built hundreds of them...only one leaked in 20 plus years of business. Using acrylic that is to thin for the tank design is the greatest cause of failure and the use of improper solvents.

two part solvent- yes and you therefore cant just reapply sealant like a glass tank. Acrylic is fused.

 

[lapin]

Why? Seems like if you empty the tank, dry it and inject weldon into the leak it will work (ie using a small syringe). Is it that the empty space where the leak is will not adequately melt the acrylic back together?

The issue you have is the acrylic has to be spotless clean. Algae and dust will not allow for a proper bond so you will still have a leak. You also need to use a thickened solvent.
In some cases you can use a piece of acrylic sq rod to strengthen the seam. The tank panels can not be badly warped or this will not work. The rod will need to be bonded to the seams with something like sci grip 40 which is a 2 part bonding agent. It is thick and can fill in small gaps up to 1mm which might it strengthen the seam. If the seam is not coming apart, which is very rare, you can use something like sci grip 40 to fill in the hole and create a gusset similar to the extra silicone inner seams you see on some glass tanks. You still need to create a clean surface for this to work.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

two part solvent- yes and you therefore cant just reapply sealant like a glass tank. Acrylic is fused.

You can repair a leaking tank but it takes a knowledge of the acrylic and the solvents that are available. I have repaired tanks for customers by other manufacturers with no problem. I prefer to not use 2 part in most situations due to the control issues and messy appearance.

 

[vetteguy53081]

The issue you have is the acrylic has to be spotless clean. Algae and dust will not allow for a proper bond so you will still have a leak. You also need to use a thickened solvent.
In some cases you can use a piece of acrylic sq rod to strengthen the seam. The tank panels can not be badly warped or this will not work. The rod will need to be bonded to the seams with something like sci grip 40 which is a 2 part bonding agent. It is thick and can fill in small gaps up to 1mm which might it strengthen the seam. If the seam is not coming apart, which is very rare, you can use something like sci grip 40 to fill in the hole and create a gusset similar to the extra silicone inner seams you see on some glass tanks. You still need to create a clean surface for this to work.

This guy knows his Acrylic !!!!!

 

[GatorReef]

started leaking right above the flipper on the front panel.

 

[jsvand5]

That’s kind of a surprising place for it to start leaking. If it were me I’d clean it well, fill the whole seam with weld on 16 then add a new piece of acrylic to the top like a euro brace. I’d do the other side with a top brace as well.

 

[lapin]

started leaking right above the flipper on the front panel.

Can we get a close up of the seam thats leaking? We need to see what sort of leak it is and the construction quality of the seam.

If it were me I’d clean it well, fill the whole seam with weld on 16 then add a new piece of acrylic to the top like a euro brace.

))))))))))
While weld-on 16 might work, I hate the stuff. Its like model airplane glue and I get it everywhere. I would rater make my own thickened solvent or use number 40 and thin it down some and pour a nice bead down the length. If propped in a V shape it would blend in as it spreads. By pour I mean use a syringe. I have some large dia metal tips that work for thick solvents.
A cleaner look would be a triangular piece on top of the corner to spread the stress, if the seam is not too far gone.