Broken rear glass panel

[Funston07]

So I came across a 225 gallon tank for sale. Catch is the rear panel is cracked so obviously won't hold water. A new panel to replace it would be around $175. The seller wants $200 for the tank. Would it be worth it to buy it and replace the panel myself to have a huge tank? I currently have a 65gal tank with just a HOB OF but am remodeling my basement with plans of installing a 200+ gallon tank down there anyways. Just wasnt sure how hard it really is to do but if possible it would be an enormous upgrade for a fraction of the cost.

 

[14 foot reef]

The tank is the cheapest part of a long term successful reef tank, I would never go this route

 

[Billdogg]

The tank is the cheapest part of a long term successful reef tank, I would never go this route

Me too, especially if you've never tried something like this before. 225 gallons is a WHOLE BUNCH of water to clean up.

 

[Rtaylor]

I’ve replaced a panel on a small tank and it was pretty easy. The size and weight would make that one more challenging.

 

[Funston07]

The tank is the cheapest part of a long term successful reef tank, I would never go this route

Trust me I would never even let it cross my mind to make a decision like that if I too could afford a custom 14ft tank lol. Im just good with building stuff so for the price point of being able to actually afford this large of a tank doesn't seem like a bad deal to me. I wouldn't be able to afford a brand new tank this size, not at this time. Maybe when my house is paid off in 12 years.

 

[G Santana]

Trust me I would never even let it cross my mind to make a decision like that if I too could afford a custom 14ft tank lol. Im just good with building stuff so for the price point of being able to actually afford this large of a tank doesn't seem like a bad deal to me. I wouldn't be able to afford a brand new tank this size, not at this time. Maybe when my house is paid off in 12 years.

If you are getting the glass pane professionally replaced, then I would do it. Any used tank you get is a gamble, even new tanks are a gamble, how many threads are there that describe a new tank busting a seam.
It's all a gamble. For that price, I'd roll the dice.
BTW, my tank was sitting in my basement dry for 25 years, I cleaned it, filled it and ran out of the basement.
I took a gamble, 8 months later she's solid. But who knows when a seam will go.
Good luck.

 

[Funston07]

If you are getting the glass pane professionally replaced, then I would do it. Any used tank you get is a gamble, even new tanks are a gamble, how many threads are there that describe a new tank busting a seam.
It's all a gamble. For that price, I'd roll the dice.
BTW, my tank was sitting in my basement dry for 25 years, I cleaned it, filled it and ran out of the basement.
I took a gamble, 8 months later she's solid. But who knows when a seam will go.
Good luck.

Honestly contemplating doing it myself. I'm gonna call a few places and get a quote but if it's a ridiculous amount I'm gonna give it a go. I've built smaller rimless and eurobraced aquariums before for friends but nothing of this size. If it was a eurobraced tank I would be kinda leary about it but it's going to have both top and bottom trim and might even get seem supports, I kinda like the look they give tanks plus the added support is a bonus. Once it's done is definitely gonna sit in my garage for a month filled with water and check all seems after that before making its way inside. Like you said though any tank new or old is a gamble. Its only silicone we rely on which is crazy when you think about it lol.

 

[Goaway]

I would say, watch a few videos on how large aquariums are put together. They use bar clamps to hold the panels in place while they add the silicone and keep it in place for weeks. I was trying to find the video from glass cages, they do a lot of measuring and securing. I am not having any luck.

Edit: this might give you an idea if you want to try to do this.

 

[MarshallB]

A broken tank is worthless. The majority of hobbyists wouldn't touch it so I think you could talk him down some.

If you were to do it, then just completely reseal the tank with silicone and not just that one panel. it's not too hard to do if you are capable even in the slightest. Just go crazy with the clamps and give it a lot of cure time.

Either way. 200 for the tank + 175 for the panel, 10 bucks for silicone, it would probably be a few hundred for appropriate sized clamps. That's a lot of wasted money if it fails to hold water.

Then again if it works out, then you got ir for a steal.

 

[Goaway]

Either way. 200 for the tank + 175 for the panel, 10 bucks for silicone, it would probably be a few hundred for appropriate sized clamps. That's a lot of wasted money if it fails to hold water.

It would be a lot more than 10 bucks for the silicone. 1 panel may take 4 tubes or more. This is a big tank.
I was going to try to restore a 90g bowfront. But after seeing how much silicone was going to be needed we estimated around 5 tubes. Plus, it had a busted frame. So, I let it go for free.

Yup I agree though. Expensive project.

 

[Funston07]

I would say, watch a few videos on how large aquariums are put together. They use bar clamps to hold the panels in place while they add the silicone and keep it in place for weeks. I was trying to find the video from glass cages, they do a lot of measuring and securing. I am not having any luck.

Edit: this might give you an idea if you want to try to do this.

I actually just got off the phone with somebody at custom aquariums and talked to him about the process. Looked up the video on how they do their tanks (they have a lifetime warranty) and I'm just gonna do it myself. Already have all the tools I need for the entire job. Gonna get started on it in a couple weeks. Once its done I'll post on here with the end results.

 

[Funston07]

A broken tank is worthless. The majority of hobbyists wouldn't touch it so I think you could talk him down some.

If you were to do it, then just completely reseal the tank with silicone and not just that one panel. it's not too hard to do if you are capable even in the slightest. Just go crazy with the clamps and give it a lot of cure time.

Either way. 200 for the tank + 175 for the panel, 10 bucks for silicone, it would probably be a few hundred for appropriate sized clamps. That's a lot of wasted money if it fails to hold water.

Then again if it works out, then you got ir for a steal.

I wasn't planning on just resealing that one panel. I'm gonna redo the entire tank. I already have all the tools for it so im not losing any money in that aspect.

 

[Goaway]

I actually just got off the phone with somebody at custom aquariums and talked to him about the process. Looked up the video on how they do their tanks (they have a lifetime warranty) and I'm just gonna do it myself. Already have all the tools I need for the entire job. Gonna get started on it in a couple weeks. Once its done I'll post on here with the end results.

I agree with other posters. Talk the guy down. You are going to be putting your hard earned money into a repair job.

Edit: I will be excited to see the progress!

 

[zdstrong]

A cracked tank is worth absolutely nothing. He should pay you to take it. I would never trust a repaired tank in any finished living space setting. You can buy a new one for like 900 or used for a couple hundred. You would have 400 plus labor plus top and bottom trim plus several tubes of silicone. Also building tanks is no joke. Getting the seams bubble free etc.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Id do it for the adventure but 200 dollars for a broken tank sounds steep. These things normally end up in the trash no matter how many gallons it used to hold. The bigger the tank the bigger the pain and more expense to fix.

 

[Funston07]

Well like I said I'll update this thread in a couple weeks and let you guys know how it goes. Im actually really surprised in the lack of confidence the average hobbyists have with rebuilding their own tanks on here. It's honestly not that hard. Sure this tank will be challenging because of its size but other than that building your own tank is fairly simple and can save you a ton of money.

 

[Goaway]

Well like I said I'll update this thread in a couple weeks and let you guys know how it goes. Im actually really surprised in the lack of confidence the average hobbyists have with rebuilding their own tanks on here. It's honestly not that hard. Sure this tank will be challenging because of its size but other than that building your own tank is fairly simple and can save you a ton of money.

I didn't say you can't do it. If you believe you can that's great. Only you know your skills. I know I can't. I would need the help of others to just lift a panel.
I'm rooting for you!

 

[Tamberav]

Well like I said I'll update this thread in a couple weeks and let you guys know how it goes. Im actually really surprised in the lack of confidence the average hobbyists have with rebuilding their own tanks on here. It's honestly not that hard. Sure this tank will be challenging because of its size but other than that building your own tank is fairly simple and can save you a ton of money.

Regardless that tank should be free not 200 dollars. A small chip on a large tank here and people put it up for free.

 

[Screwgunner]

The hard part is getting the top and bottom frame off . And then the old pannel .

 

[Funston07]

Regardless that tank should be free not 200 dollars. A small chip on a large tank here and people put it up for free.

I could literally cut this tank up and make 3 cube rimless tanks and sell them for for more than what I got into it. I live in a rural area and people sell tanks for pretty ridiculousprices because of the availability being so little, if you ever come across a 200+gal tank thats only chipped and free I'll drive 5hrs one way to get it.