Crazing in 600 gallon

[Awchris]

hello everyone, I recently acquired this 600 gallon acrylic aquarium. The back panel has quite a bit of crazing although it is NOT on any of the seams. Can this be repaired? Hopefully you can see it in the pictures.. I've been wet sanding but don't seem to be making any progress. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Cabinetman]

Wow. I’ve never seen that before. How thick is the acrylic? Dimensions?

 

[Awchris]

Its 1inch. 96inches long 48inches tall and 30 inches front to back

 

[Cabinetman]

My guess it’s stress cracks from being so tall and only 1” thick material. The tallest I build out of 1” is 30” tall. 48” tall using 1” is pretty wild.

 

[Awchris]

My guess it’s stress cracks from being so tall and only 1” thick material. The tallest I build out of 1” is 30” tall. 48” tall using 1” is pretty wild.

Even with it being eurobraced?

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

48 is totally doable with eurobracing. There will be some bowing but it shouldn't be crazing like that. Makes me think it was flame polisher or something.
@Lowell Lemon .. what do you think?

 

[Cabinetman]

Euro braced or not 1” material is way to thin for a 48” tall tank in my opinion. I’d like to see how much deflection there is on the front and back when it’s full. That flexing will cause stress fractures. I’m surprised there’s none in the seams!

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

It is not ideal but it is by no means "crazy". I saw a 10 yo 30" high made out of 1/2". It looked like a water balloon but it didnt have crazing like that. That must have been subject to heat...like maybe a south facing window?

 

[Lowell Lemon]

48 is totally doable with eurobracing. There will be some bowing but it shouldn't be crazing like that. Makes me think it was flame polisher or something.
@Lowell Lemon .. what do you think?

Even the old Acrylite formula calls for 2" on a 48" tall panel. Actual water depth might only be 44" but that still calls for 1 3/4" on the bleeding edge of thickness. It looks like stress cracks to me with possible chemical attack from window cleaner or something with petroleum distillates in the product. Even rubbing alcohol could cause this type of attack with the added pressure of a thin panel. I personally would not use this tank as it will bow like a balloon and the additional sanding and polishing will induce more stress cracks not less. I guess I would cut the water depth to 30" to make it more in line with the best use of 1" material.

 

[Awchris]

What I can tell you for sure is that this aquarium has been full and running with zero leak issues for 10 plus years.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

What I can tell you for sure is that this aquarium has been full and running with zero leak issues for 10 plus years.

Just by the photo I think zero issues is maybe a stretch....but that is just me.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Lol.. definately not zero issues.

 

[fishguy242]

measure ,fill er up ,check the bow,use a t square, can always use longways paint bad side build custom stand,if useable

 

[Awchris]

measure ,fill er up ,check the bow,use a t square, can always use longways paint bad side build custom stand,if useable

So obviously this tank will bow to some degree. How much vowing is to much?

 

[Awchris]

Just by the photo I think zero issues is maybe a stretch....but that is just me.

I said zero leak issues not zero issues.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ive seen this and worse. It looks aweful but is Not structural.
It sounds retartded but you could reverse tank as it has the overflow on the end and make this surface the rear of tank unless you have the same on both sides or are going peninsula.
Will be interesting to see how this buffs out. This obviously is a machine, not hand buffing requirement

 

[vetteguy53081]

I like the tall version of the 600g series. The other one I know of is from @Feet4Fish who owns a very clear one.
I have a 660g which is 32" tall but is 9.75ft long

 

[fishguy242]

So obviously this tank will bow to some degree. How much vowing is to much?

"hey joe".. @Joe Glass Cages ,any thoughts thanks

 

[Cabinetman]

I’m amazed the seams are not all fractured...

 

[Awchris]

Ive seen this and worse. It looks aweful but is Not structural.
It sounds retartded but you could reverse tank as it has the overflow on the end and make this surface the rear of tank unless you have the same on both sides or are going peninsula.
Will be interesting to see how this buffs out. This obviously is a machine, not hand buffing requirement

The other panel is good with no crazing. Ive begun sanding buts definitely a learning process as I have never done this before. I've sanded the entire tank to 2000 grit but will have to redo the inside of the good panel. It looks like the sanded failed to remove small scratches