Help... cross member cracking

Fudsey · Mar 5, 2017

I am not sure how long this has been there as It is kinda right in front but not some where I look very often. Anyone got any ideas what I should do???

72G BF tank

redfishbluefish · Mar 5, 2017

Am I seeing two cracks.....up on top of the frame piece and also in the crotch where the horizontal piece meets the vertical portion?

No guarantee, but here's what I'd do....and it's not going to look pretty. I'd get some plastic screen and epoxy.....like JB Weld or JB Kwik. The difference between these two epoxies is the Kwik sets up in 5 - 10 minutes. Cut the screen to cover the top break, fold down the inside vertical and now go out onto the horizontal portion. Mix the epoxy, cover the frame portion, pressing in the screen into the epoxy, and now cover the top of the screen with more epoxy.

Shep · Mar 5, 2017

To be honest I would consider getting a new tank if possible, you can probably repair them but I would not feel right about it. The cracks are coming from the tank being under stress levels that have begun to surpass its integrity and it makes me wonder if other areas of the tank will also begin to fail soon. Have you checked the rest of the tank for signs of cracks or bulges?

Fudsey · Mar 5, 2017

No other cracks that I can find. And yes there are 2 areas of cracking, one on the top and 2, not connected yet, on the support.

Fudsey · Mar 5, 2017

I have temporarily put a pipe clamp across the tank at the center support to keep it from failing

p7willm · Mar 5, 2017

Sorry.

This should not happen and I would worry about the tank. If it breaks it will probably kill the fish, coral, and stuff. Also you will get a bunch of water on the floor. If possible I would lower the water level to reduce stress while I replaced the tank. On the bright side this might be a reason to get a bigger tank. How much worse would 150 gallons on the floor be than 75?

Fudsey · Mar 5, 2017

Well I am upgrading but only to a 90G. It's all the room I have for a tank so that will have to do. I am really not worried about the tank failing with the pipe clamp on it for now. I will be picking up the tank tomorrow and will have to work quick to get it changed over. Only problem is the 90 does not have a overflow so I will have to use a HOB one for now unless I can find a place to drill it and get a internal one asap...

gcrawford · Mar 5, 2017

Lifereef overflow.....

cromag27 · Mar 5, 2017

New tank. +1 lifereef overflow.

Fudsey · Mar 6, 2017

I got a 90G today and will be setting it up in the next few weeks with what I have in the 72. I hope I shouldn't need a full cycle as everything will just be moved over including the water,live rock and sand. Was thinking about using new live sand but I am unsure if it will increase the cycle time, any comments on this?

Live stock is going into a 40B for the time being as soon as I can get it running.

I had an overflow in the past that may have been a Litereef, looks identical. But I still had an issue one time where the siphon was lost during a power outage and I was not home. The wife was and I couldn't tell her how to get it working with an airhose (she didn't understand me I guess). This is my only reservation with an external overflow.

Fudsey · Mar 10, 2017

Ok tank is empty, fish and lr plus about half my sand moved to a rescue tank. Hopefully everyone survives....

Here's a pic of temporary housing

Fudsey · Mar 11, 2017

Updated pic with white's on and everybody swimming around.

Blue Spot Octopus · Mar 12, 2017

Get a Life Reef overflow box 600 gph and an extra u-tube. Make sure you push a lot of water through it.

JoshH · Mar 22, 2017

If your siphon broke in the past, odds are it wasn't a lifereef. By far the highest rated overflow you will find out there. I ended up drilling my tank but the lifereef overflow was my original plan.