My glass tank cracked on the bottom!

[charlieborg]

Hey, everyone. I have a question. How long can I keep my corals and fish in a cooler while I fix my tank?
I have everything in the biggest Orca cooler. I also got a heater, airstone, and power head for circulation in it. I have a t5 blue light over it for the corals. I may try to put the protein skimmer in it if need be too.

So what're your thoughts? It's been in the cooler since Friday. Still waiting on the silicone to cure and do a test on it.

Thanks, Chuck.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

As long as you can control your parameters you could keep then there.

 

[Rjukan]

Hey Chuck. The fish and coral will be fine for a while in that cooler, I doubt you need to connect the skimmer if you have an airstone and PH that's aimed at the surface.

I'm more concerned about the tank and fix. What exactly cracked on the bottom, the panel or a seam?

 

[Peace River]

Hey, everyone. I have a question. How long can I keep my corals and fish in a cooler while I fix my tank?
I have everything in the biggest Orca cooler. I also got a heater, airstone, and power head for circulation in it. I have a t5 blue light over it for the corals. I may try to put the protein skimmer in it if need be too.

So what're your thoughts? It's been in the cooler since Friday. Still waiting on the silicone to cure and do a test on it.

Thanks, Chuck.

Chuck - been there. Another way to look at it is to consider the size of the cooler - if you have the Orca 140 then it holds 35 gallons. And then ask if yourself if you moved everything from your original tank into a tank the size of the cooler how long could you keep them there? Your cooler is just another aquarium - its a plastic box instead of a glass one. Oh, and don't rush the curing. We are cheering for you as you make your way through this!

 

[MnFish1]

Hey, everyone. I have a question. How long can I keep my corals and fish in a cooler while I fix my tank?
I have everything in the biggest Orca cooler. I also got a heater, airstone, and power head for circulation in it. I have a t5 blue light over it for the corals. I may try to put the protein skimmer in it if need be too.

So what're your thoughts? It's been in the cooler since Friday. Still waiting on the silicone to cure and do a test on it.

Thanks, Chuck.

I would immediately buy a new tank... depending on the size of the original. Depending on where what the craxk was like. I assume - though that if all your coral fits in a cooler - it cant be a huge tank. So - rather than 'worry' - I would just get a new tank.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I agree with the above. If just applying silicone over a crack will not stop a leak long term. If it does hold, it could let go when your not around and everything could be lost.

Best to replace the tank.

 

[charlieborg]

Hey Chuck. The fish and coral will be fine for a while in that cooler, I doubt you need to connect the skimmer if you have an airstone and PH that's aimed at the surface.

I'm more concerned about the tank and fix. What exactly cracked on the bottom, the panel or a seam?

It's a new set up. All frags and a few fish. 150 tall tank.

Well, apparently the stand I had it on was not level. So the bottom cracked all the way across the bottom middle of the tank. I cleaned the bottom silicone off and applied a generous amount of silicone on the crack and all over the bottom. I then put a piece of acrylic to fit the whole bottom of the tank on the inside and put it on the fresh silicone. Then I silicone all the edges. I'm hoping this will work!

 

[charlieborg]

I would immediately buy a new tank... depending on the size of the original. Depending on where what the craxk was like. I assume - though that if all your coral fits in a cooler - it cant be a huge tank. So - rather than 'worry' - I would just get a new tank.

The tank was a new setup(150 tall). Everything was just frags and a few small fish.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I have a 150 tall tank. well apparently the stand I had it on was not level. So the botton cracked all whe way across the bottom middle of the tank. I cleaned the bottom silicone off and applied a generous amount of silicone on the crack and all over the bottom. I then put a peace of acrylic to fit the whole bottom of the tank on the inside and put it on the freash silicone. I'm hoping this will work!

Structural integrity of the tank has been compromised with the crack that big. It is highly advisable to replace the tank. Respectfully.

 

[MnFish1]

Structural integrity of the tank has been compromised with the crack that big. It is highly advisable to replace the tank. Respectfully.

Acrylic doesn't adhere to silicone well and over time - it will be a problem. If you think about the price of the tank - as compared to the price of all of the potential damage that could occur - I would get the new tank but just MHO. If you wanted to repair it - it would probably have been better to use a sheet of glass he same size as the bottom - others can correct - but acrylic will likely fail

 

[MnFish1]

The tank was a new setup(150 tall). Everythingwas just frags and a fewsmall fish.

Also - if it was new - why not covered under warranty (especially if the stand was also new/responsible?)

 

[Mjl714]

Also - if it was new - why not covered under warranty (especially if the stand was also new/responsible?)

It sounds like stand might not have been appropriately built?

 

[Lowell Lemon]

Acrylic and silicone don't bond at a chemical level so the tank will leak again and at the possible worst time. Please buy a new tank and fix the stand before setting up the new tank. You are lucky the panel did not explode due to it being tempered. I have attempted to replace glass bottoms in tanks with acrylic in the past and they all failed in a short time frame. I would never attempt that again.

 

[charlieborg]

Acrylic doesn't adhere to silicone well and over time - it will be a problem. If you think about the price of the tank - as compared to the price of all of the potential damage that could occur - I would get the new tank but just MHO. If you wanted to repair it - it would probably have been better to use a sheet of glass he same size as the bottom - others can correct - but acrylic will likely fail

I did'nt know that ! Looks like all that work for nothing!

 

[charlieborg]

Also - if it was new - why not covered under warranty (especially if the stand was also new/responsible?)

No, it was a set up tank I bought a week ago..

 

[MnFish1]

I did'nt know that ! Looks like all that work for nothing!

No - you learned something . And besides - the time to learn it is before the disaster - so you made the right choice asking the question. Welcome to R2R

 

[w2inc]

I agree with the above. If just applying silicone over a crack will not stop a leak long term. If it does hold, it could let go when your not around and everything could be lost.

Best to replace the tank.

I disagree, I have stopped several leaks and fixed cracks with silicone. I prefer to lay a strip of glass over the cracked area and glue it in place. The high end tanks, like Elos build with two panes on bottom and three panes under that. Siliconed at the seams and a 1/16 gap with silicone globs separating the two layers.

Two layers is stronger than the beginning layer that you had. The strain relief to the glass that has come from the crack will lessen the chances that it will happen again. No need to buy another tank.

I have filled tanks after 24 hours of building them. I run activated carbon to make myself feel better about off gassing of acidic acid from the curing process. My dad was a Nuclear Chemist and he felt like carbon would be effective with anything silicone had to offer.

Dont be afraid. Repairs are easy. You are better at damage control now that you have been through it. Damage is done. Wont be a big deal if it ever happened again.

As for your question. Yes they can live pretty much forever in a cooler. It is just an ugly fish tank. Move your filter and skimmer over to it and watch your parameters like always.

My LFS is kind of awesome. When stuff like that happens to customers they have spaces to keep your corals until you are up and running again. If you have a good relationship with your LFS you could check in about that.

Sorry for your trouble, thanks for letting us help you. Best of luck.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Replacing a 150g tank is expensive..... Flooring, Walls, Mold remediation etc. are more expensive. 150g is a LOT of water.... I'd replace it. It sounds like an awfully large crack.

 

[w2inc]

I would go to my local glass shop and get a piece that is 1/4 inch smaller than the base piece. 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Put some glue inside the tank and lay the sheet in place. Tool it and let it sit for a day.

It will be way stronger than a new tank. New tanks break too. It is just happens some times.

I am not the king of glass, but look at my build thread. You can see that I have had some experience with what works and what doesn't.

Good luck. Dont give up. If you live near me, I have time and can help you out.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I would go to my local glass shop and get a piece that is 1/4 inch smaller than the base piece. 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Put some glue inside the tank and lay the sheet in place. Tool it and let it sit for a day.

It will be way stronger than a new tank. New tanks break too. It is just happens some times.

I am not the king of glass, but look at my build thread. You can see that I have had some experience with what works and what doesn't.

Good luck. Dont give up. If you live near me, I have time and can help you out.

We will have to agree to disagree, respectfully.