Refurbishing a used 120 Gallon.

[NowGlazeIT]

So I had a chat with my local glass shop. To have replacements cut for the damaged panels, 1 lengthwise side and the bottom would be almost as expensive as buying a new tank of similar size. About a $112 difference. Might as well keep it as is and use it for a reptile. King snakes are pretty cool too.

Maybe flip the side panel so the chips are at the top, less pressure? I don't know, not a glass expert.

This would definitely solve your problem. Challenging to cut clean and re silicone but it can be done. There are a few videos out there on building a tank. Big thing to remember to to leave the right amount of spacing between panes top to bottom for adherence.

 

[Hugh Mann]

This would definitely solve your problem. Challenging to cut clean and re silicone but it can be done. There are a few videos out there on building a tank. Big thing to remember to to leave the right amount of spacing between panes top to bottom for adherence.

You figure it could be okay to reuse the side panel, and just flip it so the chips are at the top, just replace the bottom?
I figure learning to repair an aquarium is a good skill to know. Worst case, I have a couple hundred pounds of shattered glass, best case I have a shiny new(ish) aquarium.

Pictures to try and show the two chips I am talking about. One on each bottom corner of the same side panel. Not much depth to them, and it's fairly rounded, not jagged like that nasty one on the bottom.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Shoot I thought just the bottom was chipped but the sides look pretty beat up too. If this thing holds water then you could try to lay another glass on top of the bottom, with 1/8th spacing and caulk that sucker in. The sides I wouldn’t mess with, they look fragile around the wear

 

[Hugh Mann]

What would be the point of putting a new layer of glass on top of the existing pane? Spread out the weight of the rock and sand evenly over the entire surface area? Anything to do about reinforcing the side?
How much of a difference you figure that could make?

It holds water, no leaks that I have detected.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

What would be the point of putting a new layer of glass on top of the existing pane? Spread out the weight of the rock and sand evenly over the entire surface area? Anything to do about reinforcing the side?
How much of a difference you figure that could make?

It holds water, no leaks that I have detected.

Because one of the corners is broken it would give me piece of mind that the corner would not one day fail

 

[NowGlazeIT]

But the sides are chipped and if weight is applied those can break easily, I don’t think water will weigh in there but still a place of concern.

 

[Hugh Mann]

Just what I was hoping not to hear.
So the bottom has a solution, but not the side.
I think I am just going to file this tank under "Lesson Learned for Being Cheap", and save it for some other purpose.
Thanks.