Will it hold forever?

[Todd L.]

I am using an old tetra 29 that I have had since I was young and just starting out. I dug it back out of the attic and last year set it up as a fish only sw tank.

My problems started when I did a wc the other day and adjusted my wave makers. Later that night I noticed water dripping from the rim of the tank. The water was coming out of a vertical clean "Crack". I say it like that because it is on the front tand back, both a clean break. I don't know if that was manufactured and have expanded or they cracked from the glass bowing. After further investigation the angle of the wave maker was pushing water up to the plastic "frame" of the tank and leaking through. After drying it up I noticed a long crack along the bottom of the bottom frame. After looking at this crack I noticed I could slide a piece of paper under the center of the tank.(the tank is on a sturdy wood dresser)

Just out of curiosity I wanted to know if the cracks were from the glass bowing. I measured the width at the ends of the tank 11.5", but in the middle it's 12". Thats not much, but for a short tank that seams like a lot.

1. So my first question- is the "framing" structural for the tank?
2. Are the vertical cracks damage, or meant to be ?
3. Should I drain the tank and put something under to support the center?
4. Do i need to brace the center of the tank to help wit bowing?
5. Should I trash the tank/use as sump in later project, and get new display tank?

 

[SaltLifer]

That’s a pretty clean cut. Looks like that’s just where they connected the frames. Probably not structural IMO. When you adjusted the wave makers, is it possible that you turned them up and water is splashing up into the rim and just leaking out through there? I’ve had mine do that before.

 

[SaltLifer]

That being said, I don’t know what climate you live in but I would be worried about the seals if they’ve been hot and dry in the attic for a while.

 

[Todd L.]

That’s a pretty clean cut. Looks like that’s just where they connected the frames. Probably not structural IMO. When you adjusted the wave makers, is it possible that you turned them up and water is splashing up into the rim and just leaking out through there? I’ve had mine do that before.

I believe thats what was happening. But I have been on edge since I saw the drips then all these cracks.

 

[BZOFIQ]

It's a 29 gallon tank; Petco is currently running $1 a gallon. There is no reason not to replace it to avert a disaster; perhaps even upgrade in the process

 

[Todd L.]

That being said, I don’t know what climate you live in but I would be worried about the seals if they’ve been hot and dry in the attic for a while.

It was in the houston area, (very humid and hot) When i dug it out the seals still felt normal (not stiff or cracked) and it held water.

 

[Todd L.]

It's a 29 gallon tank; Petco is currently running $1 a gallon. There is no reason not to replace it to avert a disaster; perhaps even upgrade in the process

Awesome! I have always heard of that sale, but never have caught it. I would love to go to a 40B but it won't fit on the dresser and the wife won't let me go bigger untill we move in may. Once we move all tanks are fair game