calling all glass experts! help please pics included - Page 2

chinaman4u · 01/10/2007, 02:07 AM

Maybe you could section it off and use the area for a sump? You'd still have to drill a hole using a dremel and a diamond bit, at where you think the crack ends and patch it up, but at least a leak would only be from your sump area(5-10G) aas opposed to the 40G

And that lower corner is the most stressed part of the tank. The four corners support the majority of the weight.
And if you go through this much trouble, you might as well replace the glass.

Icefire · 01/10/2007, 03:14 AM

Replacing the piece of glass !

Won't cost you more than 10-15$ and a tube of silicone

AllenFord_SC · 01/10/2007, 06:22 AM

If you want to try it here's how i did it on a 55 gallon for a friend.

Drill out the a hole where the crack is, cover it with a peice of glass that will cover the entire bottom of the tank with room around the edges for silicone, apply a very liberal amount of silicone between the two panes of glass.

Let it set for a day then run another liberal amount of silicone all around the inside of the bottom between the new peices of glass and the edges of the tank. Allow to cure for atleast 72 hours. Do a leak test outside.

The most important step.

Place a peice of styrofoam between the tank and the top of the stand. This keeps pressure on the bottom from creating weak points and keeps the glass from cracking and causing a mess.

His has run fine for a year like that ever since with no leaks.

I won't take credit if yours leaks though so do it at your own risk.

scubasteve247 · 01/10/2007, 09:07 AM

hmm those two methods seem pretty different, see this i why i love this site, so many great minds working together

that box idea seems simple and strong, i could even fill the chamber with styrofoam to help reduce pressure load.

reef_friendly · 01/10/2007, 10:06 AM

no need to fill the box with foam. if u wanna ensure the stability then u can add one pr two glass strips in the box , however there is no need fr that

MCary · 01/10/2007, 10:35 AM

Fill the bottom of the aquarium with an inch of gravel. Put in a bowl of water and a lizard.

scubasteve247 · 01/10/2007, 11:38 AM

thanks, but i would prefer to go with a reef tank

i think im gonna drill the hole to stop the crack from spreading, and then place a patch that will raise 4 inchs above and continue the entire back length of the tank to remove pressure.

Brad-UK · 01/10/2007, 11:47 AM

I work for a glass company in the UK!

Without doubt you should replace that piece before putting any water in the tank. You have a nice little "vent" that will certainly get longer (rapidly if enough force is applied) as time goes by and various forces act upon it. Plus if you manage to get your tank up and running without problem the last thing you want is to accidentaly bump that corner and see all of your hard work go down the drain.

As mentioned, it's not toughened glass and a replacement leaf will be very cheap from any glass or window outlet. I would think if you try to drill out the end of the vent it will just run off, making one vent into several.

Brisc0 · 01/10/2007, 12:19 PM

Can't you just cut out the bottom and re-silicone it to the top. Flip it, flip it good...

Disclaimer: I have absolutely no idea what I am talking about.

e-dog · 01/10/2007, 12:55 PM

Dude, you got to be able to sleep at night. Replace the glass. I woke up to a broken tank once not fun.

scubasteve247 · 01/10/2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by e-dog
Dude, you got to be able to sleep at night. Replace the glass. I woke up to a broken tank once not fun.

ok.... well did you try to fix a tank, what are the specifics. or did you tank just break on you?

this tank is going in my bedroom btw.....

anyone else, again thank you to those who have shared you opinion, you are all very helpful and i thank you.

e-dog · 01/10/2007, 06:00 PM

Well the center brace had come off of one side and I put it off for the weekend to take care of, being that I had to tear down the tank and we all know what a hassle that can be when your not in the mood to do that. So at about 4 in the morning I woke to my return pump sounding like a washing machine. The silicone let go between the back and side panels from the top down from the stress of the water. What I am getting at is spend the 10 or 20 bucks and save yourself from losing however much you put into it and don't get an early wake up call. And remember what your parents told you " Crack Kills".

scubasteve247 · 01/10/2007, 06:21 PM

hilarious, again thanks everyone for your opinion

Brad-UK · 01/11/2007, 02:50 PM

It's not so much the "chip" that I see as the problem. Even if you silicone a new piece of glass around or over the vent (the straight line break) forces will still be acting on it and this will cause it to run along the easiest path. In this case the easiest path will be right across the front of your display.

scubasteve247 · 01/11/2007, 03:08 PM

hmm, as of right now i have mixed feelings about the repair. i may just replace the tank all together, i could replace the pane, but im not so sure how well that will go, i want to consult a tank builder,

however i may just run a small pane of glass from the bottom to about 5 inches above the crack, this would run the whole side of the tank.

chinaman4u · 01/11/2007, 03:33 PM

I did that to a 10 gallon, but its was a sump, and ten gallons. Just make sure it goes all the way across. Cut out the silicone filet inside the tank and silicone the glass in place using horizontal beads going the whole length of the glass. Then add new fillets to the edges and the top of your patch, don't cut your self on the edges. If that crack decides to turn upward, ur out of luck.

r00onmac · 01/11/2007, 04:35 PM

i am digging that false wall idea.. i see you live in South FL... FIU student like me? id be interested in helping you try out that idea if you'd like... i dont have the glass but i have the silicone and i think its still good...

scubasteve247 · 01/11/2007, 09:27 PM

no, i go to FAU, lol and i thought that was a good idea, but the tank is only 20 inchs deep and i dont wish to reduce its size, i may just have the whole pane replaced, or replace the tank.

Brad-UK · 01/13/2007, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by scubasteve247
i may just have the whole pane replaced[/B]

I would buddy. If the cash is a factor it would probably be really cheap to get a replacement pane of glass and you'd have the piece of mind that comes from knowing it wont fail at a later date. All you'd have to do is break your tank down and get busy with the silicone gun!

I've no idea what glass prices are in the U.S. but our place here in the U.K. would charge around Â£15 a m2 for annealed non toughened 10mm which I think is roughly around $30?

01/10/2007, 03:14 AM	#27
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	Replacing the piece of glass ! Won't cost you more than 10-15$ and a tube of silicone __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI

01/10/2007, 06:22 AM	#28
AllenFord_SC Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ridgeland, SC Posts: 703	If you want to try it here's how i did it on a 55 gallon for a friend. Drill out the a hole where the crack is, cover it with a peice of glass that will cover the entire bottom of the tank with room around the edges for silicone, apply a very liberal amount of silicone between the two panes of glass. Let it set for a day then run another liberal amount of silicone all around the inside of the bottom between the new peices of glass and the edges of the tank. Allow to cure for atleast 72 hours. Do a leak test outside. The most important step. Place a peice of styrofoam between the tank and the top of the stand. This keeps pressure on the bottom from creating weak points and keeps the glass from cracking and causing a mess. His has run fine for a year like that ever since with no leaks. I won't take credit if yours leaks though so do it at your own risk. __________________ We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl..... Roger Waters, Pink Floyd Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon Mixed, 55 Gallon sump, 35 gallon fuge

01/10/2007, 12:19 PM	#34
Brisc0 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 279	Can't you just cut out the bottom and re-silicone it to the top. Flip it, flip it good... Disclaimer: I have absolutely no idea what I am talking about. __________________ I'll drink to your leg... @bushwilliams on Twitter My Full Reef Aquaria Blog @ http://reef.bushwilliams.com Current Tank Info: 40G Nuvo Fusion Started 8/2014

01/11/2007, 04:35 PM	#42
r00onmac DVM in training Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 1,161	i am digging that false wall idea.. i see you live in South FL... FIU student like me? id be interested in helping you try out that idea if you'd like... i dont have the glass but i have the silicone and i think its still good... __________________ Matthew Current Tank Info: 55 display with 20L sump

01/10/2007, 02:07 AM	#26
chinaman4u Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: PennStatePA Posts: 600	Maybe you could section it off and use the area for a sump? You'd still have to drill a hole using a dremel and a diamond bit, at where you think the crack ends and patch it up, but at least a leak would only be from your sump area(5-10G) aas opposed to the 40G And that lower corner is the most stressed part of the tank. The four corners support the majority of the weight. And if you go through this much trouble, you might as well replace the glass.

01/10/2007, 09:07 AM	#29
scubasteve247 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: south florida Posts: 1,142	hmm those two methods seem pretty different, see this i why i love this site, so many great minds working together that box idea seems simple and strong, i could even fill the chamber with styrofoam to help reduce pressure load.

01/10/2007, 10:06 AM	#30
reef_friendly Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 63	no need to fill the box with foam. if u wanna ensure the stability then u can add one pr two glass strips in the box , however there is no need fr that

01/10/2007, 10:35 AM	#31
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	Fill the bottom of the aquarium with an inch of gravel. Put in a bowl of water and a lizard.

01/10/2007, 11:38 AM	#32
scubasteve247 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: south florida Posts: 1,142	thanks, but i would prefer to go with a reef tank i think im gonna drill the hole to stop the crack from spreading, and then place a patch that will raise 4 inchs above and continue the entire back length of the tank to remove pressure.

01/10/2007, 11:47 AM	#33
Brad-UK Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: England Posts: 24	I work for a glass company in the UK! Without doubt you should replace that piece before putting any water in the tank. You have a nice little "vent" that will certainly get longer (rapidly if enough force is applied) as time goes by and various forces act upon it. Plus if you manage to get your tank up and running without problem the last thing you want is to accidentaly bump that corner and see all of your hard work go down the drain. As mentioned, it's not toughened glass and a replacement leaf will be very cheap from any glass or window outlet. I would think if you try to drill out the end of the vent it will just run off, making one vent into several.

01/10/2007, 12:55 PM	#35
e-dog Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Hughson,ca Posts: 127	Dude, you got to be able to sleep at night. Replace the glass. I woke up to a broken tank once not fun.

01/10/2007, 06:00 PM	#37
e-dog Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Hughson,ca Posts: 127	Well the center brace had come off of one side and I put it off for the weekend to take care of, being that I had to tear down the tank and we all know what a hassle that can be when your not in the mood to do that. So at about 4 in the morning I woke to my return pump sounding like a washing machine. The silicone let go between the back and side panels from the top down from the stress of the water. What I am getting at is spend the 10 or 20 bucks and save yourself from losing however much you put into it and don't get an early wake up call. And remember what your parents told you " Crack Kills".

01/10/2007, 06:21 PM	#38
scubasteve247 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: south florida Posts: 1,142	hilarious, again thanks everyone for your opinion

01/11/2007, 02:50 PM	#39
Brad-UK Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: England Posts: 24	It's not so much the "chip" that I see as the problem. Even if you silicone a new piece of glass around or over the vent (the straight line break) forces will still be acting on it and this will cause it to run along the easiest path. In this case the easiest path will be right across the front of your display.

01/11/2007, 03:08 PM	#40
scubasteve247 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: south florida Posts: 1,142	hmm, as of right now i have mixed feelings about the repair. i may just replace the tank all together, i could replace the pane, but im not so sure how well that will go, i want to consult a tank builder, however i may just run a small pane of glass from the bottom to about 5 inches above the crack, this would run the whole side of the tank.

01/11/2007, 03:33 PM	#41
chinaman4u Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: PennStatePA Posts: 600	I did that to a 10 gallon, but its was a sump, and ten gallons. Just make sure it goes all the way across. Cut out the silicone filet inside the tank and silicone the glass in place using horizontal beads going the whole length of the glass. Then add new fillets to the edges and the top of your patch, don't cut your self on the edges. If that crack decides to turn upward, ur out of luck.

01/11/2007, 09:27 PM	#43
scubasteve247 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: south florida Posts: 1,142	no, i go to FAU, lol and i thought that was a good idea, but the tank is only 20 inchs deep and i dont wish to reduce its size, i may just have the whole pane replaced, or replace the tank.