chipped glass?

Moonstream · 04/09/2015, 11:48 AM

Hi all,

I have a 29g tank that is pretty old (probably got it at least 4 years ago). I've used it a ton of times since and over all those years it acquired a chip at some point. I had it setup as a reef for about a year and then a planted tank about 6 months after that. it definitely got chipped before I set it up as a planted tank and I think it was chipped when it was a reef too. no problems from it during that time.

I have pictures below- when you run your hand along the corner there's no sharp edges. the chip is on a corner where a side meets a long side. it will be positioned so that this is on the front (right now its sitting so the chipped corner is on the back, the tank will be flipped so I can keep better track of this chip.

I just want to hear some opinions about what people think about setting this tank up/the risk associated with it. the tank will have a HOB octopus 100 skimmer on the opposite side of the glass and T5 lighting resting on the top of the tank, it the added weight of those things makes any difference.

NOTE: these pictures make it look like the chip is missing glass; its an internal crack, it looks like. like I said, there's no sharp edge when you run a hand down the corner, there's no crack line.

I'm setting this tank up in my room and a 29g is the size that I want. that said, I want to use a tank I already own, and the only other size option I have is a 40g breeder. I can set up the 40 but that means I need a new light and its a little bigger than I'd like. this tank is probably only going to have a life of about a year, so a smaller tank is a little more appealing to break down.

ReefsandGeeks · 04/09/2015, 03:48 PM

Personaly I'd replace with a new 29 gallon tank. That said, I can't see your picture (my computer's fault) so I don't know how bad it is. I'd hate to wake up to 29 gallons of saltwater and fish in the floor. a 29 gallon tank only isn't very expencive.

taylor t · 04/09/2015, 10:22 PM

210 glass reef tank. Think this would be ok? It's chipped on the front pane, the chip is on the inside of the seam, I think the chip has silicone on it. It wiggles when pried, but won't pull out. Seems solid to me.

Well... It's been filled for a few years now... Even well planned, perfect looking tanks blow a seam once in a while. Crack happens. Owning a tank is a risk, period. But, petco has sales, dollar per gallon. For $30, I'd just buy a new one, but then that's no guarantee either.

taylor t · 04/09/2015, 10:29 PM

I also added more silicone to all the corners. I used tape (to peel off and keep a nice straight line on my new coating of silicone) to make a new, thicker bead all around about half to 3/4" over the factory silicone. You can see in the pic, it's a pretty thick bead in the corner. I really gobbed it on. What the pic doesn't show, is the tube I jizzed all in the the bottom corners. I also replaced both top and bottom plastic trim pieces. GE I clear silicone $6. Cheap insurance. Tank was stored in the cold a few years. Keeping my fingers crossed....

UTCReefer · 04/09/2015, 10:45 PM

First off I'll say that if that were my tank I'd lose sleep over it. But if you let your rational side make some justifications and take a look at the entire side seam you still have 98% of the entire thing still perfectly bonded. Structurally its probably not an issue to have a small weak point. On top of that you have a perfectly good seal on the inside of the tank which doesn't add any structural integrity to the seam but instead provides water proofing. Ive sold acrylic tanks off because I couldnt stant the little bits of crazing in the seams even though rationally I knew that they were fine. Thats just me though. There are plenty of tanks out there with chips and I cant recall anyone ever saying that their tank blew a seam AND they knew that they had a chip in the corner first.

kmbyrnes · 04/10/2015, 05:56 PM

$30 for peace of mind is a no brainer. Replace it.

Moonstream · 04/10/2015, 05:59 PM

I've decided to use my old 40g. found a light for under a hundred dollars and the extra water means more stability anyways.

I looked back at old pictures and it looks like this chip has become exaggerated since I had it setup last. looks like its on its way out, oh well.

04/09/2015, 11:48 AM	#1
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	chipped glass? Hi all, I have a 29g tank that is pretty old (probably got it at least 4 years ago). I've used it a ton of times since and over all those years it acquired a chip at some point. I had it setup as a reef for about a year and then a planted tank about 6 months after that. it definitely got chipped before I set it up as a planted tank and I think it was chipped when it was a reef too. no problems from it during that time. I have pictures below- when you run your hand along the corner there's no sharp edges. the chip is on a corner where a side meets a long side. it will be positioned so that this is on the front (right now its sitting so the chipped corner is on the back, the tank will be flipped so I can keep better track of this chip. I just want to hear some opinions about what people think about setting this tank up/the risk associated with it. the tank will have a HOB octopus 100 skimmer on the opposite side of the glass and T5 lighting resting on the top of the tank, it the added weight of those things makes any difference. NOTE: these pictures make it look like the chip is missing glass; its an internal crack, it looks like. like I said, there's no sharp edge when you run a hand down the corner, there's no crack line. I'm setting this tank up in my room and a 29g is the size that I want. that said, I want to use a tank I already own, and the only other size option I have is a 40g breeder. I can set up the 40 but that means I need a new light and its a little bigger than I'd like. this tank is probably only going to have a life of about a year, so a smaller tank is a little more appealing to break down.

04/10/2015, 05:56 PM	#6
kmbyrnes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 2,055	$30 for peace of mind is a no brainer. Replace it. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef 5/26/2015; 350 Butterfly Dominated FOWLR 11/26/2015 - 11/17/20217 & 07/31/18 to ??? ; 100g Mixed Reef 11/16/2013 to 06/16/2017 Current Tank Info: Too small

04/09/2015, 03:48 PM	#2
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	Personaly I'd replace with a new 29 gallon tank. That said, I can't see your picture (my computer's fault) so I don't know how bad it is. I'd hate to wake up to 29 gallons of saltwater and fish in the floor. a 29 gallon tank only isn't very expencive.

04/09/2015, 10:22 PM	#3
taylor t Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Naperville, Il Posts: 2,396	210 glass reef tank. Think this would be ok? It's chipped on the front pane, the chip is on the inside of the seam, I think the chip has silicone on it. It wiggles when pried, but won't pull out. Seems solid to me. Well... It's been filled for a few years now... Even well planned, perfect looking tanks blow a seam once in a while. Crack happens. Owning a tank is a risk, period. But, petco has sales, dollar per gallon. For $30, I'd just buy a new one, but then that's no guarantee either.

04/09/2015, 10:29 PM	#4
taylor t Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Naperville, Il Posts: 2,396	I also added more silicone to all the corners. I used tape (to peel off and keep a nice straight line on my new coating of silicone) to make a new, thicker bead all around about half to 3/4" over the factory silicone. You can see in the pic, it's a pretty thick bead in the corner. I really gobbed it on. What the pic doesn't show, is the tube I jizzed all in the the bottom corners. I also replaced both top and bottom plastic trim pieces. GE I clear silicone $6. Cheap insurance. Tank was stored in the cold a few years. Keeping my fingers crossed....

04/09/2015, 10:45 PM	#5
UTCReefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 652	First off I'll say that if that were my tank I'd lose sleep over it. But if you let your rational side make some justifications and take a look at the entire side seam you still have 98% of the entire thing still perfectly bonded. Structurally its probably not an issue to have a small weak point. On top of that you have a perfectly good seal on the inside of the tank which doesn't add any structural integrity to the seam but instead provides water proofing. Ive sold acrylic tanks off because I couldnt stant the little bits of crazing in the seams even though rationally I knew that they were fine. Thats just me though. There are plenty of tanks out there with chips and I cant recall anyone ever saying that their tank blew a seam AND they knew that they had a chip in the corner first.

04/10/2015, 05:59 PM	#7
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	I've decided to use my old 40g. found a light for under a hundred dollars and the extra water means more stability anyways. I looked back at old pictures and it looks like this chip has become exaggerated since I had it setup last. looks like its on its way out, oh well.