Cracked back panel of glass tank

Tana328 · 12/31/2010, 08:36 PM

We LITERALLY just started our first tank ever today by having the water delivered and putting in the frozen shrimp to start our mini-ecosystem. We have been in the process of getting to this point x1 year, so you know how excited we were!!
Our local fish store drilled the 2 holes in the back of our tank for us so we could use a sump system. One of the bulk heads (one that blows water back into tank from sump) had a tiny leak, nothing big deal. We tried to tighten it and a HUGE crack showed up from there (the hole) all the way down half way at an angle toward the edge of the tank creating a triangle like crack that was gushing water! We were able to siphon and scoop the water down to below the crack's end, which leaves ~7'' water in the tank. We were able to save the water (we just had delivered this AM at 11:00am) in some large Rubbermaid bins. The live sand is still in water.

Our question is: if we just have our back panel of the aquarium replaced, can they replace only that panel with Acrylic and keep the rest glass?

Agu · 12/31/2010, 08:48 PM

To Reef Central

Acrylic doesn't bond well to glass. Depending on the size of the tank it may be cheaper to replace it rather than repair it. Your LFS may absorb part of the cost of replacing the tank since they drilled it. It's unusual for a drilled tank to fail.

jmo,

Tana328 · 12/31/2010, 08:55 PM

Thank you sooo much! We appreciate your insight and advice! We are so sad

tozzi · 12/31/2010, 08:58 PM

If u tighten the bulkhead too much it can crack the glass. Thats what happened. Probably cheaper to replace the whole tank than try to repair it. I doubt the Lfs will take any blame for the tank cracking being it was not from them drilling it. It was from over-tightening the bulkhead. But, if they're nice they'll maybe only make a few bucks on u if u get a new tank or better yet give it to u for cost

syrinx · 12/31/2010, 10:51 PM

Acrylic tanks are fused together- thats why you can`t just use silicone to bond them to glass-as stated by agu- it doesn`t work. While cranking down on a bulkhead certainly can crack a tank, if the hole had a flaw-any pressure could have caused a fracture. You will never know- so blame no one, and chalk it up to experience. I would schmooze the dealer for a tank at cost. Whatever the case I would endevour to replace the tank with one factory drilled. If you have a odd size tank that you want them to drill again- I would be extra careful inspecting before approval.

Tana328 · 01/21/2011, 10:35 PM

The lfs was nice enough to sell us a new tank at cost and drilled the new holes for free! We noticed the bulkhead was 1/2" smaller than the hole that was drilled the first time, so it would never have sealed so we kept trying to tighten something that would never seal. Thank you for your time!

12/31/2010, 08:36 PM	#1
Tana328 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 19	Cracked back panel of glass tank We LITERALLY just started our first tank ever today by having the water delivered and putting in the frozen shrimp to start our mini-ecosystem. We have been in the process of getting to this point x1 year, so you know how excited we were!! Our local fish store drilled the 2 holes in the back of our tank for us so we could use a sump system. One of the bulk heads (one that blows water back into tank from sump) had a tiny leak, nothing big deal. We tried to tighten it and a HUGE crack showed up from there (the hole) all the way down half way at an angle toward the edge of the tank creating a triangle like crack that was gushing water! We were able to siphon and scoop the water down to below the crack's end, which leaves ~7'' water in the tank. We were able to save the water (we just had delivered this AM at 11:00am) in some large Rubbermaid bins. The live sand is still in water. Our question is: if we just have our back panel of the aquarium replaced, can they replace only that panel with Acrylic and keep the rest glass?

12/31/2010, 08:48 PM	#2
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	*To Reef Central* Acrylic doesn't bond well to glass. Depending on the size of the tank it may be cheaper to replace it rather than repair it. Your LFS may absorb part of the cost of replacing the tank since they drilled it. It's unusual for a drilled tank to fail. jmo, __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

12/31/2010, 08:58 PM	#4
tozzi Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: JERSEY Posts: 825	If u tighten the bulkhead too much it can crack the glass. Thats what happened. Probably cheaper to replace the whole tank than try to repair it. I doubt the Lfs will take any blame for the tank cracking being it was not from them drilling it. It was from over-tightening the bulkhead. But, if they're nice they'll maybe only make a few bucks on u if u get a new tank or better yet give it to u for cost __________________ Your dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare a man whos the best with guns knives his bare hands A man whos been trained to ignore pain ignore weather eat things that would make a billy goat puke Current Tank Info: 215 sps

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12/31/2010, 08:55 PM	#3
Tana328 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 19	Thank you sooo much! We appreciate your insight and advice! We are so sad

12/31/2010, 10:51 PM	#5
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	Acrylic tanks are fused together- thats why you can`t just use silicone to bond them to glass-as stated by agu- it doesn`t work. While cranking down on a bulkhead certainly can crack a tank, if the hole had a flaw-any pressure could have caused a fracture. You will never know- so blame no one, and chalk it up to experience. I would schmooze the dealer for a tank at cost. Whatever the case I would endevour to replace the tank with one factory drilled. If you have a odd size tank that you want them to drill again- I would be extra careful inspecting before approval.

01/21/2011, 10:35 PM	#6
Tana328 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 19	The lfs was nice enough to sell us a new tank at cost and drilled the new holes for free! We noticed the bulkhead was 1/2" smaller than the hole that was drilled the first time, so it would never have sealed so we kept trying to tighten something that would never seal. Thank you for your time!