Possible Catastrophe Waiting To Happen?

[hurdbird]

I was doing my usual tank maintenace yesterday when I noticed the black piece of plastic or whatever it is that surrounds the glass on the bottom of my tank is starting to crack. Does this mean the glass inside is likely weak and going to break on me very soon? There was no damage to it previously. Time to buy a new tank this weekend and change over or what? Please help ASAP. Thanks in advance.

Sean Hurd

 

[frank180reef]

you should likely be ok

look from the side is the tank bowing?

 

[delta]

I was doing my usual tank maintenace yesterday when I noticed the black piece of plastic or whatever it is that surrounds the glass on the bottom of my tank is starting to crack. Does this mean the glass inside is likely weak and going to break on me very soon? There was no damage to it previously. Time to buy a new tank this weekend and change over or what? Please help ASAP. Thanks in advance.

Sean Hurd

Really depends on why is has started to crack? perhaps a picture would help see what's going on?

 

[Turbosnail]

If it is the bottom plastic yes I would change it soon if you can. But that is just my opinion I am sure others will chime in.

 

[hurdbird]

I will post pictures of it as soon as I get home from work. Idk why it would have started to crack. I will def check to see if the tank is bowing at all.

 

[pallobi]

on my 75, which has been in use for over a year now (used to be fowlr until i upgraded my coral tank to it) has two very large cracks in the trim on the top and bottom trim, almost dead center right in the from middle of the tank... there has been no issues whatsoever, and i dont anticipate or worry about any... i got the tank for free due to this... the bottom is less to worry about imo as it does not have anything to do with center bracing or bowing, its jus there for the glass to sit atop... i do agree with Greg, a pic would be more help and allow us all to make a better helping judgement, but as long as its contained to one spot, i wouldnt worry at all... of course some would however... its really a judgement call, especially if its nothing major...

 

[hurdbird]

See the pictures below and let me know what you think. This is in the front right corner of the tank and is probably 1/2'' or so. Do I need to start putting a new tank together this weekend to transfer or what? Thanks for your help.

 

[Ben Wiggins]

if youre woried about the glass giving way id check the silocone seem in the area for any seperation or bubles. the crack dosent look to bad to me

 

[pallobi]

if the bottom sits flat and the stand is level, i wouldnt worry about it at all... thats jus me... one thing that could change that is the fact that it wasnt there when you started... it appears the very end of the other side of trim is not on the top of the stand an is over hanging a bit, that might be the issue... that would be it not sitting flat and create cause for concern...

 

[willray]

Do you know what caused this to start? If it just appeared for no reason I would be really concerned.
In the first pic kinda looks like it got hit by something....note the indent.Also agree with pallobi looks like it is up in that corner.

 

[hurdbird]

I do agree. It appears that it got hit by something. I noticed that as soon as I took the pics and looked more into the issue today. The stand is perfectly level and even though in the picture it appears to be up off the stand, it is not. I think I am going to let it go for a little bit and mark it out with a red permanent marker. If I see any increase in the crack over the next couple weeks, it will get replaced with a bigger tank I want now anyways haha but my tank is doing so well I don't want to start over. I'll keep you guys in the loop. Thanks for the help. Also, on a side note, what is the red substance in my sand and is that a bad thing? Cyano? I don't have it anywhere else besides in the deep sand spots. See my update below. Everything is doing awesome.

 

[pallobi]

if it was hit by something, which is very possible, but not necessarily a cause for too much concern at this point... if it did get hit by something, there is more of a chance that it would have sprung a leak by now if it had affected the silicone seal or glass alignment... i know some people out there trip out when they see a defect in the trim, but i have seen many, many tanks with trim cracks and bumps, and i have never seen any problems arise in any of them... the base of the tank is still plenty supported all the way around... jus be aware that it is there, and keep an eye on it... imo, i dont see that thing giving you any catastrophes at this point... if the crack seperates more, which i honestly dont know if it will, then you might consider a change... though it may seperate a little more naturally, and wont affect anything either... but at this point and where it is at, you should rest easy in my own and honest opinion... ill try to take a pic of my two cracks, as they are much larger and are clean cut through the entire bottom and top trim, and all is kosher for over a year now, and I have no cause to worry in the future... mine were put there by contraction in freezing temps, while stored outside one winter...

 

[hurdbird]

Thanks for the help. I would much rather wait a little while and upgrade to my dream 125 / 180 for my next tank. I am thinking about putting some very strong super glue in the crack to further sturdy the crack. What do you think about that? Thanks.

 

[Turbosnail]

Be careful gluing it as most glues will expand and that would make the crack bigger.

 

[pallobi]

your tank weighs in at nearly a half ton, the super glue or any kind of adhesive, from what i know, will not help much if at all... if it wants to crack further, it will, not too much you can do about it... but again, i really wouldnt worry too much if there has been no probs yet... but whatever helps your own peace of mind... GL

 

[pallobi]

Be careful gluing it as most glues will expand and that would make the crack bigger.

agree with this also...

 

[pallobi]

to give you an idea of my cracks...

the first 2 are of the one at the top near the center brace, and the bottom two pics are two seperate cracks along the front bottom... again, i have no worries at all, and they have been this way for a year now... and as also as mentioned, all are clean cracks, clean though the entire trim... however, yours is in a different spot, the corner, which makes for little different issue...

and the bottom two...