Repairing a cracked tank

[Scott]

I've got a 40G breeder that I cracked.

The back has two bulkheads at the top ends and when I was moving it, a bulkhead hit the door frame, causing a crack all the way from the bulkhead diagonally to the bottom center.

I'm thinking of attempting a repair so I can use it as a sump. I don't really care how it looks.

My first thought is to get a piece of plexiglass the full size of the inside and glue it with silicone to the inside surface, making sure I get a full seal around the edges as well as across most of the surface for strength.

Bad idea? Any other suggestions?

 

[NateHanson]

I think that might work. I'd probably use glass though, as it will bond better than acrylic. The tough spot will be along the bottom edge, where you'll need the new silicone to bond on top of the old silicone. I'm told that new silicone doesn't bond too well to old silicone.

It might also be worth considering cutting that pane out, and resealing the whole tank with a new pane of glass. It wouldn't take much more time than the above option, and you'd be more sure of the fix.

(moved to DIY forum).

 

[Scott]

thanks for the tips, Nate.

And yes, of I thought of just replacing it. However, that seemed like something I could screw up, while sticking something to the existing structure could be done by a monkey.

Maybe I should take the opportunity to learn how to build a tank (or 1/4 of a tank anyway).
That would allow me to also get the glass co. to drill it.

And thanks for the move, sorry, I forgot abut the DIY forum.

 

[Dave McReeferson]

I would replace the panel if it were me.

 

[NateHanson]

thanks for the tips, Nate.

And yes, of I thought of just replacing it. However, that seemed like something I could screw up, while sticking something to the existing structure could be done by a monkey.

I've got a LOT of faith in monkeys, and I'd agree with you if the crack didn't extend to a seam. My understanding is that makes a repair quite a bit trickier.

 

[Dave McReeferson]

Sealing the crack is not the problem IMO, that is the easy part, a smear of silicone along the crack would make it water tight. It is giving the pane back it's structural rigidity to prevent failure of that seam or any of the other three that is the important part. If you were intent on trying to repair the pane rather than replacing it, I would use a few smaller but thicker full length "bars" of glass running lengthwise along the pane rather than one sheet. It would be ugly as all get out, but I think it would be the safest option outside of properly replacing the panel. Laminating to full size panels together with silicone is not as easy or desirable as you might think.

 

[Scott]

I can imagine that laminating full pieces together may be difficult.

Ugly as all get out is perfectly acceptable. This is a basement sump, and the cracked piece is already painted black to boot.

Further, since it's a sump, it won't be filled to capacity.

So, viable options at this point are replacement or smear the crack and reinforce.

I'll investigate replacement. That'd be the most interesting.

thanks.

 

[Dave McReeferson]

Throw a pane of starfire in there and you got a sweet frag tank.