Emergency!!!! I think my tank is going to blow!!!

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by jcoreyblack, Aug 3, 2012.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. jcoreyblack

    jcoreyblack Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2012
    Messages:
    95
    Location:
    Seneca, South Carolina
    Here's the deal. After years of dreaming of owning my own reef tank & finally getting one started... I thinks it's done for.?.?

    I found the tank 120 gallon (48x24x24 glass) reef ready tank on craigslist, started my build 4 weeks ago. The tank leak tested fine not a scratch or chip anywhere. Water has been in the tank for 3 weeks. After 2 weeks holding water (1week ago) I noticed a small crack developing in the front left hand corner :-/ . I took a mental of the size and location & crossed my fIngers. The next day I swore it was bigger so I marked it with a dry erase marker for reference. Yup, you guessed it, it grew. I marked it again & as you can see below its growing!!

    The glass is 1/2" thick and as you can see it has not moved into the seal of the tank but it's 75% there. The crack is on the outer side of the glass, it is at the point that you can feel it with your fingernail.

    So what do I do? Is it trash? Can a windsheild repair company help? Will it just stop on its on eventually? I've been told that replacing that glass panel will be more expensive than buying a new tank.

    Please Help!!!!

    Front view
    [​IMG]

    Closer front view
    [​IMG]

    Left side view
    [​IMG]
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. homyg30

    homyg30 Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2012
    Messages:
    214
    Location:
    Central Illinois
    Dude not sure if that would be ok...... I wouldn't want to risk coming home to find 120 gallons of water on the floor. That could be more expensive than to buy another tank... Idk I don't think I would risk it.
     
  4. schackmel

    schackmel Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2008
    Messages:
    3,153
    Location:
    St. Louis
    i am having a hard time seeing the crack with what you have placed against it.......however it is in a REALLY bad place. I do think it will keep spreading and eventually take the seam out. I dont think it will blow the tank out (it isnt just going to shatter and dump everything out) However i do think you are going to get a pretty good leak sometime.

    With that said........what to do? I wish I could tell you, I had a 125g tank blow a seam out after a couple years of having the tank and it started gradually leaking on day, then second day it did leak about 30-40g onto the floor. Again it was a slow leak...a gallon or so an hour. My tank wasnt cracked but I tried to reseal the tank and couldnt get the seams to stop leaking. Plus the pressure was starting to take out other parts of the seam.

    Can you feel the crack on the inside part of the tank. You might be able to get a windshield guy out there and it MIGHT help, but I would be fearful of the strength of the tank over long period. However it might buy you some time to get a new tank.

    In terms of why it cracked.........if you didnt see it when you bought it, i really dont think it was there when you bought it. I dont think the seller knew it. Probably what happened is it got a small chip in it during the move and is just splintering.

    Good luck to you.......I feel your pain!
     
    1 person likes this.
  5. jcoreyblack

    jcoreyblack Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2012
    Messages:
    95
    Location:
    Seneca, South Carolina
    There's nothing placed against it, that is the black plastic support thing that wraps around the tank.

    I inspected the tank very closely before I bought it and also stared at it empty for a week and that crack wasn't there. You can feel the crack with your fingernail on the outside of the glass but as you can see in the side view picture, the crack has not made it the the inside or sealside of the glass.

    This may give a better feel for its location for you. You can see it on the bottom left hand.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2012
  6. reefermadnes

    reefermadnes Bristle Worm

    Joined:
    May 27, 2012
    Messages:
    133
    I work for safelite auto glass and that can't be repaired, I wouldn't attempt it. The tank isn't trash though. You can use a razor blade and cut the top rim off, and the sides cut out really easy because there is a gap between the two pieces of glass filled with silicone. I did this to a 90g to use as a sump but it was too big so I took it apart, cut it down 6 inches then put it back together. The piece of glass should cost about 60 bucks unless you can find the same tank for a good price.
     
  7. schackmel

    schackmel Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2008
    Messages:
    3,153
    Location:
    St. Louis
    yeah, i wouldnt trust it. That makes me sick for YOU! I would look for another tank as soon as possible. I can definatly see it better now. I wouldnt even go for trying to repair it unfortunately. Again, I dont think it will just blow out and dump everything, however when it starts to leak it will leak fast.
    I LOVE YOUR ROCK WORK!!!!!
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. jcoreyblack

    jcoreyblack Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2012
    Messages:
    95
    Location:
    Seneca, South Carolina
    $60?? It 48"x 24" x 1/2" thick, tempered, polished edge glass.
    I was told around $800, the tank cost $750 new.
     
  10. jcoreyblack

    jcoreyblack Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2012
    Messages:
    95
    Location:
    Seneca, South Carolina
    Holy geez! I got such a good deal on this tank that I bought a full apex and $800 in DIY LEDs. I have no money left... My reefing is over befor it started
     
  11. reefermadnes

    reefermadnes Bristle Worm

    Joined:
    May 27, 2012
    Messages:
    133
    800 is crazy I would shop around and not tell them what it is for, tell em its for a table or something. Unless it is the bottom it doesn't neecd to be tempered just beveled edges. The piece I bought and it wasn't from work either lol was 48x18 1/2in and it was 45. The small mom and pop shops should give you a better deal.
     
    1 person likes this.
  12. country1911

    country1911 Coral Banded Shrimp

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
    Messages:
    367
    You shouldn't need tempered glass for the front. Especially with 1/2 inch thick glass. That may help with the price a little.