Daughter fell in tank

[JeffP]

Hi all,

Interesting day today. I have a 110G aquarium that is in the process of being setup. My 6 year old daughter climbed to the top and was trying to jump off using two grocery bags as parachutes. Off course the glass top collapsed under her weight and she fell in.

Good news - She was not seriously hurt and the tanks was not full of water and fish.

Bad news - the corner of the glass cover made a pretty good gouge in the bottom of the tank although it does not appear to go all the way through.

Anyone have any experience with large tanks that have bottoms damaged like this? Can, or should, it be repaired?

[OrionGirl]

Is it a crack, or a divot? Cracks muct be repaired, while a divot is not likely a problem, as long as it is shallow (less than half the thickness of the glass). If the divot is more than that, I would repair it. Fill the divot with silicone, press a piece of glass on top of it to make contact with the bottom, and then silicone around this patch.

[superjohnny]

Ok, maybe it's just me, but is anyone else getting the sense that Oniongirl knows everything? She always has an answer... no matter how obscure the question.

You go girl :D

[JeffP]

Thanks OrionGirl,

It looks like a divet at the beginning of a scratch. Probably where the corner of the glass top impacted the bottom and then slid to the edge. I figured maybe someone might have similar experience where some rockwork may have fallen onto the bottom of the tank. I doubt too many have had their daughters (or sons) fall in.

Since it will be hidden, I may silicone a piece of glass on top of the divet/scratch anyway.

I will probably do a test fill just to make sure her overall impact didn't create any leaks at the seams.

Thanks again.

[125gJoe]

There should be some kind of warning on grocery bags!
"Not make believe parachutes!"

Kidding..
Hope she is fine!

Can't offer anything better than what was suggested. :(

[SimonWoodstock]

Wow, hope it doesn't turn out to be a leak or something. Kids do some crazy things, i used to jump off of my uncles shed using a big black garbage bag as a parachute....hmm that could explain some things..... Good thing she didn't get hurt. Good luck on repairs.

Superjohnny, Yeah man, i get that feeling too. Every time i read one of her answers i have to stop and tell myself that im not reading out of an encyclopida.....:D
I'm thoroughly convinced that she knows the answeres to all of life's questions. I know she's helped me out quite a few times w/ in depth answers. What would we do w/out her!

[JeffP]

I still can't believe she did that. I know she's only 6 but she's very involved with keeping our fish. In fact, we just setup a planted 5G minibow tank with neons and amano shrimp in her bedroom. She's good at feeding the fish, helping with water changes, and can do some water tests (dip stick kind). She usually takes one or more aquarium magazines to school.

It just goes to show that young children can do some unpredictable things around aquariums. The 110G tank momentarily stopped being an aquarium and became a high flat launching surface for her parachute experiment.

[Tightdog1]

yea since its on the bottom i do what ORIONGIRL said, to fill it with silicone and place a glass plate on top just to be on the safe side since it wont get seen that much and its a good idea wouldnt want to waste/break a 110g tank.

yea she does seem to have an answer for everything and shes always right!

[OrionGirl]

Did I mention that my high school nickname was Encyclopedia? And here at work, I'm known as Answer Girl? :o

Don't know everything--still learning, like everyone else. What ya'll don't see are the searches I run to find answers; apparently it's a good disguise. But thanks--I try!

Now if I can just get my boss to spring for a cool cape, black bustier, knee-high boots and fishnet tights.... :D

[beviking]

First the avatar...then a description of a costume...easy OrionGirl, a man could get hurt!!!:eek: :D

Can't say the kids have fallen in the tank, but I often threaten to put grocery bags over their heads and put them in the tank!;)

[AquaticEnt]

Woohoo! I love capes! Err...anyhoo...

Is is a glass aquarium or acrylic? That must have been SOME impact if it's glass, to take a gouge out of it like that.

[Tightdog1]

your gonna make guys go crazy ORIONGIRL if your not careful... lol

[Raithan Ellis]

There are some strong epoxies on the market to be found for around $5-7, many of the clear-curing super strength are fine for use in aquaria.

We've sealed several larger tanks built this way, I'd bet the house that glass would break before the epoxy would give loose. Could be a useful filler for scratch and cracks...

Personally, I've found it great for mildly-extensive rockwork (200-500lbs), incredibly handy for stacking it just the way you want when the pieces don't lay right.

Regards,
Raithan O. Ellis

[superjohnny]

Originally posted by OrionGirl

Now if I can just get my boss to spring for a cool cape, black bustier, knee-high boots and fishnet tights.... :D

I think the members here at AC would be more than willing to foot the bill for that. ;)

[OrionGirl]

I'm adding this to the list of things that can not be explained....

Ya'll are weird! :D