How to fix the bottom crack?

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I am given a 2X2X8 ft 1/4" glass tank which I covet very much. Itis used but rather clean. it has a narrow crack in the bottom that goes from the front to the back (2ft).

Is there a good way to glue this crack?

The best I have thought is to putsome silicon glue on it and then a sheet of either glass or plexi glued (what kind) on top of it and then silicon around the this piece.


My african cichlids and I will thank you for it. :)
 
I think that would work. You would have to cover the whole bottom from the inside, I think. My guess is that 3/16" thickness would suffice. Do the repair at the final resting place of the tank. Be sure to silicone the glass plate to the bottom of the tank and also to silicone the top edge of the repair glass.
 
I wouldnt do it, I would pay to have the glass repaired. The reason glass does so well for aquariums, it has a very good weight strength, not impact strength. With a crack, the amount of weight it will support will be seriously compromised. If you try and put another glass piece above it, the bottom glass will still have to support the weight...and I wouldnt trust it. Do you trust it enough to not have 240gallons of water in your house and on your floor. The water alone in the tank will weigh about 2000lbs. In my opinion that is not worth risking. I'd hate to see that mess!!! If you can find a good glass shop in your area, I bet it would be under 200bucks to get it repaired...what ever you decide, good luck!
 
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I agree... replacing it completely would be safer. The entire weight of the tank contents will be resting on the bottom... I wouldn't trust it to a cracked panel.

Jim
 
If you try to replace the bottom piece of glass, you might as well strip and rebuild the entire aquarium as the bottom plate is the foundation upon which the rest of the glass is built. However, if the aquarium is properly supported by a good tank stand, and there is a thin piece of styrofoam between the tank and the plywood at the top of the tank stand to account for any unevenness, there should be no problems. I would even venture to say that the repaired tank would be even stronger than new.

*edit* 1/4" thick on an 8' tank? Seems kinda thin :confused:
 
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I need precise answers!

I do not want to replace the bottom. I am thinking to:

- put some silicone glue on the thin crack
- put either plexiglass or glass (Q-1 which is better)
- glue it (Q-2 what kind of glue) and then silicone around it
- the plate will be at least six inches (Q-3 how wide) wide on either side of the hair-line crack.

So the three questions are:

1- glass opr plexiglass plate?
2- what kind of glue?
3- how wide a plate? It will be be 2FT long.
4- Is it a good idea?

Thanks, :)
 
If you are putting it on a complete base the base will carry all the weight (the foam is a good idea)

1. Glass----------Plexi will discolour and brittle over time
2. Just glue it and seal it with 100% silicone
3. Cover the whole bottom
4. Should work fine.
 
Well, that was my suggestion; to silicone a plate of glass the size of the bottom plate of your existing tank to the bottom of your tank (in other words, competely cover the bottom of your tank with a new plate of glass), then silicone any gap between the new glass and the sides of the tank. It is a bit hard to write what I am thinking of. Clear as mud?
 
Hey do you have a digi cam?? Because I wanna see what it looks like to have 230g of water on your floor. Please PM me when you get the pics.

Im not trying to be rude, but people invest hundreds and thousands on tanks and accessories, why do you wanna go ghetto?? oh and that whole thing about , you cant replace the bottom....the post you made should explain why you should replace the bottom, because it is the main weight holding piece...and no IMO its not hard or bad to replace the bottom glass, my 75g had the bottom and one side replaced when it used to be in my parents hands. The job was done top notch.....I think thats what you have to worry about.


Spend 50 to "cover crack" and possibly have 240g of water on your floor, but its much better to spend 200 and know your fish and your house are safe from disaster,
 
This is a technical question. How wide a piece will provide enough protection against water leakage?

Because the edges need to be silconed the same as covering the whole bottom. The 2ft pressure head may not be an issue. As the original bottom can handle that as well as the additional glass.

I am a mechanical engineer. It would benice to hear from some who has actually done this.
 
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