200 gal. tank w/large crack on bottom pane.

[el wadd]

I recently picked up a used 200 gal. tank with a large crack on the bottom pane of glass. My question to you all is this....

Do I have to replace the cracked bottom with a new piece of glass, or can I cut to fit a thin piece of plexi-glass, place it inside the tank, and silicone it right over the existing bottom? The bottom is currently reinforced by a sheet of 1/2 inch plywood.

The tank is not a standard rectangle, it has six outward facing panes of glass (not including the bottom) with supports running down the seams where the silicone connects the panes.

I am hesitant to strip this behemoth down, any and all help is greatly appreciated.

[Ghost_knife]

bottom of the tank holds near a ton of weight...Litterally of not more. you will need Tempered Glass there's no repair of the old piece. you must remove the pane and totally replace it with Tempered glass.

[webcricket]

Plexi-glass might suffice if you keep it as a reptile tank only and do not fill with water. Otherwise, I agree, you should replace the pane.

[Rallysman]

find out who made the tank and contact them to see if you can gett another sheet for the bottom. I was told by perfecto that they dont use tempered in anything above 180, so you may be able to get a sheet from a glass shop.

[dorkfish]

Are the "supports" made of metal? If so, the tank is rather worthless if it is to be used for marine critters.

[el wadd]

the supports are on the outside of the tank, kinda like the old school aquariums you would see in the pictures of early museum tanks. Rather "Captain Nemo" ish, if you ask me.

[el wadd]

Any idea off the top of your head how much a sheet that thick might cost? I got this tank for $50 bucks, so I'm not afraid to kick a little cash at it, but at the same time I've been pricing these big mothers and I wouldn't want to spend more than the tank is worth.