Acrylic Tank Repair Question

[tervman]

I recently purchased a used 45 gal. acrylic tank. The tank was leak free when purchased. The top of the tank is covered with an acrylic sheet, with two rectangular openings cut lengthwise into the top...the front one, which is covered by the light, and the back one, used for the filter and thermometer.

I was talking with a person at an aquarium store, who suggested I needed to add an extra filter, to supplement the one that came with the tank. I told the salesman that the back cut-out was not wide enough for the extra filter, so he suggested that I simply enlarge the opening by cutting the tank with a saw, which I did. I basically widened the back rectangular opening on the top of the tank, so the new filter would fit.

A few days later, I noticed that the tank top had split, from the back corners (of the cut out rectangle) toward the back panel. It had not yet reached the back panel, however. The end result was that it appeared the weight of the filter had caused the splits, and the back of the tank was bowing out. I broke the tank down, to avoid further damage.

My question is this....is there anything I can do to re-weld and re-support the tank, so I can SAFELY use it again?

Thanks much!

 

[snafu]

Sounds like what has happened is the water pressure caused it to split. If you ever have to do something like that again, drill a hole at the edges of the cut, then when you saw into it, it will leave a nice radius in the corners. (bigger the better)

All you can do now is:
1 - replace the top
2- patch the top with a solid piece or one with a radius in the corners
3 - install a brace front to back to keep it from bowing.

good luck!