Tank bottom hairline crack solutions, brainstorming please

[Arkangel77]

Plexy wont work as a patch (it wont stick sorrectly)! To replace it it needs to be the same thickness. To patch it it can be thinner.

The short answer is YES! Most of the patches I see were done on the bottom. Its is actual the silicone that holds it all together. The glass does support the weight but the silicone holds the pieces together and that stuff is so much stronger than we realize when its properly installed! I have a Bud who works for a Glass Company - then install glass in sky scrapers and he told me that the SILICONE is what actually holds those windows in place! The got clips for ounting but the silicone does the real WORK!

Fit the patch properly, clean the areas VERY well with Alcohol and make sure EVERYTHING Is dry and oil free - no finger oils ether. Get a Tube of silicone and Pump a 1/4 or so layer over the patch - be fast as it will start to set. Use a Big puddy knife or trial to make it even in thickness over the whole patch (MUST BE FAST!). then smash the batch in place and weight it down with a LOT of weight! Let it sit for a few days and water test it. It can be done EASY and no one will ever see it under the gravel!

Arkangel77

PS - I did replace the entire piece on mine- I got help and I cut the entire tank apart - and tottaly re-sealed it from scratch. DUDE that job sucked!!!!!!!:hypnotized:

 

[Arkangel77]

I called a glass place to get an estimate in both tempered and untempered not knowing which I will actually need. But as i gave the dimensions 72X24 she asked OK whats the thickness, 1/2 inch I replied, say again she replied, back did you say 1/2 inch? Yes ma'am I replied, for what she exclaimed? for an aquarium I relied, why she asked? For the 1800 pounds of water I replied, oh-my OK Ill get back to you.

BTW - that's Plate glass you have there now. If it was tempered it would have shattered! Plate cracks - Tempered Shatters!

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Oh my gosh! I just finished speaking with Desert Glass and Mirror. Take a wild guess what a 72x24 pane 1/2 inch thick of glass cost shipped to my town for my truck pickup tempered and untempered?

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

BTW - that's Plate glass you have there now. If it was tempered it would have shattered! Plate cracks - Tempered Shatters!

Yeah it cracked just like a car windshield starting at a point like someone hit it with an ice pick and then emanating to one side and diminishing in the center, just like a rocked windshield, I can feel the ridge of the crack with my finger

 

[chefjamesscott]

I was just sitting back thinking of this for a fix

How about taking 6 big tubes of silicone(1 for each foot) and using a tile and grout spreader to spread it evenly across the inside bottom of the tank and then leaving it to cure for a good week or so.

Should easily hold the crack in place and be a light weight fix and cheap. Just wear a mask when you do it

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

I was just sitting back thinking of this for a fix

How about taking 6 big tubes of silicone(1 for each foot) and using a tile and grout spreader to spread it evenly across the inside bottom of the tank and then leaving it to cure for a good week or so.

Should easily hold the crack in place and be a light weight fix and cheap. Just wear a mask when you do it

Funny you should mention that as my neighbor took it one step further and said I should install cheap ceramic tile using silicone on the bottom and top.

 

[kyryah]

Oh my gosh! I just finished speaking with Desert Glass and Mirror. Take a wild guess what a 72x24 pane 1/2 inch thick of glass cost shipped to my town for my truck pickup tempered and untempered?

Well, it was $140 plus tax for my 80 gallon, so I can only imigane....

Kristina

 

[Slappy*McFish]

I'd probably just use the tank as a terrarium...lol.
Seriously though...I just wouldn't feel comfortable with a patch job holding that much water. I would just replace the entire piece of glass.
But that's just me.

 

[Arkangel77]

I was just sitting back thinking of this for a fix

How about taking 6 big tubes of silicone(1 for each foot) and using a tile and grout spreader to spread it evenly across the inside bottom of the tank and then leaving it to cure for a good week or so.

Should easily hold the crack in place and be a light weight fix and cheap. Just wear a mask when you do it

EEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW:crazy::screwy:

Oh my gosh! I just finished speaking with Desert Glass and Mirror. Take a wild guess what a 72x24 pane 1/2 inch thick of glass cost shipped to my town for my truck pickup tempered and untempered?

Probably at least $600 but maybe $750. My Piece that was at cost over 12 years back was like $350 free delivery threw my Bud!:jaw-dropping:

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

You ready! I know it surprised me sort of like a shot in the arm.
24x72x1/2" non tempered $120
24x72x1/2" tempered $132

I cant believe I diden't ask about the drilled holes. what do you think? I feel kind of good but who knows what kind of glass we ar talking about, is there some aquarium spec number out there on what type and if ir should be tempered? she told me that if I chose tempered the measurement has to be exact because it can never be cut after the order.

So this means I have to get that frame off to get the exact measurement or I guess I can use the unframed portion to extrapolate right? Sould I order now or wait till I get the frame off encase its configured different with the bottom piece inside the other 4 pieces 1/2 inch short all the way round. I feel like if I don't buy it soon the ugly $700 price will rear its head lol.

Wow just came out from the yard and peeking underneath , I really need to turn this thing over but it looks like the bottom sites inside the other 4 pieces and it gets worse the is almost no framing on the bottom only on the sides, I mean it looks like there is framing but only like 1/8 inch thick compared to the rest. But it gets worse there is a drag mark that hits the side end glass (12x32) and frame which tore a chuck of the frame and glass on center bottom of the side pannel missing and it moist in that spot as well. This is where the damage must have started. This is not good especially if the glass has to set inside, my goodness how can that be accomplished. Sad again.