Cracked tank drilling it. Can i still use it? Pic

[Tony25]

I cracked my 55 gallon tank drilling it for a 1 inch bulkhead. Can i still use the tank? Has anyone done this before? Can i smear some silicone on the crack? The rest of the marks at the bottom ect are chips. The crack went clean to the top.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/139225crack.jpg

[2swift]

Probably not a good idea. But if you do try I would suggest having a shop vac on hand.

[phoenix001]

I would not recommend it. You may be ok for a period of time but eventually the tank will start leaking and you will have a major problme on your hands. IMO, start over.

[gman0526]

Now you have a 55 gallon sump. Do not try to use the tank like that as a display.

[Tony25]

Well i had the tank in my basement. I intended to move it upstairs in my bedroom and add a sump. I realy didnt want to use a hob overflow because i cant risk it failing on me. I think i may just have to use my skimmer as hob instead of in my sump.

[gkarshens]

If you are anywhere near Austin, TX I have an extra 55 you can have.

[gkarshens]

Oh wait you said basement. Not near Texas.

[Tony25]

Thanks though even though you are in texas lol

[MaGNuS042]

its a 4 hour drive but i have one you can have, already drilled in the back with 2 holes. im in north jersey

[auto_loader]

do you know what caused it to crack during the drilling? Or did it just crack. Would you do anything different next time? Maybe be can learn something from your mishap.

[zemuron114]

you can use it. I cracked the bottom of my 55 when i drilled it. It was a very very very slow leak. I siliconed it with the aquarium stuff from home depot. I really caked it on. I let it sit for 2 days, and so far no leaks. If you use that hole for an overflow then there wont be that much pressure on it.

The only problem i see is tightening the bulkhead. it may further crack it or deepen it. Try tightening the bulkhead first then silicone it if it doesn't crack more.

[gman0526]

I have to disagree, the water pressure will be too much regardless if it's for an overflow or not.

Unless you're willing to go and help him clean up the mess after the tank drains on the floor and he looses livestock, don't tell him to do this half a$$ed. Get another tank or have a glass shop replace that particular pane. Good luck.

[chrisstie]

A sealed crack for 2 days with silicon.. is going to be disaster waiting to happen.

As for the OP- If you set up an overflow properly you won't have trouble with it. If you get another tank and want to drill, though (don't use that one like others have said) make sure its not tempered glass that kind will shater worse than the crack you have

[maddyfish]

Don't use it. 55s are cheap, it's not worth the hassle of a leak.

[Tony25]

Yea i dont think im going to use it. Also thanks for the offer on the drilled 55 to bad your not closer then 4 hours. I have another 55 but its all tempered and i cant drill it. I may wind up putting it in my bedroom without a sump. And just hang the hudge super skimmer 125 on the back.

[Dubbin1]

Junk it and start over or you WILL reget it.

[easye123]

ya,, you can get 55g used very cheap. and new for not that much. if your planning to put a lot of stuff in that tank, another 50-100 dollars would be a good investment

[zemuron114]

he asked if he could use it and i gave him my experience. Like i said i cracked my 55 on the BOTTOM, siliconed it and use it with NO leaks. he COULD use it, if he chooses to. If the crack isn't deep there will be no leaks. :) IME anyway, maybe not the case with this one.

[kryppy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8576724#post8576724 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114
he asked if he could use it and i gave him my experience. Like i said i cracked my 55 on the BOTTOM, siliconed it and use it with NO leaks. he COULD use it, if he chooses to. If the crack isn't deep there will be no leaks. :) IME anyway, maybe not the case with this one.

I'm with you. I cracked a 10 gallon in the same place, the same way. Not the worlds thickest glass.
I put silicone over the crack and everything was fine.
I kept waiting for it to fail..for three years...eventually it got upgraded to a bigger fuge.
I don't think I would trust it as a main display.

[billsreef]

There is a way to repair to make it usable. The secret is to glue a piece of glass or plexi over the crack on both sides. I like to have about 2 inches of glass on either side of the crack. This will both seal the crack as well add needed structual support. It will look ugly, but will work.