Help! Crack in my tank!

rich99rich · 03/20/2006, 05:05 PM

I have a 150g acrylic tank. I thought acrylic tanks are not supposed to crack, but I guess I'm unlucky. There is a crack on the top panel that has been creeping toward the front panel. In fact, it's at a point where it looks like it's touching the front panel. Will this crack continue on to the front panel, or will it stop? How do I make it stop?

GraviT · 03/20/2006, 05:08 PM

If the top panel is glued to the front, it should stop. If the top bends into the front, then it isn't likely to stop. Hope this makes some kind of sense.

whiteshark · 03/20/2006, 05:10 PM

Uh oh. Sounds like its time for a new tank. I wouldn't take the chance of losing everything and having a flood of mythic proportions in my living room. I don't know of a way of fixing this, maybe some1 else will, but I dont think there is a way.

rich99rich · 03/20/2006, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GraviT
If the top panel is glued to the front, it should stop. If the top bends into the front, then it isn't likely to stop. Hope this makes some kind of sense.

The top is glued to the front, so I hope it stops! I am going to call the manufacturer to see if they can offer any tips.

MCary · 03/20/2006, 05:23 PM

Can you fill the crack with weld-on and fix it? Can you stop drill it?

phlipper84 · 03/20/2006, 05:36 PM

was thinking of perhaps cutting the crack out. As long as it wasn't on one of the seams or cross-braces it should work. How thick is the acrylic?

rich99rich · 03/20/2006, 05:53 PM

I don't think I can cut the crack out, as it is right at the point where it intersects the front panel. I believe the acrylic is 1/2", but I am not certain. I will measure when I get home.

I don't think I can fill the crack because it looks too thin. It starts out relatively large, but by the time it gets to the front panel, it is super thin.

I did some research online, and it seems like the heat from metal halides can cause deficiencies in the acrylic, which is probably the case here.

jjirsa78 · 03/20/2006, 06:09 PM

The force of the water out on the bottom of the acrylic front/back will cause the top of the front/back to push inward, which causes the top panel to bow upwards slightly. If you have a brace from front to back on the top, it's going to be subject to very significant pressure. Having MH lighting on that brace is a bad idea.

This is a very serious break. You may be able to repair it, but I'd very seriously consider lowering the volume in the tank to take pressure (weight) off, or find a way to brace the top - if you lose the top panel, you'll likely have a catastrophic failure.

Sk8r · 03/20/2006, 06:32 PM

You might (assuming the crack runs toward the tank-front dead-on) drill for nylon bolts and put a plexi plate over it, bolted down across the split. That might hold. On the other hand, have a lot of tubs and water ready and don't leave it unattended until you're pretty sure. If it reaches the front glass, it's going to bend it, I very much fear.

03/20/2006, 05:05 PM	#1
rich99rich Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Seal Beach, CA Posts: 307	Help! Crack in my tank! I have a 150g acrylic tank. I thought acrylic tanks are not supposed to crack, but I guess I'm unlucky. There is a crack on the top panel that has been creeping toward the front panel. In fact, it's at a point where it looks like it's touching the front panel. Will this crack continue on to the front panel, or will it stop? How do I make it stop?

03/20/2006, 05:08 PM	#2
GraviT Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wylie, TX Posts: 420	If the top panel is glued to the front, it should stop. If the top bends into the front, then it isn't likely to stop. Hope this makes some kind of sense. __________________ Member of DFWMAS Current Tank Info: Custom 162g, 40g sump/fuge, black box LEDs, Skimz Octa SC165i, Skimz Ca reactor, a real CO2 regulator, 2016 Apex

03/20/2006, 05:10 PM	#3
whiteshark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 3,024	Uh oh. Sounds like its time for a new tank. I wouldn't take the chance of losing everything and having a flood of mythic proportions in my living room. I don't know of a way of fixing this, maybe some1 else will, but I dont think there is a way. __________________ Deep Blue 60 gallon cube: Setup in progress.

03/20/2006, 06:32 PM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	You might (assuming the crack runs toward the tank-front dead-on) drill for nylon bolts and put a plexi plate over it, bolted down across the split. That might hold. On the other hand, have a lot of tubs and water ready and don't leave it unattended until you're pretty sure. If it reaches the front glass, it's going to bend it, I very much fear. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/20/2006, 05:23 PM	#5
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	Can you fill the crack with weld-on and fix it? Can you stop drill it?

03/20/2006, 05:36 PM	#6
phlipper84 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,024	was thinking of perhaps cutting the crack out. As long as it wasn't on one of the seams or cross-braces it should work. How thick is the acrylic?

03/20/2006, 05:53 PM	#7
rich99rich Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Seal Beach, CA Posts: 307	I don't think I can cut the crack out, as it is right at the point where it intersects the front panel. I believe the acrylic is 1/2", but I am not certain. I will measure when I get home. I don't think I can fill the crack because it looks too thin. It starts out relatively large, but by the time it gets to the front panel, it is super thin. I did some research online, and it seems like the heat from metal halides can cause deficiencies in the acrylic, which is probably the case here.

03/20/2006, 06:09 PM	#8
jjirsa78 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aliso Viejo, CA Posts: 445	The force of the water out on the bottom of the acrylic front/back will cause the top of the front/back to push inward, which causes the top panel to bow upwards slightly. If you have a brace from front to back on the top, it's going to be subject to very significant pressure. Having MH lighting on that brace is a bad idea. This is a very serious break. You may be able to repair it, but I'd very seriously consider lowering the volume in the tank to take pressure (weight) off, or find a way to brace the top - if you lose the top panel, you'll likely have a catastrophic failure.