HELP! Impending Seam Failure

WireTech · 10/12/2016, 01:19 PM

This morning while cleaning the viewing panes I saw this. I quickly braced the area up to hopefully relieve some pressure on the seam. I am able to put the corner of a piece of paper 3/8" into crack at its deepest (1/2" acrylic tank). Tank has been set up for 18 months and was used when I purchased it. This crack was not there. I am currently shopping for a NEW replacement. What I would like to know is there anything I can do to delay or prevent seam from failing completely. I was thinking about putting water thin acrylic glue on crack and letting it wick in to seam. However I'm worried that this might actually soften what little seam remains and cause disaster. Another idea is to place an acrylic strip over the seam and glue it into place but worried about the same problem. Maybe if I use the thicker glue it won't wick into seam. Tank is 1/2" acrylic with the following dimensions, 72"x24"x30" tall. Any helpful suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Greg

Reel North · 10/13/2016, 03:41 AM

I know nothing about acrylic, but for glass, at 30" tall they need to be at least 5/8" glass.

Hopefully an acrylic person chimes in. Good luck!

albano · 10/13/2016, 06:39 AM

IMO/E ... empty the tank ASAP ... It is going to split !

I've also heard that adding acrylic 'weld' to the bad seam of a filled tank, will cause a 'heat' reaction that may cause the original welds to fail...

WireTech · 10/13/2016, 07:18 AM

Patched the seam yesterday and left the bracing in place. Borrowed a 150 gallon and a 100 gallon stock tank. Gathered up other equipment I'll need to keep everything relatively happy in the stock tanks. Ordered a brand new aquarium, no more used more me. Same size as current tank but 3/4" acrylic instead of 1/2". Should be here in a couple of weeks.

shocker444 · 10/13/2016, 10:32 AM

Glad you got it worked out 1/2 inch is two thin IMO. I have a 72 long 24 high sump and its 3/4 and was built to be a sump. good luck and keep moving ahead lets see the new tank when it arrives.

albano · 10/13/2016, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shocker444

Glad you got it worked out 1/2 inch is two thin IMO. I have a 72 long 24 high sump and its 3/4 and was built to be a sump.

The thicker panel is needed/recommended because of the 30" height, not so much a problem with 24" tall...even less a problem in a sump which usually has water level at least a few inches below the top

Quote:

Originally Posted by WireTech

Tank is 1/2" acrylic with the following dimensions, 72"x24"x30" tall...

WireTech · 10/13/2016, 01:46 PM

That's why the new tank will be 3/4". I could see the 1/2" bow outward on my current tank. 30" tall needs thicker acrylic.

shocker444 · 10/13/2016, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albano

The thicker panel is needed/recommended because of the 30" height, not so much a problem with 24" tall...even less a problem in a sump which usually has water level at least a few inches below the top

That was my point if a sump is built with 3/4 and is smaller then his 1/2 is too thin. I was lending him my opinion incase he decides to fix and keep it..

WireTech · 10/13/2016, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shocker444

That was my point if a sump is built with 3/4 and is smaller then his 1/2 is too thin. I was lending him my opinion incase he decides to fix and keep it..

This aquarium will be cut up to make a new sump. Definitely will not be kept.

Mishri · 10/17/2016, 11:34 AM

Mine is the same dimensions, 1/2" acrylic, except 2 ft longer.. it's been running about 7-9 years.. I think the difference must be in the top (tough to tell in your picture) but mine has a full sheet of acrylic also on the top, with 2 large holes cut into it must help brace it quite a bit.

WireTech · 10/18/2016, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mishri

Mine is the same dimensions, 1/2" acrylic, except 2 ft longer.. it's been running about 7-9 years.. I think the difference must be in the top (tough to tell in your picture) but mine has a full sheet of acrylic also on the top, with 2 large holes cut into it must help brace it quite a bit.

Mine is the same. I bought it used however and I don't know how it was treated while the guy had it in storage. My patch has held up but I am ready in case it doesn't. Will feel much better when the new 3/4" thick replacement arrives.

Mishri · 10/19/2016, 04:02 PM

glad to hear your bracing and patching is holding up. I guess I'll see with mine.. I saw it completely full the week before I picked it up.. it's sitting dry right now (and will be for a couple more months likely) the seams all look perfect, no air bubbles at all or anything.

albano · 10/19/2016, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mishri

... I saw it completely full the week before I picked it up...

IMO, the act of filling and draining the tank, even for a 'test', puts additional stress on the seams...shouldn't be a problem but there is no guarantee that it won't leak the next time you fill it, after the 'successful' leak test.

WireTech · 12/03/2016, 04:17 PM

After some delays new tank has arrived and has been installed. Still need to get the cabinetry reinstalled. Thankfully patch held.

WireTech · 12/03/2016, 04:18 PM

Like the new aquascape much better. Everything seems to have survived and is adjusting to their new home.

Flippers4pups · 12/03/2016, 04:27 PM

Glad you caught it in time! Replacement is excellent! Bravo!

WireTech · 12/03/2016, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flippers4pups

Glad you caught it in time! Replacement is excellent! Bravo!

Thank you Don

10/13/2016, 03:41 AM	#2
Reel North New King of Quarantine Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hammertown, Canada eh Posts: 1,175	I know nothing about acrylic, but for glass, at 30" tall they need to be at least 5/8" glass. Hopefully an acrylic person chimes in. Good luck! __________________ It takes a very rich man to buy cheap things Current Tank Info: frag tank. Lame

10/13/2016, 06:39 AM	#3
albano SALTWATER since '73 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Katonah, NY/ San Fernando Ca./ Sea Isle City NJ Posts: 6,210	IMO/E ... empty the tank ASAP ... It is going to split ! I've also heard that adding acrylic 'weld' to the bad seam of a filled tank, will cause a 'heat' reaction that may cause the original welds to fail... __________________ ______________________________________ Jan. '11 TOTM Manhattan Reefs Current Tank Info: 500g & 200g acrylic DTs/2 separate reef systems

10/13/2016, 01:46 PM	#7
WireTech Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 78	That's why the new tank will be 3/4". I could see the 1/2" bow outward on my current tank. 30" tall needs thicker acrylic. __________________ Greg Current Tank Info: 220 gallon DT, 29 gallon QT, 30 gallon refugium, 30 gallon cryptic refugium, 40 gallon sump, LED lighting

10/17/2016, 11:34 AM	#10
Mishri Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Great Falls, MT Posts: 1,404	Mine is the same dimensions, 1/2" acrylic, except 2 ft longer.. it's been running about 7-9 years.. I think the difference must be in the top (tough to tell in your picture) but mine has a full sheet of acrylic also on the top, with 2 large holes cut into it must help brace it quite a bit. __________________ 300 gallon 8ft long, 2x xf250 gyre, reef octopus 250-int - work in progress Aquarist since 1986

10/19/2016, 04:02 PM	#12
Mishri Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Great Falls, MT Posts: 1,404	glad to hear your bracing and patching is holding up. I guess I'll see with mine.. I saw it completely full the week before I picked it up.. it's sitting dry right now (and will be for a couple more months likely) the seams all look perfect, no air bubbles at all or anything. __________________ 300 gallon 8ft long, 2x xf250 gyre, reef octopus 250-int - work in progress Aquarist since 1986 Last edited by Mishri; 10/19/2016 at 04:12 PM.

10/13/2016, 10:32 AM	#5
shocker444 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 112	Glad you got it worked out 1/2 inch is two thin IMO. I have a 72 long 24 high sump and its 3/4 and was built to be a sump. good luck and keep moving ahead lets see the new tank when it arrives.

12/03/2016, 04:27 PM	#16
Flippers4pups Home made abyss Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lake Saint Louis, MO Posts: 2,047	Glad you caught it in time! Replacement is excellent! Bravo! __________________ Don Reefing since 1993 Current Tank info: 125 gallon DT , 125 gallon basement sump. Rw 15 & Rw 8. Panworld 150ps return. Reef Octopus 150 skimmer, 3 165w mars aqua led.