I just found a chip in my tank!!!!

[Meloco14]

I was cleaning the glass on my tank and found a tiny chip. It is round, probably a millimeter in diameter. There are already 3 cracks spreading out from it. I can't tell how deep it goes. It is in the front glass, about halfway up. This is on a 55gal. I'm afraid it's going to slowly spread. What can I do? Is there any fix? I'm already considering going out to look for a new tank, even though I cant afford it and don't have the time to switch everything over. I just don't know how to evaluate how serious the crack is. Is there a temporary solution? Like I can put some silicone on the crack, it will look bad but will that be ok till I get a new tank? I assume once I get everything transferred I can take this to a glass shop and get the front pane replaced. But what should I do right now? Also, does anyone know anywhere to get glass tanks online in about a 55 or 60 gal size? Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

You could always put everything into a large rubbermaid while you get your tank fixed. Your fish won't care if they're in a glass box or a plastic one!

 

[wooglins]

If the chip is on the outside, you could carefully use a windshield chip repair kit from autozone to stop it from spreading.

 

[Meloco14]

That windshield repair kit is a good suggestion, I'll check it out tomorrow. I do have a 30 gallon rubbermaid that I bought to use as a sump/refugium that I havent set up yet, so I might do that. Thanks for the suggestions, sometimes when you're so upset about something you look over the obvious solutions.

 

[Carpentersreef]

If the chip is on the outside, you could carefully use a windshield chip repair kit from autozone to stop it from spreading.

Are you sure? Auto windshields are laminated, and the procedure that I've seen drills throught he first layer and uses a vacuum to re-fill the hole and small cracks with clear "glue".
I haven't seen a do-it-yourself kit. Just wondering.

Mitch

 

[Anonymous]

If you post a picture it will be easier to tell how bad the cracking really is.
Loc tite makes a glass glue product that comes in a little red/orange syrange (sp). It sets by uv and works very well at stopping cracks in glass from running.

How fast are the cracks running?
I think it would be best to replace the tank. Sorry.

 

[Ben1]

I have a 40 with two big chips in the corners of the outside glass. One has been there years the other is new. Hence me setting up a bigger 150 gal tank to replace it. You must use this as a excuss to go bigger!

 

[Meloco14]

Well I first spotted the chip yesterday and today it doen's seem to have grown any. I will try to get a pic but I only have my phone camera, which isnt very good. I will go to an autoparts store to look for some type of glass kit as a temporary fix. Honestly I wish I could use this as an excuse to go bigger, I actually did look at some bigger tanks, but it would just be too much of an investment for a bigger tank and a bigger stand and lighting and everything. So the direction I chose to go is actually smaller. I have always wanted a shorter, taller tank than this one, which is long and skinny. So I am probably going to get a 40 tall and transfer everything over to it. Then I'll try to get this one fixed, I assume a glass shop would be able to replace the entire pane, is this true? Anyway eventually I'll have 2 tanks so I can start two different biotopes or something. Thanks for the help

 

[mrrrkva]

I wouldnt repair a tank, but that is just my opinion. It isnt worth risking 55 gallon of water fish and corals on the floor. A glass repair shop will not guarantee their work. I would be cheaper to sell your tank as a "snake" tank and buy another 55gall. Look for a used one. Your should be able to get one for $50 and sell yours for $35. You cant get a glass shop to fix it for $15

 

[Meloco14]

oh thanks, if a glass shop doesn't guarantee it then youre right, it's not worth it. I bought a windshield repair kit today for $10 and I am trying to fix it right now. Hopefully that will hold long enough for me to figure out what I'm gonna do

 

[Anonymous]

What kind of glue does the windshield repair kit have. Some of them are just cosmetic, and won't really help you.

 

[PeeJ]

petsmart has 55 gallon tanks for like 80 bucks

 

[Meloco14]

hmm i didnt think of that, this kit might be purely cosmetic. It seems to be actually useful but that may just be due to their marketing department. I can't find any actual ingredients to the glue, but they call it repair resin, and it contains methacrylates if you know what those are. The package claims to "remove air from the break, fill it with a durable resin, and makes it even stronger than before" if you can believe that. Either way I'm not trusting this as a permanent fix, I just want it to hold until I have time to tranfer everything to a new tank (I have finals starting tomorrow :x ).