Patching glass 30" aquarium

[swales]

Hi, I recently saw a couple 30" glass aquariums for sale at a local pet store. They were store use tanks.. dirty, painted, and with a hole drilled in the upper right corner of the back pain of glass. The hole measures approx. 1.5-2" in diameter. I couldn't resist buying the tank for the price and assumed at the time the hole could be easily patched. I am here to ask you all, what is the best way to cover this hole?

I was thinking about buying a piece of glass and using to silicone (aquarium safe) to create a seal around the hole? Is there a better way, or something I am not considering?

The tank cleaned up really nicely and I am really excited to set it up!

Thanks.

[cocoa_pleco]

you could silicone a piece of glass over it or just buy a rubber stopper for tanks that have been drilled

[gm72]

Just to add, make sure to silicone the patch to the inside of the tank. That way the pressure of the water against it helps hold it instead of blowing it out.

[swales]

Thanks for the quick replies -- I am really excited about this tank.

I wasn't aware that rubber stoppers were made for this purpose. Are they marketed for this purpose and/or commonly sold in pet/fish stores or is this a hardware store kind of thing?

[cocoa_pleco]

yep, some people drill tanks for reefs and when they have to move or sell the tank the buyer may want it for FW where a sump isnt needed, so you just buy a rubber plug kinda like a bathtub plug

[CAX474]

In this case I would put a patch of square glass on both sides of the hole that way it wont blow out, I have done this in the past and it has worked a charm both tanks are still in use after 5 yrs.

[Lady Hobbs]

Store probably kept their live lobster in it. Hope it works for you.

[fishfanatic33]

I had no idea it was so easy to patch a tank. I'll have to remember that for the future

[swales]

Thanks again to those who replied.

In this case I would put a patch of square glass on both sides of the hole that way it wont blow out, I have done this in the past and it has worked a charm both tanks are still in use after 5 yrs.

Thanks, I hadn't considered patching both sides. I will go ahead and do both just to be sure.

Store probably kept their live lobster in it. Hope it works for you.

The store actually had very little (very few tropical fish, no saltwater fish, no reef stuff, and no crustaceans). Thanks. I hope it works, too.

[CAX474]

Only glad to help, I hope it works out fine.

[Ty]

try checking out your local plumbing section, you might be able to get a threaded bung that you could "sandwich" the glass with, and a thread in plug.

it would be a never fail watertight solution

[gm72]

That's a great suggestion there.

[drawnon]

yea i was going to suggest a bulkhead fitting with a threaded plug.