Is my tank worthy, Fixable? Idk if its fixable. any help?

**SALTWATER'ENTHUSIAST** · 09-08-2011, 03:09 AM

Hey guys im new and as my first post I'd like to show you guys what I picked up a couple days ago.

I was on craigs and read someone was giving away a 55-Gallon Acrylic aquarium with stand and heaters soooo I drove right on over picked her up not thinking if it was cracked or even worth it got home and realized there was a bunch of silicone? Removed it to find all these cracks? I don't know is its possible to repair or if I have to throw it out I would really hate to please look at the pictures

http://s1190.photobucket.com/albums/...ER-ENTHUSIAST/

The cracks that go up are from the right side of the tank I filled it up and it seems only one actually leaks producing a small droplet every now and then

The other cracks that you see spreading like roots are on the bottom left side im so over wherlemd and don't know if I can fix this im a begginer at fixing acrylic tanks so any input would be great like what type of glue I should use or whether to just toss it out I really want to keep it though. Thanks.

**Lab_Rat** · 09-08-2011, 03:15 AM

I'm not sure if you can fix that with acrylic sealant (Weld-on?) but imo it's not worth the risk. I think Petco is having their $1/g sale, you can just go pick up a 55g for $55 and not risk a failed tank.

**SALTWATER'ENTHUSIAST** · 09-08-2011, 03:18 AM

Dang it I really was hoping I could fix it but I don't want to ruin the hardwood floors. Thanks for the input. BTW does the $1/Per G count for acrylic or just glass?

**Lab_Rat** · 09-08-2011, 03:20 AM

Just glass. If it counted for acrylic I'd have even more tanks than I already do. And maybe yours is fixable, I've not repaired acrylic, but to me it looks really bad and not worth the risk of hundreds or thousands of dollars in damage.

**SALTWATER'ENTHUSIAST** · 09-08-2011, 03:22 AM

Your right well I geuss ill just go buy a 55 Glass and cut this tank up and build a sump out of it lol

**Scrup** · 09-08-2011, 03:28 AM

well, from what I can tell most of it looks like crazing. A normal thing acrylic does, kinda like stretch marks for plastic.. It is a sign of stress, but not always a sign of imminent failure.

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't worry about it. At the most I would scab patch the bottom area (just buy a sheet big enough to cover the area, and use some acrylic solvent, weldon should work, and weld it over it to give it a little extra strength).

Edit- almost forgot the most important part. Set it up outside first, perfectly level, and let it sit overnight. If you have any HOB's or a canopy for it, put that on as well. If it doesn't explode, I wouldn't worry about it.

**SALTWATER'ENTHUSIAST** · 09-08-2011, 03:31 AM

I was thinking of doing that for the bottom piece. And the like they do on European tanks with black trim around the top execpt mine for the bottom to go around the those cracks since they go up about 3inchs? Do you think that could help?

**Lady Hobbs** · 09-08-2011, 03:33 AM

Give it to someone for their snake or turtle.

**Scrup** · 09-08-2011, 03:40 AM

You can reinforce the bottom seams with squared acrylic dowels. Just make sure you bevel off the edge that will not be in the corner, you can cut yourself pretty good. This will give you quite a bit more strength. With acrylic tanks you want to make sure the top is strong enough. A ludicrous amount of pressure gets exerted on this. Consider putting in a center brace as well if you are concerned about it.

Again though, this is probably overkill. Unless the crazing is cause by the previous owner setting it on its corner or filling it when it was on an uneven surface. Do the cracks on the bottom go all the way through?