Help scratch aquarium glass! Advice needed!!!!

[Mariachi]

Hey guys I just set up my hex tank got the filter hooked up and
everything and realised that there is a scratch on the outside of the
tank near the bottom..just above the gravel line. I think it happened
today since i've never noticed it before..don't know what could have
done it htough..

What i need to know is...is it still safe to use the tank? It is quite
close to the edge of the glass 2-3 inches from one side and the scratch
is about 0.5 inches long and about i dunno 1mm deep (dunno how to
convert that to inches) so not really deep but you definatly feel it
and you can see it since it is all white.

So can i still use the tank? Do i need to patch it up? How can i patch
it up? This is so sad! right after i bought a canister and spent
50bucks on sandstone and all day setting it up!

Thanks

[Mariachi]

so it is ok to fill it up all the way etc? it is quite a deep scratch.
Does it mean the glass is weak now or is it about the same? I don't
even know if it should be called a scratch or a chip it is like a line
but there is definely glass missing since it is all white and there is
a dent...kinda like if you tried to saw it?

[Koi-Lo©]

Next time be ,more carefull


On 29 Apr 2006 02:59:29 -0700, "Mariachi" > wrote:
>><>Hey guys I just set up my hex tank got the filter hooked up and
>><>everything and realised that there is a scratch on the outside of the
>><>tank near the bottom..just above the gravel line. I think it happened
>><>today since i've never noticed it before..don't know what could have
>><>done it htough..
>><>
>><>What i need to know is...is it still safe to use the tank? It is quite
>><>close to the edge of the glass 2-3 inches from one side and the scratch
>><>is about 0.5 inches long and about i dunno 1mm deep (dunno how to
>><>convert that to inches) so not really deep but you definatly feel it
>><>and you can see it since it is all white.
>><>
>><>So can i still use the tank? Do i need to patch it up? How can i patch
>><>it up? This is so sad! right after i bought a canister and spent
>><>50bucks on sandstone and all day setting it up!
>><>
>><>Thanks

Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1982.
Aquariums since 1956.
Some assholes Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
*Note: There are several *Koi-Lo's* on rec.ponds.
But, I am the one and only original Koi-Lo.
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Mariachi]

Ok guys here's a photo of the chip/scratch tell me if i should use it
or discard. It is about 1cm long which is less than half an inch about
0.4 inches

http://server4.pictiger.com/img/265568/other/chipped-tank.jpg

[Koi-Lo©]

Take it to a windshield replacement / repair facility and have them
"fill' the scrath like they do chips on windshields. It will not add
any strength to it, but it will make the scratch pretty much
invisible...Average cost for a windshield repair around here is about
$25 A 1/2" long scratch is not gonna hurt **** on such a small tank.
Personally I would let it bump and use it like it is.....

On Sat, 29 Apr 2006 18:49:45 +0200, "sew crazy"
> wrote:
>><>if it is not on the display side of the tank you could have a snall piece of
>><>square or round glass cut and useing some silcone stick it over the scratch
>><>this might help support it ....
>><>You say it is a hex ... those pannels are usually very cheap and is alsow
>><>not difficult to replace ... some DIY but you should manage .....
>><>If it is on the display side then just leave it maybee put some more gravel
>><>there so it sits just on the gravel line this should make it less vissable
>><>...
>><>remember a Hex has way less pressure on the glass because the pannels are
>><>never that wide .... (yea i know water presssure = depth and all that jazz
>><>.... I'm referring to strain on the glass .... I have assembled some Hex
>><>tanks with glass much thinnner than i would ever use on regular tanks ....)
>><>
>><>"Mariachi" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>><>> Hey guys I just set up my hex tank got the filter hooked up and
>><>> everything and realised that there is a scratch on the outside of the
>><>> tank near the bottom..just above the gravel line. I think it happened
>><>> today since i've never noticed it before..don't know what could have
>><>> done it htough..
>><>>
>><>> What i need to know is...is it still safe to use the tank? It is quite
>><>> close to the edge of the glass 2-3 inches from one side and the scratch
>><>> is about 0.5 inches long and about i dunno 1mm deep (dunno how to
>><>> convert that to inches) so not really deep but you definatly feel it
>><>> and you can see it since it is all white.
>><>>
>><>> So can i still use the tank? Do i need to patch it up? How can i patch
>><>> it up? This is so sad! right after i bought a canister and spent
>><>> 50bucks on sandstone and all day setting it up!
>><>>
>><>> Thanks
>><>>
>><>

Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1982.
Aquariums since 1956.
Some assholes Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
*Note: There are several *Koi-Lo's* on rec.ponds.
But, I am the one and only original Koi-Lo.
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Mister Gardener]

On Sat, 29 Apr 2006 18:49:45 +0200, "sew crazy"
> wrote:

>if it is not on the display side of the tank you could have a snall piece of
>square or round glass cut and useing some silcone stick it over the scratch
>this might help support it ....

A BandAid would be cheaper. Hey - if, because of our advice, you
decide to fill the tank and it leaks all over everything, are you
going to blame us? Of course, if you fill it and everything is fine, I
hope you will praise us.

-- Mister Gardener
-- Pull the WEED to email me

[Mister Gardener]

On Sat, 29 Apr 2006 17:02:46 GMT, (Koi-Lo© )
wrote:

>Take it to a windshield replacement / repair facility and have them
>"fill' the scrath like they do chips on windshields. It will not add
>any strength to it, but it will make the scratch pretty much
>invisible...Average cost for a windshield repair around here is about
>$25 A 1/2" long scratch is not gonna hurt **** on such a small tank.
>Personally I would let it bump and use it like it is.....

A windshield place might be able to give you good advice on how
serious or not serious the crack may be. They do glass every day, and
I supposed windshields have to tolerate a lot of pressure, just like
aquariums.

Clipped for brevity------------------------------------
>>><>remember a Hex has way less pressure on the glass because the pannels are
>>><>never that wide .... (yea i know water presssure = depth and all that jazz
>>><>.... I'm referring to strain on the glass .... I have assembled some Hex
>>><>tanks with glass much thinnner than i would ever use on regular tanks ....)

>Koi-Lo....
>Frugal ponding since 1982.
>Aquariums since 1956.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx deleted for vulgarity
>http://tinyurl.com/9do58
>*Note: There are several *Koi-Lo's* on rec.ponds.
>But, I am the one and only original Koi-Lo.
>~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>
-- Mister Gardener
-- Pull the WEED to email me

[Frank]

Mariachi wrote,
>Ok guys here's a photo of the chip/scratch tell me if i should use it
>or discard. It is about 1cm long which is less than half an inch about
>0.4 inches ......

Looks like a scratch to me - no chip or crack. A little clear finger
nail polish and you won't even see it. Scratchs don't make the glass
any weaker like a chip or crack would, so go ahead and use it
.....................Frank

[Koi-Lo]

Really? A scratch in no way makes a piece of glass
weaker......duh..........its a matter of making a scratch on a piece
of glass to start the propagation of a crack and if this scratch thats
made is controlled as well as the crack propagation that process is
how the glass is originally cut to begin with. Scratches can and do
lead to cracks..........

On 29 Apr 2006 15:51:27 -0700, "Frank" >
wrote:
>><>Mariachi wrote,
>><>>Ok guys here's a photo of the chip/scratch tell me if i should use it
>><>>or discard. It is about 1cm long which is less than half an inch about
>><>>0.4 inches ......
>><>
>><>Looks like a scratch to me - no chip or crack. A little clear finger
>><>nail polish and you won't even see it. Scratchs don't make the glass
>><>any weaker like a chip or crack would, so go ahead and use it
>><>....................Frank

Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1982.
Aquariums since 1956.
Some assholes Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
*Note: There are several *Koi-Lo's* on rec.ponds.
But, I am the one and only original Koi-Lo.
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Koi-Lo]

Scratches even cause aluminum or steel and most other materials to
develop into a crack eventually......I wish I had a dollar for every
piec eof plexiglass I had to reject in the military due to a small
scratch as well as full sheets of aluminum with a minor
scratch.............glass is no different, its just much more fragile.
The only thing that scratch has going for it in is favor is its not at
the edge, which would make it more prone to propagating into a crack.

On 29 Apr 2006 15:51:27 -0700, "Frank" >
wrote:
>><>Mariachi wrote,
>><>>Ok guys here's a photo of the chip/scratch tell me if i should use it
>><>>or discard. It is about 1cm long which is less than half an inch about
>><>>0.4 inches ......
>><>
>><>Looks like a scratch to me - no chip or crack. A little clear finger
>><>nail polish and you won't even see it. Scratchs don't make the glass
>><>any weaker like a chip or crack would, so go ahead and use it
>><>....................Frank

Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1982.
Aquariums since 1956.
Some assholes Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
*Note: There are several *Koi-Lo's* on rec.ponds.
But, I am the one and only original Koi-Lo.
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Mariachi]

LOL yes yes i will sue you all!!

Well I have some other bad news...because this is a second hand tank i
just inspected it again and there are various "chips" along the edge of
the glass on the sides where the silicon is.. I am not concerned about
most of them since it is very very small more scratches than anything
but there is one side with 2 small chips and 1 about half inch chip
down it. The chips are only like 1mm into the edge of the glass and it
is on the outside...there is silicone on the other side.

So in light of these chips and the one mentioned above what would you
guys suggest?

[MEAlston]

"Mariachi" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> LOL yes yes i will sue you all!!
>
> Well I have some other bad news...because this is a second hand tank i
> just inspected it again and there are various "chips" along the edge of
> the glass on the sides where the silicon is.. I am not concerned about
> most of them since it is very very small more scratches than anything
> but there is one side with 2 small chips and 1 about half inch chip
> down it. The chips are only like 1mm into the edge of the glass and it
> is on the outside...there is silicone on the other side.
>
> So in light of these chips and the one mentioned above what would you
> guys suggest?
>
When In Doubt...Do WITHOUT !! .......-ED

[Altum]

Mariachi wrote:
> LOL yes yes i will sue you all!!
>
> Well I have some other bad news...because this is a second hand tank i
> just inspected it again and there are various "chips" along the edge of
> the glass on the sides where the silicon is.. I am not concerned about
> most of them since it is very very small more scratches than anything
> but there is one side with 2 small chips and 1 about half inch chip
> down it. The chips are only like 1mm into the edge of the glass and it
> is on the outside...there is silicone on the other side.
>
> So in light of these chips and the one mentioned above what would you
> guys suggest?

It still sounds cosmetic. I've had used tanks with 2 mm deep chips out
of the corners and no leaking or cracks. If it were my tank, I'd watch
the seams carefully for leaks over the next few days and then stop worrying.

--
Put the word aquaria in the subject to email me.
Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com

[Frank]

Mariachi wrote,
>there is one side with 2 small chips and 1 about half inch chip
>down it. The chips are only like 1mm into the edge of the glass and it
>is on the outside...there is silicone on the other side.......

With chips, what you have to watch for is the start of a crack - to
chip it, something had to bump it. With the silicone on the other side
of these chips, they shouldn't leak. Cracks I wouldn't trust, and they
can't be fixed........... Frank

[Pastor Steve Winter]

"Mariachi" > spake thusly and wrote:

>
>So in light of these chips and the one mentioned above what would you
>guys suggest?

Consider the price of your floor and anything else that would
be ruined by the water if it happened to "give way" while
you were not home. Also consider the little fishies that
will come to trust you with their little lives (not to mention
the price you pay for their little fins and stuff).

Then go buy a fish tank, or get a fish screen saver for the
meanwhile.

Regards,

Pastor Winter
--
Apostolic Oneness Pentecostal /*/ PreRapture Ministry
http://www.apostolic.biz for Bible studies (text and audio)
Have you obeyed Acts 2:38 as Paul taught in Acts 19:4-6?