Newbie, 2 questions

I recently found a used 10 gallon aquarium i was planning on setting up
but i discover today that it has a few small cracks in it (2 cracks and
a chip in the corner about halfway down the tank)

Is it safe to use the tank? I put water in it and it holds without
leaking. The first crack goes downward to the bottom from the chip and
ends at the bottom of the tank. The second extends upward from the
chip but ends about midway thru the tank (less than 2 inches long).
The chip is quite deep but doesnt seem to go thru to the silicon. Can
i repair it without getting a whole new piece of glass (a lot of money
for a 15 dollar aquarium)?

How do i know if its glass or acrylic? Its a lot lighter than my old
10 gallon glass aquariums and sounds plasticy when you flick or thump
it. The cracks look like glass cracks but i dont know if acrylic
cracks are similar. I've never seen an acrylic tank in person besides
the little beta bowls so i have no idea what they sound like when
flicked.

Thanks for your help,
Ashley

I forgot to mention, the glass doesnt have any scratches that i can see
(its still very dirty i quite cleaning it after finding the cracks) so
i'm not sure if its acrylic since they get scratches so easy.

I'll take photos tomorrow (going to refill it and let it sit longer on
newspaper to double check) so you can see the severity of the crack.

10 gal tanks are just to cheap to fool with fixing them if they are
cracked.......Use it for a terrarium or trash it......Petco and
Petsmart has em for $9.99 brand new without cracks.


On 29 Apr 2006 18:24:53 -0700, "Ashley Ann"
wrote:
I forgot to mention, the glass doesnt have any scratches that i can see
(its still very dirty i quite cleaning it after finding the cracks) so
i'm not sure if its acrylic since they get scratches so easy.

I'll take photos tomorrow (going to refill it and let it sit longer on
newspaper to double check) so you can see the severity of the crack.

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

On 29 Apr 2006 18:20:22 -0700, "Ashley Ann"
wrote:

I recently found a used 10 gallon aquarium i was planning on setting up
but i discover today that it has a few small cracks in it (2 cracks and
a chip in the corner about halfway down the tank)

Is it safe to use the tank? I put water in it and it holds without
leaking. The first crack goes downward to the bottom from the chip and
ends at the bottom of the tank. The second extends upward from the
chip but ends about midway thru the tank (less than 2 inches long).
The chip is quite deep but doesnt seem to go thru to the silicon. Can
i repair it without getting a whole new piece of glass (a lot of money
for a 15 dollar aquarium)?

How do i know if its glass or acrylic? Its a lot lighter than my old
10 gallon glass aquariums and sounds plasticy when you flick or thump
it. The cracks look like glass cracks but i dont know if acrylic
cracks are similar. I've never seen an acrylic tank in person besides
the little beta bowls so i have no idea what they sound like when
flicked.

Thanks for your help,
Ashley


Repairing a ten gallon tank will probably cost more than replacing it,
just cleaning it is barely worth the bother in my opinion. I've
cleaned and fixed them, just to do it. If you must get new glass, for
sure it's not worth it. I wouldn't try to use it if I didn't trust
it. Maybe you can find someone who can use it as a terrarium, get
some value from it. At the big box stores near here a ten gallon
tank, empty and with no extras, usually sells for around ten dollars,
six if they happen to be on sale.

"Ashley Ann" wrote in message
oups.com...
I recently found a used 10 gallon aquarium i was planning on setting up
but i discover today that it has a few small cracks in it (2 cracks and
a chip in the corner about halfway down the tank)
========================
*Note: There are TWO "Koi-Lo's" on this NG*

I wouldn't trust it. 10g of water all over your floor can do a lot of
damage. A brand new 10g is less than $10. Good ones without cracks or
chips can be found for about half that in a second hand store.
--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

oh I wish I lived in this country with cheap tanks! Cost a bloody
fortune here.

Ashley Ann wrote:
I recently found a used 10 gallon aquarium i was planning on setting up
but i discover today that it has a few small cracks in it (2 cracks and
a chip in the corner about halfway down the tank)

Is it safe to use the tank? I put water in it and it holds without
leaking. The first crack goes downward to the bottom from the chip and
ends at the bottom of the tank. The second extends upward from the
chip but ends about midway thru the tank (less than 2 inches long).
The chip is quite deep but doesnt seem to go thru to the silicon. Can
i repair it without getting a whole new piece of glass (a lot of money
for a 15 dollar aquarium)?

How do i know if its glass or acrylic? Its a lot lighter than my old
10 gallon glass aquariums and sounds plasticy when you flick or thump
it. The cracks look like glass cracks but i dont know if acrylic
cracks are similar. I've never seen an acrylic tank in person besides
the little beta bowls so i have no idea what they sound like when
flicked.

Thanks for your help,
Ashley

If it's acrylic, there will be no silicone seams at the corners. Most
10 gallon tanks are glass. I don't mind chips at the edges of the
glass, but I wouldn't trust a tank with an actual crack. As others have
said, 10 gallon aquariums are too cheap to worry about trying to fix.

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

"Beano" wrote in message
ups.com...
oh I wish I lived in this country with cheap tanks! Cost a bloody
fortune here.
==================
*Note: There are TWO "Koi-Lo's" on this NG*

You must have second hand stores there or Consignment shops. Even some FSs
here handle used tanks, called pre-owned. Have you checked your daily paper
under pets or Aquariums for sale. People sell them all the time for a
variety of reasons. You can find good deals that way as well. I've seen
cheap used tanks at flea markets and garage sales.
--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

On 29 Apr 2006 20:20:02 -0700, "Beano"
wrote:

oh I wish I lived in this country with cheap tanks! Cost a bloody
fortune here.

What, no WalMart there?

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

Then i guess i'm getting a hermit crab. I'm still convincing DF that a
hermit would be cool but he'll come around. I think we're going to buy
my cousins (supposed) 30 gallon tank. He doesnt use it anymore and
claims its 30 gallons but if i remember correctly its rather small (i
think its really only 20). I want a 10 gallon to put on the bar
between the kitchen and living room but i dont trust our bar to support
a larger tank. (new apartments = built cheap) A larger tank will be on
a stand so i want both now! DF will love that!