Tank worth salvaging?

Needing your extensive experience!
I have the chance of getting (free) a 4ft tank and stand.
Problem is, tank has a crack on the bottom panel.
My question is - is it worth the trouble to see if it can be fixed? 4ft
tank means a helluva lot of water pressure/weight for this tank to deal
with - should I forget about it? My understanding is that it is a
plastic-framed glass tank - would it be a matter of replacing base panel, or
is it still going to be too dodgy?
Cheers
Lill

"Lily" wrote in message
...
Needing your extensive experience!
I have the chance of getting (free) a 4ft tank and stand.
Problem is, tank has a crack on the bottom panel.
My question is - is it worth the trouble to see if it can be fixed? 4ft
tank means a helluva lot of water pressure/weight for this tank to deal
with - should I forget about it? My understanding is that it is a
plastic-framed glass tank - would it be a matter of replacing base panel,
or
is it still going to be too dodgy?
Cheers
Lill


Price out a piece of glass the same size as the bottom panel. I would
certainly be looking at fixing it. I repaired one last year, although the
glass was not broken it developed a leak. As it was an older tank and the
silicone was suspect along all the seams I removed it all , scraped the
residue with a razor blade, cleaned it up with rubbing alcohol and re
silicone it using aquarium safe silicone. No problem, a bit labor intensive
but hey its your time.

Rick

Lily,

I have just "fixed" a 4ft tank with a crack in the bottom pane. I cleaned
the area with cleaning solvent & then applied a lot (not very pretty) of
aquarium silicon. It was left to cure for a day & when filled no leaks! (ps
I got the tank free from a pet shop that was just about to chuck in a skip!

Good luck,

Sky
"Lily" wrote in message
...
Needing your extensive experience!
I have the chance of getting (free) a 4ft tank and stand.
Problem is, tank has a crack on the bottom panel.
My question is - is it worth the trouble to see if it can be fixed? 4ft
tank means a helluva lot of water pressure/weight for this tank to deal
with - should I forget about it? My understanding is that it is a
plastic-framed glass tank - would it be a matter of replacing base panel,
or
is it still going to be too dodgy?
Cheers
Lill

Along the same lines, silicone a piece of glass inside, just a bit
smaller than the bottom pane. The thickness you need depends on the
severity of the crack. This can sometimes work very well (and it's
easy). I've often read that a 4ft tank (ie: 55g) is at the edge of being
worthwhile fixing (changing a glass pane out). It all depends on the
value of your labour, how handy you are and tools and work area
available. Bigger tanks are more worthwhile and for smaller tanks, they
get hamsters ;~)
--
www.NetMax.tk

"Sky Catcher" wrote in message
...
Lily,

I have just "fixed" a 4ft tank with a crack in the bottom pane. I
cleaned
the area with cleaning solvent & then applied a lot (not very pretty)
of
aquarium silicon. It was left to cure for a day & when filled no leaks!
(ps
I got the tank free from a pet shop that was just about to chuck in a
skip!

Good luck,

Sky
"Lily" wrote in message
...
Needing your extensive experience!
I have the chance of getting (free) a 4ft tank and stand.
Problem is, tank has a crack on the bottom panel.
My question is - is it worth the trouble to see if it can be fixed?
4ft
tank means a helluva lot of water pressure/weight for this tank to
deal
with - should I forget about it? My understanding is that it is a
plastic-framed glass tank - would it be a matter of replacing base
panel,
or
is it still going to be too dodgy?
Cheers
Lill

On Thu, 20 May 2004 20:06:58 -0400, NetMax wrote:

Along the same lines, silicone a piece of glass inside, just a bit smaller
than the bottom pane. The thickness you need depends on the severity of
the crack. This can sometimes work very well (and it's easy).

At one of the lfs I visit I saw one of the assistants with his sleeves
rolled right up and his arms deep in a 3/4 full 4 foot tank trying to re
caulk the tank. I asked him what he was up to and he replied that he was
fixing the leaks in the tank.

Well needless to say he was only making a huge mess and the next time I
went to the store the tank was empty! A month down the line it is still
there and empty.

Trev

"Trevor" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 20 May 2004 20:06:58 -0400, NetMax wrote:

Along the same lines, silicone a piece of glass inside, just a bit
smaller
than the bottom pane. The thickness you need depends on the severity
of
the crack. This can sometimes work very well (and it's easy).

At one of the lfs I visit I saw one of the assistants with his sleeves
rolled right up and his arms deep in a 3/4 full 4 foot tank trying to
re
caulk the tank. I asked him what he was up to and he replied that he
was
fixing the leaks in the tank.

Well needless to say he was only making a huge mess and the next time I
went to the store the tank was empty! A month down the line it is still
there and empty.

Trev


Just an FYI. There is a black waterproof silicone sealant which I've
seen manufacturer reps use underwater. Probably very expensive. The
text on the caulking tube was all German.
--
www.NetMax.tk

Many thanks guys - It seems way to good a chance to pass up!
The stand is wood, and has a solid base under the tank, so my instinct is
that I may be able to silicon/patch repair it, and it will have enough
support to prevent issues. I needed the advice though!
If it doesnt work, I have a nice big frog or lizard tank...
Thanks again
Lill

"Lily" wrote in message
...
| Many thanks guys - It seems way to good a chance to pass up!
| The stand is wood, and has a solid base under the tank, so my
instinct is
| that I may be able to silicon/patch repair it, and it will have
enough
| support to prevent issues. I needed the advice though!
| If it doesnt work, I have a nice big frog or lizard tank...
| Thanks again
| Lill
|
|

Due to the fact that most quality tanks have super-tough glass for
the bottom pane, this isn't usually recomended any more......

but ppl used to tell you to get a sheet of styrofoam that fits inside
the plastic frame under the tank, to provide support. In your case,
this might be helpful....

|| Many thanks guys - It seems way to good a chance to pass up!
|| The stand is wood, and has a solid base under the tank, so my
|| instinct is that I may be able to silicon/patch repair it, and it
|| will have enough support to prevent issues. I needed the advice
|| though!
|| If it doesnt work, I have a nice big frog or lizard tank...
|| Thanks again
|| Lill

anything worth doing, is worth doing correctly... Don't patch it up, or
you'll be repeating your steps in short order.... FWIW

--
RedForeman ©® future fabricator and creator of a ratbike
streetfighter!!! ==========================
2003 TRX450ES
1992 TRX-350 XX (For Sale)
'98 Tacoma Ext Cab 4X4 Lifted....
==========================
ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤° `°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø


is that better??

Thanks guys - have got a bit further info, apparently it is one of the long
vertical sides which has a break - I will just have to have a look at it and
cost it all out etc...
Thanks for all your advice..


"RedForeman ©®" wrote in message
...
|| Many thanks guys - It seems way to good a chance to pass up!
|| The stand is wood, and has a solid base under the tank, so my
|| instinct is that I may be able to silicon/patch repair it, and it
|| will have enough support to prevent issues. I needed the advice
|| though!
|| If it doesnt work, I have a nice big frog or lizard tank...
|| Thanks again
|| Lill

anything worth doing, is worth doing correctly... Don't patch it up, or
you'll be repeating your steps in short order.... FWIW

--
RedForeman ©® future fabricator and creator of a ratbike
streetfighter!!! ==========================
2003 TRX450ES
1992 TRX-350 XX (For Sale)
'98 Tacoma Ext Cab 4X4 Lifted....
==========================
ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤° `°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø


is that better??