repair ?

[Beckie]

I have an 125 gl acrylic with stand & top. The bottom has split where the front meets the bottom. I was told yes & no on if it can be repaired. Any experiance with this? Any comments would be helpful. I would really like to try a reef tank with it.

Beckie

[Bullet]

Do you have any pics of the damage? Its possible that you could put an acrylic patch piece in the cracked area if its welded solid with acrylic "glue". Maybe along the whole inside perimeter of the tank, and maybe glue a couple of brace pieces front to back. I would think of maybe doing a three inch wide, half inch thick strip of acrylic along the inside edge of the tank.

[The R/C Man]

Hi Beckie and welcome!

It is possible to use a solvent to attach another piece of acrylic over the break. There are serious problems with that however. First, acrylic is pourous and absorbs some water while in use. So when a repair is made the acrylic "crazes" (small spider like fractures) where the solvent has been applied. This causes a potential for a future failure at that location. I have made repairs like this in the past and they have lasted a long time but I would not trust them. If you can swing it, a new tank may be the best option. If you decide to have that one repaired (preferably by someone experienced) just be aware that it could be a problem down the road...

[Beckie]

The repair is not really a break. It is a clean separation of the original seam of the bottem and front of the tank. Does that make a differance? I spoke with Tapp Plastics here in Oregon. They also make custom tanks and use a liquid to (melt) glue the pieces together. I will try to get a picture up soon.

Beckie

[The R/C Man]

Beckie,

You could use the solvent in between the joint and then use a clamp to apply a small amount of pressure while it cures. Then use another piece of acrylic to reinforce joint after. I must say that if the joint failed then the original adheasion process was probably done incorrectly. This would make me question the rest of the tanks integrity. IMO Saving money trying salvage this tank could be a major headache for you down the road if it fails. I would error on the conservative side if I were you.... Let us know what you decide to do.