HElp!!! 3 inch crack on Acrylic tank

Elmo18 · 05-23-2002, 01:42 PM

Well, I found out why the water level was so low when the 75 gallon was used for freshwater. There is a 3 inch crack going diagonal near the top and IT DOES go all the way.

Man, this sucks. Is there any way i can salvage the tank? I was almost ready to put the sand in and when i was running my hands I felt a little break. WEll it was the crack.

WHAT CAN I DO???????
Are there sealants?

Thanks,

Elmo

**scubadude** · 05-23-2002, 02:02 PM

Elmo im not %100 this will work I would get some Weldon #3 and a needle applicator, its thin like water and will seep in between the crack when applied and I would think that it would fix it....Of course the tank has got to be empty, and dry when this is done....and allow atleast 24 hrs for the glue to cure.

MarkS · 05-23-2002, 02:04 PM

You have two options.

1.) Go to your local plastic supply and get a tube of Weld-On #16. This stuff is thick. Run it along the crack on both the inside and out. Get a good amount on the crack. Let it dry for about 48 hours and do a leak test.

2.) Get a piece of scrap 1/4" acryic that will completely cover the crack. Coat one side of the scrap acrylic with Weld-On #16 and apply it to the crack like a patch. Let this dry for 48 hours and do a leak test.

At worst, you'll have to replace the aquarium. I would do #1 first and follow it with #2. Cracks in acrylic have this bad habbit of growing under pressure.

Good luck!

Mark

**scubadude** · 05-23-2002, 03:03 PM

I personally wouldnt use Weldon #16 because its so thick....if he used #3 then w/a Needle applicator then it can run right inside the crack which would be much better as far as looks go and as far as strength goes.

Elmo18 · 05-23-2002, 03:08 PM

Thanks!! Will Home Depot have all this?

I will hop over there today. I'm not feeling too well right now. My live rock from ffexpress.com is coming today also, but i have a separate trash rubbermaid for those all setup with heaters and saltwater. I just can't believe it when I found the crack.

-Elmo (I have a lot to do.......)

fishrule · 05-23-2002, 05:37 PM

Do you know the brand name of your tank? Is it a thick acrylic tank and very clear, or one of those that have a frosty look to them and are not very thick?

Elmo18 · 05-23-2002, 06:00 PM

I got this tank from a friend and it is made from 1/4" acrylic, I believe the clear kind. It is very clear. Teh only part where it is a little distorted are the two side edges on the front because teh acrylic is bent (curved).

I'll get both weld on 3 and 16.

I'll post pictures as I (hopefully) fix this thing. F@#@#@#@#@#@

- Thanks again,

Elmo

**scubadude** · 05-23-2002, 09:06 PM

I dont think HD sells weldon3 or 16....you will more than likely have to go to a specialized plastic store or sometimes even a hobby store to get weldon....and some places have it but not the right numbers. Atleast my HD's dont sell weldon

Elmo18 · 05-25-2002, 09:48 PM

Ok, so i got both types of WeldOn. This evening (like 5 min ago

) I cleaned and wiped down the cracked area so everything is smooth except for the crack itself. Tomorrow will be my big day, I gotta do the application.

One more question, do I put the extra piece of acrylic on the outside of the tank or inside? I would think inside for aesthetic purposes, but if it won't hold the leak, I'd rather do it outside. Also, how wide do you recommend the acrylic "patch piece" to be?

I'll post pics once I actually do all this. By the time this is all done, I think my rock will be cured

At least that's a good thing.

Thanks for the help,

Elmo

Ironreef · 05-26-2002, 06:42 PM

Use the weldon on the inside = one the crack. use the brace on the inside and weld on the whole piece. it will hold just fine. It probally would hold without the brace but I still would use it for added strenght

05-23-2002, 05:37 PM	#6
fishrule Council Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Jacksonville fl usa Posts: 328	Elmo18 Do you know the brand name of your tank? Is it a thick acrylic tank and very clear, or one of those that have a frosty look to them and are not very thick?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-23-2002, 01:42 PM	#1
Elmo18 Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,514	HElp!!! 3 inch crack on Acrylic tank Well, I found out why the water level was so low when the 75 gallon was used for freshwater. There is a 3 inch crack going diagonal near the top and IT DOES go all the way. Man, this sucks. Is there any way i can salvage the tank? I was almost ready to put the sand in and when i was running my hands I felt a little break. WEll it was the crack. WHAT CAN I DO??????? Are there sealants? Thanks, Elmo

05-23-2002, 02:02 PM	#2
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,251	Elmo im not %100 this will work I would get some Weldon #3 and a needle applicator, its thin like water and will seep in between the crack when applied and I would think that it would fix it....Of course the tank has got to be empty, and dry when this is done....and allow atleast 24 hrs for the glue to cure.

05-23-2002, 02:04 PM	#3
MarkS Governor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 1,799	You have two options. 1.) Go to your local plastic supply and get a tube of Weld-On #16. This stuff is thick. Run it along the crack on both the inside and out. Get a good amount on the crack. Let it dry for about 48 hours and do a leak test. 2.) Get a piece of scrap 1/4" acryic that will completely cover the crack. Coat one side of the scrap acrylic with Weld-On #16 and apply it to the crack like a patch. Let this dry for 48 hours and do a leak test. At worst, you'll have to replace the aquarium. I would do #1 first and follow it with #2. Cracks in acrylic have this bad habbit of growing under pressure. Good luck! Mark __________________ 2 + 2 != 4 Two is only loosely associated with two by a plus sign and therefore doesn't enter the equation at all since it is only there by mere complicity. We shouldn't count it and leave well enough alone.

05-23-2002, 03:03 PM	#4
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,251	I personally wouldnt use Weldon #16 because its so thick....if he used #3 then w/a Needle applicator then it can run right inside the crack which would be much better as far as looks go and as far as strength goes.

05-23-2002, 03:08 PM	#5
Elmo18 Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,514	Thanks!! Will Home Depot have all this? I will hop over there today. I'm not feeling too well right now. My live rock from ffexpress.com is coming today also, but i have a separate trash rubbermaid for those all setup with heaters and saltwater. I just can't believe it when I found the crack. -Elmo (I have a lot to do.......)

05-23-2002, 06:00 PM	#7
Elmo18 Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,514	I got this tank from a friend and it is made from 1/4" acrylic, I believe the clear kind. It is very clear. Teh only part where it is a little distorted are the two side edges on the front because teh acrylic is bent (curved). I'll get both weld on 3 and 16. I'll post pictures as I (hopefully) fix this thing. F@#@#@#@#@#@ - Thanks again, Elmo

05-23-2002, 09:06 PM	#8
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,251	I dont think HD sells weldon3 or 16....you will more than likely have to go to a specialized plastic store or sometimes even a hobby store to get weldon....and some places have it but not the right numbers. Atleast my HD's dont sell weldon

05-25-2002, 09:48 PM	#9
Elmo18 Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,514	Ok, so i got both types of WeldOn. This evening (like 5 min ago ) I cleaned and wiped down the cracked area so everything is smooth except for the crack itself. Tomorrow will be my big day, I gotta do the application. One more question, do I put the extra piece of acrylic on the outside of the tank or inside? I would think inside for aesthetic purposes, but if it won't hold the leak, I'd rather do it outside. Also, how wide do you recommend the acrylic "patch piece" to be? I'll post pics once I actually do all this. By the time this is all done, I think my rock will be cured At least that's a good thing. Thanks for the help, Elmo

05-26-2002, 06:42 PM	#10
Ironreef Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Pacific WA Posts: 1,220	Use the weldon on the inside = one the crack. use the brace on the inside and weld on the whole piece. it will hold just fine. It probally would hold without the brace but I still would use it for added strenght

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)