cracked 300 gallon in stafford

[roni]

not mine but looks like someone with some DIY skills could get a steal.

 

http://richmondreefers.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=10137

[epleeds]

$200...now thats a steal if you know how to fix it...

[Tracy G]

That is one big crack.

[monkiboy]

roni - thanks so much for posting. those are the exact dimensions i've been looking for to upgrade my new 210. i pm and emailed the owner hoping i can snag it.

 

thanks again!

[treesprite]

The cheapest fix is to get a strip of glass and completely seal it over the crack so it absolutely can't come off and so absolutely no water can leak from it. When I did it with a 65, also for a horizontal seam (had the tank back cut at a glass shop... long story), I did it both inside and outside (overkill... only needed to do one side). I used permanent epoxy glue to make sure it would never come off, and silicone under the entire surface and around the edges. I never had any problems from doing it. The issue is, either somehow hiding the back wall of the tank, or getting coralline to grow well enough to conceal the repair.

[zygote2k]

The cheapest fix is to get a strip of glass and completely seal it over the crack so it absolutely can't come off and so absolutely no water can leak from it. When I did it with a 65, also for a horizontal seam (had the tank back cut at a glass shop... long story), I did it both inside and outside (overkill... only needed to do one side). I used permanent epoxy glue to make sure it would never come off, and silicone under the entire surface and around the edges. I never had any problems from doing it. The issue is, either somehow hiding the back wall of the tank, or getting coralline to grow well enough to conceal the repair.

that's a crazy way to fix a tank. You have to replace the whole panel and reseal it, otherwise there's no way to guarantee the structural integrity of the tank. An 8' long piece of glass has incredible amounts of water pressure on it and you shouldn't attempt a repair unless you are going to do it right.

FWIW, the tank looks better now than when it did filled up and running.

[DCReefer1964]

roni - thanks so much for posting. those are the exact dimensions i've been looking for to upgrade my new 210. i pm and emailed the owner hoping i can snag it.

 

thanks again!

I am willing to help you repair the tank if you want it, but to do it right I would reseal the entire tank. Prices check the cost of the replacement glass $$$ in addition make an model also matters. If it was an Oceanic it would not have cracked I bet it was a AGA/Perfecto

[Coral Hind]

That is crazy that a powerhead did that. It must have been smoking hot!

[monkiboy]

I am willing to help you repair the tank if you want it, but to do it right I would reseal the entire tank. Prices check the cost of the replacement glass $$$ in addition make an model also matters. If it was an Oceanic it would not have cracked I bet it was a AGA/Perfecto

thanks a lot, sir. if i'm able to lock it down, i'll have it by this weekend and we can talk. yeah, i don't think it was an oceanic.

[roni]

No problem, super nice guy too. Good luck with the tank. I expect to be invited over to see how nice it looks once set up

[DCReefer1964]

thanks a lot, sir. if i'm able to lock it down, i'll have it by this weekend and we can talk. yeah, i don't think it was an oceanic.

We will also need to order top and bottom rim.

[DCReefer1964]

I forgot to mention double check that price quote on the replacement sheet of glass that quote appears to be way off. The price quoted in listing is cheaper than the quote I got for the 135 Rimless 5ft X 2ft

[monkiboy]

No problem, super nice guy too. Good luck with the tank. I expect to be invited over to see how nice it looks once set up

it'll be a while yet, but sure thing!

 

 

 

We will also need to order top and bottom rim.

at 3/4" thick glass, i don't know if there's any glass bracing up top. the photos don't seem to indicate as such. if the case, then "rimless" it will be it's going in a wall, anyways, haha.

 

 

I forgot to mention double check that price quote on the replacement sheet of glass that quote appears to be way off. The price quoted in listing is cheaper than the quote I got for the 135 Rimless 5ft X 2ft

yeah, i expected as much. it seems to be the way these things manifest itself. someone gets a low ball quote that is no indication of what the cost would be. i figure ft i tackle the job personally, reseal, and the glass costs $500, i can sell my 210g and i'm quite happy over paying for new. i'd rather get my hands dirty and have some blood, sweat, and tears into the build. Edited March 11, 2013 by monkiboy

[BowieReefer84]

Replace it with a low iron sheet of glass, and make it the front...

[monkiboy]

Replace it with a low iron sheet of glass, and make it the front...

read my mind...

[DCReefer1964]

Replace it with a low iron sheet of glass, and make it the front...

True

[NAGA]

Guys I know a thing or two about these things. Too much here on this thread has been over simplified. I'm not going to get into a debate over it but, ill give you my experience/my opinion on this.

 

Looks like the tank was built on a home made stand. The owner if you noticed declared how strong it was but, did not say it was professionally built. Odds are that it wasn't. Also the potential mfgs were mentioned with some of them being more likely to break. I can tell you that any tank on a stand that is not built level can crack like that. Now it sounds great that it could be as simple as replacing the panel of glass, doesn't it? Well it's not that simple. If that tank was sitting on a cockeyed stand for years until the weakest point gave way to a cracked panel.......how well can you be confident that the other panels weren't stressed? It's likely the seams/joints were weakened while sitting on this stand and perhaps you won't get a cracked panel next time....it will be a split seam.. The other thing to think about is that if you build a stand or even have one made its not going to be the same contoured shape as the original. The tank then has to resettle to a different stand. I have seen subsequent problem with this in the past.

 

It's a big risk regardless and really shows the reason why mfgs warranty often only apply if purchaser uses their stands. There is a lot of weight/force involved here. How bad would it be in your house with 300 gallons on the floor?

[monkiboy]

hi jeff, thanks for your input!

 

the stand looks horribly made, i think you were being kind in you choice of words.

 

i would agree that there's a chance the other panels were stressed and the seems and joints weakened.

 

the goal in getting this tank would be to take it apart and reseal everything so as to alleviate the concerns with the seams and seals. i've done it with smaller builds up to a standard 55 and it's not that difficult. that coupled with dcreefer's professional history/background, leads me to believe (perhaps that's my naivete) that he and i could make easy work of it and have an amazing tank as a result.

 

wouldn't building a true and level stand with a foam or insulation matting under it be sufficient for resettling of a basically new tank? do you have guidance on different materials for under the tank?

 

my father owns a design and build firm and is a meticulous GC so as one might imagine, the stand will be done right and perhaps a bit over-engineered.

 

the only outstanding item for concern for me is finding someone that can provide the pane of glass i need for replacement. would you be able to assist in that regard? i believe you work with glass and acrylic, correct? i've called two shops thus far and they do not work with glass in 3/4 thickness but i'll keep searching.

[six-line]

Monkiboy

I have an idea for you, if you are going to build a new stand and all. Why don't you lay it over on its front and make it 85" L x 32" W x 24" tall unless there is a structural difference in the way the tank was built, that prevents orienting it that way. You would only have to buy a pice of low iron glass that's 85" L x 24" W.

[John]

Just make it a terrarium...ATL Aquarium has an awesome poison dart frog 300G DD tank (behind the scenes)...

[monkiboy]

that's a clever idea! but i prefer the height vs depth/width in an aquarium. i know the hot thing nowadays is deep tanks but it doesn't appeal to me and requires double the lighting. it also would eat up room in the small fish room i have planned.

 

but i'm going to take measurements and see what makes sense, wait for quotes from a few sources and if the 24 is substantially cheaper and i can make it happen in my space, then perhaps it'll be worth it. most the fish i have planned are in the lower half of the tank anyway so perhaps a taller tank isn't as ideal as i think it would be.

 

thanks for the post.

[monkiboy]

Just make it a terrarium...ATL Aquarium has an awesome poison dart frog 300G DD tank (behind the scenes)...

haha, yeah right. even if i did find myself into a new hobby like that, i couldn't deal with knowing that crack was there.

[monkiboy]

ok, so i contacted the major shops around town... myles glass, dulles glass, del-ray glass, banner glass, gaithersburg glass, full service glass. i got prices for "regular" non-tempered polished edge glass ranging from $425 to $1800!

 

i was really hoping for low iron or starphire but that brought me to over $1000 bucks.

 

i have to figure out if it'll be worth it or if i should just sell the 210g and pick up a standard 265 which is right around $1050. might be the smarter way to go.

[overklok]

It is not worth the effort or time, the aquarium is usually the cheapest part of a setup. I would just wait and purchase a new tank or a quality used tank. I got a 220 gallon Oceanic Starphire with Oceanic stand for 900 dollars about 3 years ago off Reef2Reef. Deals are out there, 300 gallons of water on the floor will ruin more than just your day.

[YHSublime]

It is not worth the effort or time, the aquarium is usually the cheapest part of a setup. I would just wait and purchase a new tank or a quality used tank. I got a 220 gallon Oceanic Starphire with Oceanic stand for 900 dollars about 3 years ago off Reef2Reef. Deals are out there, 300 gallons of water on the floor will ruin more than just your day.

 

this makes sense

ok, so i contacted the major shops around town... myles glass, dulles glass, del-ray glass, banner glass, gaithersburg glass, full service glass. i got prices for "regular" non-tempered polished edge glass ranging from $425 to $1800!

 

i was really hoping for low iron or starphire but that brought me to over $1000 bucks.

 

i have to figure out if it'll be worth it or if i should just sell the 210g and pick up a standard 265 which is right around $1050. might be the smarter way to go.

+1