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FAQs on Glass Aquarium Repair, Chips/Cracks 10

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Related FAQs: Chips/Cracks 1, Chips/Cracks 2, Chips/Cracks 3, Chips/Cracks 4, Chips/Cracks 5, Chips/Cracks 6, Chips/Cracks 7, Chips/Cracks 8, Chips/Cracks 9, Chips/Cracks 11, & Glass Aquarium Repair 1, Glass Aquarium Repair 2, G lass Aquarium Repair 3, Glass Aquarium Repair 4, Glass Aquarium Repair 5,  & FAQs on Repairing Glass Tank: Scratches/Blemishes, Cross-Braces, Leaks, Whole Panes, Tools: Cutting Glass, Silicone, Moulding/Frames; Techniques; Olde Tank (Slate Bottom, Metal Frame, Pecora...) Repairs, Troubleshooting/Repairs, & Acrylic Aquarium RepairUsed Aquarium Gear

So I was a moron.   Chipped glass tk. repair     8/21/14
This chip is from a strap holding the tank in place for transport, any feelings on this chip?
<Mmmm; iffy... IF you don't mind the looks... I'd Silicone on some two inch wide glass verticals on the outside... I would definitely at least "fill in" the chipped areas with Silastic to protect hands, arms>
Thanks a bunch for any insight.
Paul
<Otherwise... fill half way for... a biotope of some kind. Bob Fenner>

 

Re: re: So I was a moron.    8/21/14
Any opinion on the strip thickness?
<Likely 3/16" float is what I'd go with. BobF>
Re: re: So I was a moron.    8/22/14
Thanks!
2xheight of tank and silicone them on the inside or outside? Sorry for pestering you.
<... Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/GlasCracks10.htm
and the linked files above; till you understand your options. B>

Chip in aquarium seam, please help ease my mind       6/12/14
I checked through your site on chips and cracks and I am not sure about mine.
<Mmm; these "calls" are to some degree subjective... have to do principally with the apparent extent of chipping, placement (height/depth), thickness of glass; whether there is obvious splintering...>
I have a 40 gallon breeder tank, full, with a chip near the top of the tank in the seam. It has been there for three weeks, not sure if it got bigger or not. I bought it used and the guy said it should be fine. If I
run my nail over it, it will go in just a bit. The picture with the pen (upside down I think) is the side view, it seems to have an arch that goes almost all the way through the glass. The impact side, I put a lined
notepad next to, hard to get good shot. I tend to worry about things, need an experienced opinion. Do I need a new tank or am I in the clear?
Thanks so much, Cindy
<Due to the nearness to the top; type of (scallop) break... I too think you should be okay. I WOULD definitely "fill-in" the sharp areas with Silastic to prevent cutting your fingers, hands while working on the tank. Bob Fenner>


Re: Chip in aquarium seam, please help ease my mind       6/12/14
Thanks so much!
<You're welcome. BobF>

Chip in Tank I Purchased and Bowed Stand      6/11.5/14
Hi,
<Katherine>
I recently purchased a 20 gallon aquarium from someone for a great deal. I knew about the chip before I bought it and I didn't think it would be that big of a deal.
<Can be... failure may cause a grievous injury, many gallons of water where you don't want it to be>
However, I live in an apartment and, of course, as I get closer to filling it with water I am starting to reconsider how I feel about the chip. I was wondering your thoughts. It seems to be about 1.5 inches long and I have attached some photos. I read through some of the other postings and it doesn't seem to have any baby cracks branching off of it and doesn't seem to be effecting the silicon on the edge. But it does
seem pretty big and is at the midpoint of the aquarium on the back right.
Any thoughts?
<Can't see clearly enough in your small pix... for this reason I am cautious... Even though this is "only" 20 gal.s... Please send along a couple of larger, well-resolved images>
I also just recently purchased an aquarium stand brand new. I bought a level to make sure all is fine and dandy
<Good>
but it appears that the top of the stand is just ever so slightly bowed.
<I see this>
Nothing extreme but enough to make me worried especially with a chip in the aquarium. Is this something that the weight of the aquarium will fix (table will go back to flat since it is such a slight bow) or is this something that will snap my tank in half even if it is slight?
<I would put a spread out two hundred pounds on the top of the stand and see if this "flattens it out"... If not; I'd either screw (every six inches or so) a piece of plywood to the top (and seal this against water); or at least place a half inch piece of foam twixt the tank and non-planar stand>
Thanks,
Katherine
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>


Re: Chip in Tank I Purchased and Bowed Stand      6/11.5/14
Sorry about the small photos. Are these large enough? I might be able to go larger.
Thanks for the advice!
PHOTOS ATTACHED TO THIS ONE
Re: Chip in Tank I Purchased and Bowed Stand      6/11.5/14
Sorry about the small photos. Are these large enough? I might be able to go larger.
Thanks for the advice!
<Well; I should have been more specific re size... but thank you for these.
I would NOT fill this tank up w/o the sort of attached strips of glass repairs gone over on WWM. It is too badly damaged to risk due to the size and placement of the chips. BobF>


Chip in 125 gallon aquarium
Hello,
<Neal>
First, I really appreciate all the FAQs to look through on your site - they're extremely helpful in giving me a rough idea of what I just got myself into.
<Welcome>
I just finished building a stand for a used 125 gallon aquarium I had recently purchased when I accidentally bumped something into the tank and chipped the glass on what would have been the front panel (pictures attached). The chip is about 2" from top to bottom at the widest point, and does not go all the way through the seam (but there's only about 3/16" intact at the narrowest point). I've read through the FAQs and have seen your advice on these issues, but I'm not 100% sure if it would be worth the effort to repair or if in your expert opinion it's a lost cause.
<I would try to effect a repair here. Worth the cost, time (to/for me) and the looks not important>
A couple specific points about this set-up: This tank is going to stay outside (I live in FL), and will house a turtle and a few inexpensive fish so a leak isn't quite as catastrophic as it might be if it were indoors.
<I see>
I also plan turn it around so the repair is on the back, so if the glass does blow out it would be against the wooden privacy fence and (I think) greatly reduce the risk of potential injury if that were to happen.
<Yes>
Unfortunately, that would mean I wouldn't be able to keep an eye on the chip to see if any new problems with it arise. Finally, I'm not concerned with aesthetics or losing a little real estate inside the tank if there are additional things I can do to reduce the chance of tank failure.
<Not likely to give way if the repair is done... but partially filling even less likely to fail>
I'm likely to move in the next three years, so if the tank lasts me even that long, I'll be OK with it (although I suspect either the repair will be good and it will last indefinitely, or it's already a lost cause). I plan to cycle the tank for several weeks, so I'm not worried about losing livestock if a repair fails.
Here are my questions:
1) Would applying a two pieces of glass with aquarium silicone) along the corner as a brace give me a reasonable amount of assurance that this chip won't cause a problem?
<Yes>
The glass on this aquarium is 3/8" thick, but I have plenty of spare 1/2" glass from a different 125 gallon tank that I  salvaged.
<Even triple strength plate, nom. 1/4 inch thick will do here>
2) Is it more structurally sound to apply the brace on the inside corner (A in the attached diagram) or on the outside (B or C in the attached diagram - I wasn't 100% clear on which orientation was best)?
<Outside; B or C...>
3) If I apply a brace to the outside, should it go the entire length (height) of the tank between the top and bottom plastic frames, or should I cut parts of the frame away to go the entire height of the glass)?
<Yes; the entire (exposed; outside the frame) is best>
4) In addition to corner bracing, would it help to "wall off" that corner of the tank next to the existing overflow (D in the diagram), so that there is no water pushing directly on that corner - or is that
overkill/structurally useless?
<Not important>
5) I'm pretty sure there are no cracks off the chip, but there are a few tiny, jagged-looking chips along the lower edge (not sure if you can see this clearly enough in the close-up shot). I think they're just secondary clam-shell chips off the "main" chip. Is that anything to be more concerned about?
<Just being careful while doing the repair to not cut yourself>
Thank you so much for all your help and the wonderful website!
Neal
<Ah, welcome. Bob Fenner>



 
Re: Chip in 125 gallon aquarium
Wow! Thanks so much for the quick reply, Bob! That all sounds great. So, just to be sure, I should use 2" wide pieces of glass on the outside of the corner, right? or would 4" be better (is that overkill)?
<I'd go with the two inch. Four is not that great an improvement>
I'll probably just buy 1/4" glass from a local glazier because it will probably be just as cheap as taking in the 1/2" piece to be cut (or close enough to be worth it for cleaner, ready-to-use pieces).
<Yes... do take care... to have the glass strips beveled... or wear gloves>
Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it!
Neal
<Welcome. BobF> 

Chip outside 120G back corner    12/28/13
Hi WWM Crew,
I just got a used 120 gallon reef ready tank from CL. During the move, the tank suffered a chip in the back corner. I am attaching some pictures of the damage. Please let me know how bad it is. What can be done to fix it.
<Bad enough... that this chipped area may spider... >
  I have been going through all the different cases of chips/cracks on your website and every one seems different. Hoping that you can help evaluate this one.
Thanks a lot !Vidya
<I'd Silastic two strips... maybe four inches wide... the height of the tank... to the corner pieces on the outside.
Bob Fenner>


Chip on outside wall 48 gallon aquarium   12/25/13
Hey guys, love your site.  I just received a brand new 48 gallon Aquatop glass rimless aquarium.  They describe is as high clarity low iron glass 0.41 inches thick.  I regretfully damaged it when I dragged it across my carpet into a piece of dry rock I also just received.  This resulted in seashell shaped crack on the outside wall about an inch from the bottom pane. I can't feel the crack from the inside or outside.  No glass has come off the tank.  The crack goes less than halfway through the 0.41 inch thick wall as you can see in the attached pics.  It does not reach the silicone seem.  It's about 1" x 0.75" and goes 0.2 inches into the pane..  I think the attached pics show it pretty well.
<Yes>
  I tested it and it doesn't leak, the crack doesn't affect the silicone or inside of the tank.  What do you guys think my options are.  Will it get worse? 
<Mmm, due to size, location I am concerned... might wall at least apply (Silicone) a two inch wide strip of glass over this area (outside).>
 Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, happy holidays!
Dylan
<And you, Bob Fenner>


Re: Chip on outside wall 48 gallon aquarium   12/25/13
Thanks for the quick reply!  I will do as you suggest.  Should I use two pieces of glass to cover both sides of that corner?  Or do you think just one on that front wall will be enough?
<Just the facing wall (or now back; turned around) is what I'd do. You have read re similar repairs on WWM I take it. BobF>
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