Help....advice needed!!!

[BOD]

my fish tank has a crack down the side..i noticed it yesterday !!!
im worried its just going to break......the crack is near the top im wondring wheter i should do any thing like take the water out past the crack, or will this make it worse.......???

ps....trying to find a new tank asap! (cant take fish out have no where to put them)

 

[Fishy Fishy Man]

hmm my common sence tells me that you should take out water past the crack just in case, but then again my opinion isnt well informed.

 

[BOD]

i was thinking that i should take the water out...but then again i also thought if i take the water out past the crack the pressure of the water below it might force that crack een further down the glass!!!!

so im stuck !!!

 

[Fishy Fishy Man]

erm i think that having water ontop of the stuff below the crack means that its got higher pressure. Still, wait for a more informed opinion before acting

 

[rachel21]

i'd edg emy bets and get a new tank. i mean, if you leave the water as it is (at the crack level) the crack will most likely get worse.

if you lower the water level it should be ok as long as you leave a "reasonable" amount under the crack too. but you cant' guarantee the crack wont get longer even if you do do this.

 

[ajhainey]

I would lower the water to the minimum possible - although glass fractures are tricky to predict..don't forget if need be (most, smallish) fish live quite happily for a few hours in a small container...say one of those cheapy goldfish tanks, or a salad bowl ;-) You could also try duct taping the tank together all round the fracture..like you do to stop windows cracking further (maybe)

Where are you by the way? I've got a spare 100litre (30") tank in CanaryWharf if thats any good to you. It needs a scrub and has nothing in it but an undergravel filter tray , but seems to hold water ok and I have a lid I think fits it - I'd be happy to lend it you for a week or so while you locate and buy a new tank if you are close enough to come and get it....

aj xx

 

[HeatherSweetness]

My 20 gallon long tank was cracked on the side in the back in a backwards C shape facing into the seal. When I was 14 I used JB Weld on it,and 14 years later it still holds water,never leaked. But that was a crack that was done travelling and had set. It was about as big as a quarter.

 

[Arfie]

You need to reduce the pressure on the crack. The deeper the water the greater the pressure it exerts, so I'd get water out to just below the crack then wrap tape (the strongest you can get) around the whole tank (not just over the crack at the top of the tank as this will hold the crack together at it's widest point and again at the bottom of the crack. If you cant get tape, wrap clingfilm around the tank a few times as this can take a bit of pressure off.

Get your new tank asap as I'm sure you intend to.

Arfie

 

[BOD]

hey aj thanx for the offer but its a bit far away...thanks eveyone for the advice im gunna take the water right down and then get a new tank asap...

so thanks again