How Far Would You Trust A Chipped Tank?

[coldcazzie]

I've a tank which I was intending to use for my biotope, I cleaned it today and discovered a chip in the bottom. The glass has broken slightly and the bits are being held on by the silicone. It's currently in the garage doing an initial water tightness test - roughly 2 inches, will top up with more if that's successful, but I'm a little uneasy about the idea of having it in my house... can upload a picture later when I'm on the computer, but just wanted some thoughts from others.

 

[Randomitity]

I know a few people who buy tanks with chips, cracks, and broken glass and with the exception of the broken glass they just use silicon on it and use it and I think the only time any of theirs broke was when it was accidentally dropped

But to be honest I tend to stay away from these tanks because like you I am worried it wont hold

 

[OldMan47]

Some of my older tanks have chips in the glass but I will not automatically say it is OK. An awful lot depends on where the chips are located, how deeply they penetrate the glass and whether the remaining intact material has the structural strength to be used if you completely removed the chip.

 

[coldcazzie]

Here's a picture.

It's on the outside where the bottom and front (or back, I guess) pieces of glass meet. The bits that have broken off are still held on my the sealant. I guess I could pull them off and stick some extra silicone on it on the outside?

 

[OldMan47]

As far as I can tell from your picture, that glass chip penetrates all the way to the interior of the tank and the glass no longer has any structural integrity at that spot. I would be checking around for a replacement piece of glass if I had a chip that deep in a tank.