Tank Cracked

[idlefingers]

well, I hadn't even had the tank setup for 24hrs and it somehow developed a massive crack down the front pane in the night and proceeded to empty 200ltrs of salty water onto my living room carpet. crap.

I've bought a water vacuum cleaner so the water's slowly getting sucked up and am waiting on a call back from the lfs where I bought the tank in Feb about it's warranty and failing that will be resorting to my contents insurance. The tank only had the equipment setup, sand and base rock put in, so luckily there was nothing in the tank alive which would've died. So while definitely being a massive pain and frustration, all is not lost.

I'm really confused as to how the tank cracked. The crack is on the left hand side of the front pane and starts about a third of the way up, where it continues right to the top of the tank in a slightly curved diagonal line.

It had been setup with freshwater since feb and no probs.. emptied it yesterday (carefully) and then put all the bits and bobs in to take it marine (carefully) - aragonite sand, base rock, powerheads, skimmer, heater, ro water and finally salt. Other than a mass of water, nothing was out of place when I found it this morning; no rocks had fallen (they weren't even stacked up to have the possibility of falling) and no equipment had come loose.

So, I have no idea how it could've cracked.. it's a relatively new tank on a stand which came with it which was completely level. So what could it've been?

I'm so dissapointed. I was really looking forward to getting the live rock today and now I have no idea how long it's gonna be until I have a new tank to start putting the £500 worth of equipment I bought yesterday in.. I think I'm gonna go cry a bit in self pity.

 

[shibby]

harsh

 

[Filmoholic]

That really sucks! atleast you didn't have it full of corals and fish. What was the thickness of the glass?. Just curious.

 

[idlefingers]

I just got off the phone with the lfs who'd been speaking with eheim about the warranty (the tank's an MP/Eheim Classic 100) and aparently they said that it would be under warranty if it was the first time the tank was filled. They said that emptying the tank and then re-setting it up with new equipment, layout, etc creates different stresses which could crack the tank.

I'm not sure what to think.. I've filled and emptied this tank a few times and had it with a few different setups before it cracked today. Is what they say true or are they just trying to avoid giving me a replacement?

I'm not sure how thick the glass is.. I'll measure it in a bit.



I'm getting on the phone to the insurance company now to see (*hope*) it's covered. fingers crossed.

 

[idlefingers]

well crap.. it's not covered by our insurance either by the looks of it. I need to ring someone else (bloody insurance companies) and double check, but it's not looking good.

Anyone want to donate to the "buy a new tank for idle" fund???

 

[Maximus]

Just say that the tanks been unused because of "being busy"

And when you finally decided to fill it...

Of corse I'm not saying to lie

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Was it 100% level?

I could be wrong but I think that salt water is heavier then fresh water and possibly if it ws not level the extra weight could have put stress on one part of the tank.

It's a long shot at what could have happened though..

Really sucks

 

[demonmagus]

the refilling thing is bull IMO never heard that before

 

[idlefingers]

Phew! it is covered by the insurance after all.. woohoo!

 

[shibby]

yey!

 

[sophos9]

hey mate

Cannot believe what has happened to your tank, what a nightmare!! Cannot add anything really, glass being glass probably had a minor manufacturing defect which gave in.

Hope you get it all sorted and get that tank up and running!!

 

[kkyyllee]

saltwater isnt much heavier than freshwater, its whatever a half cup of salt weghs per gallon more, but that really sucks i had a tank crack but i was able to get every thing out before it dumped all my water

 

[SkiFletch]

2 things come to mind, a tank not properly leveled, or if you tapped it or bumped it with rocks or something from the outside. It's possible that the tank was hit by something weeks before you noticed the crack. Sometimes it takes a while before the crack shows itself. It could have been that the tank was partially comprimised before you drained it and the flexing stressors of draining/filling caused the crack to worsen and the tank fail.

 

[idlefingers]

That really sucks! atleast you didn't have it full of corals and fish. What was the thickness of the glass?. Just curious.

Sorry, I forgot to update this and let you know it was only 5mm glass! I thought it was thicker and was quite surprised when I measured it. The jewel replacement I bought at the weekend is 8mm so I feel a bit safer!

2 things come to mind, a tank not properly leveled, or if you tapped it or bumped it with rocks or something from the outside. It's possible that the tank was hit by something weeks before you noticed the crack. Sometimes it takes a while before the crack shows itself. It could have been that the tank was partially comprimised before you drained it and the flexing stressors of draining/filling caused the crack to worsen and the tank fail.

The tank was level and the rocks I'd put in weren't even stacked to fall. When emptying the freshwater setup, I didn't hit the glass and when putting all the marine stuff in, I didn't knock it either. I think, like you say, something must've happened earlier and it was just waiting to happen. Obviously there's nothing I can do about it now, but I'd love to know what actually happened.. it's such a mystery!

 

[bubblesburst80]

Must have been gutting to have that happen - like you said atleast no fish.
Sure you're enjoying setting up your new 8mm tank tho!

xXx