What Is The Best Way To Fix A Tank

[shrimply]

I have bought two tanks second hand and they have both had repairs done to cracked bottoms. I have had water in one for two years and only had the new one for a week but neither has had any problems. However one has had a patch put over the crack inside the tank an the other has just had a second bottom added outside. I basically wondered what was the best way to do it and if there was any problems I should watch out for.

 

[windsor-aquatic]

Adding the extra base outside the tank should be fine; putting a patch over a crack is a different aspect. In my experience, the crack will continue to creep until it reaches the edge of the glass. Replacing the panel is probably the best option.

 

[Nina]

When we carried out 6x2x2 up two flights of concrete stairs the bottom got knocked and cracked.

We bought a new bottom layer of 10mm 6x2 and put that on the outside and then got a piece of glass which was big enough to cover the crack on the inside, used about a whole tube of silicon and then stuck the smaller piece on the inside.

In short it is better to be safe than sorry and I would do both.

The only problem that I can potentially forsee is the one with just the patch on the inside. If the crack continues to grow then it may grow past your patch.

Although I agree with the panel replacing, I would only do that is if was a visable panel. If you are not going to be seeing the panel for example the bottom then I would just patch inside and out.

 

[andywg]

The only problem with double skinning the tank is if it is large, the tank becomes VERY heavy. That 6x2x2 was a nightmare to lift onto the stand after repairing, though it was humourous seeing Nina hanging off one end trying to weigh it down...