damaged tank

[flyguy]

I bought a used acrylic 4 foot 120 gal tank to upgrade from my 72 gal bow front. The tank seemed clean and I knew I was not using the stand that came with it. I think the seller fairly represented it. After I built a stand and set it up in the garage to leak check the set up I saw a small discoloration appear as the water reached it about 4 inches from the top in the front joint. After observing the area for a while it became clear it was leaking at that spot. On line research suggests that it is not fixable like a glass tank. Any comments or suggestions before I sell it as a reptile tank?

 

[MiggidyMike]

Couldn’t you just caulk all the joints?


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[civics14]

I bought a used acrylic 4 foot 120 gal tank to upgrade from my 72 gal bow front. The tank seemed clean and I knew I was not using the stand that came with it. I think the seller fairly represented it. After I built a stand and set it up in the garage to leak check the set up I saw a small discoloration appear as the water reached it about 4 inches from the top in the front joint. After observing the area for a while it became clear it was leaking at that spot. On line research suggests that it is not fixable like a glass tank. Any comments or suggestions before I sell it as a reptile tank?

Pictures? I would assume acrylic would be easier to work with.

 

[flyguy]

I have been told that since acrylic tanks are fused together that once they start leaking that the joint integrity is compromised and caulking the joint might stop the leak but the seam may split. I would love to save the tank but dumping 120 gal of saltwater on our hard wood floors would not make the wife happy. This is my first acrylic tank and I know nothing about them. THANKS FOR ANY INPUT.

 

[civics14]

I have been told that since acrylic tanks are fused together that once they start leaking that the joint integrity is compromised and caulking the joint might stop the leak but the seam may split. I would love to save the tank but dumping 120 gal of saltwater on our hard wood floors would not make the wife happy. This is my first acrylic tank and I know nothing about them. THANKS FOR ANY INPUT.

Oh, dang. I think you may be right. Just looking at several post on R2R and looks like it’s not a good idea to try to repair. I had no clue. I thought you could just inject some solvent to bond it back together.

 

[Cook]

This thread below suggests it may depend on what the seem defect looks like. One of the repair suggestions is to glue additional acrylic into the corners. Depending on how much you have in the tank, may be easier to look for something else. Perhaps, someone with more direct acrylic experience can help. Jeff at Southeast Aquariums builds tanks and may have some suggestions. http://www.seaatlanta.com/

FAQs on Acrylic Aquarium Repair and Modifications: Leaks, Cracks, Parted Seams

www.wetwebmedia.com

 

[snarky shark]

What about @tonytran509 as I believe acrylics is what he does?

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[joeyprice]

You can't use that solvent they use to fuse the joints? Its really runny and comes with a needle, or else it did 25 years ago. If you get that stuff down in the void of the joint won't it re-fuse it?