Cracked Mini-Bow!

[FuzzyDragon09]

Does anyone here have any experience with the All-Glass Mini-Bow tanks? I woke up this morning and fed my fish. When I got to my 2.5 gallon Mini-Bow Betta tank, I noticed a crack in the acrylic on the front. It goes almost halfway up the front of the tank but I haven't lost any water. In fact my finger gets only mildly wet when I touch the spot. I can't buy a replacement until tomorrow (Monday) afternoon. I have a one gallon glass bowl I could move the betta to and then I could drain the tank so I don't end up with water on the floor. Should I do that? My thought is that the base isn't holding up the tank properly. I think it is meant mostly for decoration and to hide cords if need be but there is only a centimeter or half a centimeter of plastic rim actually supporting the tank. I could show you what I am talking about but the crack might get worse if I move the tank. Perhaps when I buy a replacement I won't use the base? It has actually lasted me about 2 years and I have always had it on a desk larger than it so I don't know why it would randomly crack.

[dblondfemme]

Re: Cracked Mini-Bow!

I would move the fish and drain the tank....
2.5 gallons is still a nice sized puddle.

[dblondfemme]

Re: Cracked Mini-Bow!

Add: if you are afraid to move the tank you can use any sized hose and syphon it out slowly into a bucket

[supadave]

Re: Cracked Mini-Bow!

I say drain the tank and move the Betta to another tank. You don't want that 2.5 gallons of water all over the place.

[FuzzyDragon09]

Re: Cracked Mini-Bow!

I will drain the tank asap, but I really wish this hadn't happened today of all days. I have a final tomorrow and I need to study. :(

Btw do all acrylic tanks break like this? Aren't they supposed to last a long time? Is it stupid of me to just buy another of the exact same kind? I have a 5 gallon Mini-Bow also that is doing fine but I haven't had it as long as this one.

Thanks guys!

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Cracked Mini-Bow!

Depends on what you consider "a long time"  I still have my stainless steel trimmed tanks from the '50s  and because of the dark slate on the bottom, they are my favorite betta spawning tanks.

[FuzzyDragon09]

Re: Cracked Mini-Bow!

Depends on what you consider "a long time"  I still have my stainless steel trimmed tanks from the '50s  and because of the dark slate on the bottom, they are my favorite betta spawning tanks.

Stainless steel? I've never heard of a stainless steel tank. Is it glass sides but with steel holding them together instead of silicone or something?

I think I confused you.  :? What I meant was: how long do Acrylic tanks usually last? I think I read somewhere the pros and cons of acrylic tanks and it said that the weight needs to be distributed evenly or it will break. At least I think this is right. I thought I was meeting this requirement. Though apparently not.   <sigh>

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Cracked Mini-Bow!

Yes, the frames were made of metal and the glass was sealed with hot tar.
If you broke a piece of glass, you had to heat the tar
remove the bottom
then remove the broken glass
tuck the new glass under the top rim and seal it in the hot tar
and then reinstall the bottom slate.

all you need to reaseal them was a torch

But after 50+ years the tar dries out and its easier just to put silicone in the gaps.