Broken bottom glass

[munch74]

Just finished setting up my tank. 24 hrs later, my wife calls me at work. Water is leaking pretty quickly. Once we get it emptied, the bottom is cracked.

Now...what is the best way to go about repairing the tank? It is a custom 100 gallon bowfront. Approx 58"x18"x24". Is the best way to remove the bottom and replace with new glass? Is it possible to lay a new piece of glass inside and silicon to the broken piece?

[algarciajr]

If it is a bowfront it might be real expensive getting a new glass cut to that shape.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Just finished setting up my tank. 24 hrs later, my wife calls me at work. Water is leaking pretty quickly. Once we get it emptied, the bottom is cracked.

Now...what is the best way to go about repairing the tank? It is a custom 100 gallon bowfront. Approx 58"x18"x24". Is the best way to remove the bottom and replace with new glass? Is it possible to lay a new piece of glass inside and silicon to the broken piece?

Unfortunately, you cannot repair a cracked tank bottom, bow front or not. Some people try and have very short lived success. You must replace the glass, but the effort and cost would be more than just getting a new one. Silicone will not adhere propertly/securely to old silicone, it must all be all wet and done at once if you want any integrity in the bonding. If it was a tank with straight edges, you would have a better chance of doing it yourself, but not with a bowfront I'm afraid.

[jhenry]

Unfortunately, you cannot repair a cracked tank bottom, bow front or not. Some people try and have very short lived success. You must replace the glass, but the effort and cost would be more than just getting a new one. Silicone will not adhere propertly/securely to old silicone, it must all be all wet and done at once if you want any integrity in the bonding. If it was a tank with straight edges, you would have a better chance of doing it yourself, but not with a bowfront I'm afraid.

Incorrect I've fixed two tanks that had cracked bottoms. The best way to do it is. Get a sheet of PVC not acrylic cause silicone will stick to PVC and it will not stick to acrylic. Make a template cut the PVC carefully to fit inside tight and reseal the while tank. You must silicone the PVC down first let it dry making sure it is a the way down then silicone all the seams

[blacksmith37]

I have put a glass over a broken one with silicon in a regular 29. The good thing is no one sees the bottom. BUT, why did it crack in the first place ?