Noob Cracked tank query

[LucGrant]

Hello there.
I am new to the hobby, but am obsessed already, I dont even have a tank yet and its all I think about. Wierd, yes, I know.

So. I saw a 1.2m tank in a second hand store, for r150, and I could definitely get him doen to r100. Yes R100. The thing is, the tank has a 25-35cm hairline crack in the bottom. It doesnt seem to leak but obviously the integrity of the strength is compromised.

Now is it possible to overcome this at all, is it worth the effort. I am not loaded, and was just gonna get a stock 62cm tank from the LFS (hey check i'm in with the lingo!) for r450 all inclusive (bar lighting). I digress. Basically, should I get the 1.2 for that bargain price, and try fix it up. Is it possible? It comes with nothing but the glass. Thanks guys and girls.

Let me know,

Regards
Luc

[Sean J]

What you can do is take the tank to a tank builder and ask them to replace the bottom piece of glass. Depending on the thickness, I doubt it would cost much more than R300. So yes. A bigger tank is more stable anyway. The water parameters don't fluctuate quite as much in a larger tank than in a smaller one.

I'd say go with the 4ft tank...

[mc 1]

i woudnt risk the glass on the bottom go and get it fixed at a tank builder as slagter said
hope the tank goes well once you set it up show pics
we all love pics

[Gaawie]

Congrats, welcome to the hobby :p


Hello there.
I am new to the hobby, but am obsessed already, I dont even have a tank yet and its all I think about. Wierd, yes, I know.




Ha, I know exactly what you mean :)

[wito-zn]

I would go for the 4foot. Save up the money for the glass to be replaced and when the tank is up and running you will be even more happy. Plus it gives you some thing to look forward to.
As Slagter said it is easer to learn from a larger tank than to learn from a smaller one. Plus you get to have more fish.

Welcome to the hobby that will give you sleepless nights and many happy hours of just staring. Dont worry when people think you are going mad when the ask why you are just sitting in front of the tank, it happens. lol

[Donny]

I would go with the 4ft tank, spend R100 on the tank, still leaves you with R350 you were gonna pay for the smaller tank. :) :) ..... bigger tanks are easier to manage when setup take you time setting it up do it properly and it won't give you problems.

[PeeKay]

Yip, go for the 1.2, as Donny says, the one tank will cost R100, the other will cost R450, logic says go for the R100 tank and you have R350 change to have it repaired, and you can do so much more with the 1.2 tank and in the long run you will have more joy with it. This is the most rewarding hobby there possibly could be, you will become addicted FAST!

[Donny]

I have fixed a base previously when money was a problem by laying a sheet of glass over the crack and then siloconing around it and putting a little glue over the crack

[LucGrant]

Donny that is a brilliant plan! And thank you to everyone for your input, Methinks that the bigger tank has gotten an overwhelming thumbs up! Thanks okes. Now just what to put in it when its up and running...hmmmm...:) I would really prefer to have some strange fishies in there (was originally only planning to get an axolotl, but then found out they are illegal in W.Cape. ) Any ideas on wierd and wonderful fish?

[Reafer]

i would not try repair the crack i have been working with glass for many years now and i can tell u once a crack forms ANYTHING from a slight temp change to a little bit of pressure in the wrong place can make the crack run across your whole tank and its on the base which is not the best place because say now u do a repair job and then cover it with substrate u wont see if the crack starts running again and could lead to disaster . I am a believer that if you are going to be doing a fish tank that will be holding family members why take such a risk and not just get it done properly in the first place you dont want to come home to a to water everywhere and maybe dead fish. it cost me R200 to replace a panel in my 4ft
Thx
Antony

[LucGrant]

Ya I would rather replace the whole bottom pane. Just doing some serious googling now trying to find someone in CT who does such things. Where did you get yours done Antony?

[Reafer]

i got mine done in PE . There are alot of guys from CT on the forums and someone should know were in CT you can get it done for a good price and most of your LFS should do it there aswell maybe just give some of the better ones a call and ask

[LucGrant]

Thanks man. Appreciate it.

[Donny]

I have a 4ft which is fixed like i explained running for about 3 years now ,, houses my goldfish and has never leaked ... touch wood ... :)

[windfire]

hmmmmm now you guys hav got me thinking of the 4 foot that houses my lil bros wormery (for fishing worms) it also has a crack running along the bottom, now hes buggering off to Aus next year soooooo wont be fishing for awhile at least not here. i could move the worms to my 16litre, get the 4 foot repaired(i even know where i could get it repaired 10min up the road from me) and make it my community tank and the guppy fry can go in the 40litre. hhmmmmmm what an attractive idea il have to wait for him to leave hehe and then that tank is mine haha mine i tell you. oh dear lol