Errrrrrrrrrr Rant/cracked biocube

[KhensuRa]

out::rant:
So I was cleaning the old bio cube so I could post it up and sell or trade it to one of you fine people. But after I cleaned it I noticed crack in the back. Must have been there for some time as a very small crack, as I had for the longest time noticed salt build up on the back. I thought it was a small leak from the BRS reactor and just never thought of it. But I bet from carrying it to the garage and cleaning it, it caused it to crack more. So ****ed as I really wanted to sell it and get either new lights or a Mp-10/40.

Well if someone wants it and feels they can salvage, make me an offer... lol

:Cry:

 

[303travism]

How far down does the crack go?

 

[tlsrcs]

do you have a pic of the crack?

 

[jahmic]

Well...at least you avoided the disaster of it breaking open while the tank was still setup. Definitely frustrating as hell regardless...

Is the back of the biocube glass, acrylic, or plastic? Think I remember seeing them with a hard plastic back and a fuge window, correct? If all you have is a hairline crack in the hard plastic, it should EASILY be repairable with some 2-part epoxy. Give me a shout if you wanna repair it and need a hand, can't be more difficult than patching fiberglass gas tanks...which I've unfortunately dealt with in the past.

 

[KhensuRa]

If you are look at the back of the tank, the crack starts on the right side about half way up and moves left all the way to the top of the tank almost to the middle.A good 6 to 8 inches long. The crack is so hair line that it is almost impossible to see. I did in a ****ed off panic run a bead of silicone on the back but I am sure that will not work.

 

[cdrewferd]

If it's a 29 I'll take it. I have a frag or 2, could also pay depending on how bad it is. I have a few ideas on how to make mine better and would be nice to have a practice tank, lol.

 

[dv3]

just cut another piece off glass the same size and silicone it to the inside

 

[303travism]

I would buy a piece of glass and silicone the hell out of the piece of glass and place it over the crack just get a piece that is wider and longer than the crack.

 

[KhensuRa]

It is glass and is encased in plastic as you discribed. Come on over when you can to take a look at it. If it can be fixed then that would be sooooo awesome. i would hook you up fat!!

Well...at least you avoided the disaster of it breaking open while the tank was still setup. Definitely frustrating as hell regardless...

Is the back of the biocube glass, acrylic, or plastic? Think I remember seeing them with a hard plastic back and a fuge window, correct? If all you have is a hairline crack in the hard plastic, it should EASILY be repairable with some 2-part epoxy. Give me a shout if you wanna repair it and need a hand, can't be more difficult than patching fiberglass gas tanks...which I've unfortunately dealt with in the past.

 

[303travism]

just cut another piece off glass the same size and silicone it to the inside

Haha beat me to it!

 

[cdrewferd]

Don't give him ideas, I want this so I can remove the internal fake wall, fix the crack, then drill it and put a sump on it.

 

[jahmic]

just cut another piece off glass the same size and silicone it to the inside

Should work as long as you can cover the whole area...and is probably the best solution.

Only issue is with the separated back chambers of the AIO tanks, there may be baffles that get in the way of patching it from the inside.

 

[tlsrcs]

cracked tank+12 gauge=:smash:

 

[KhensuRa]

I have plenty of glass that I could use to silicone to the back but I do not think I will be able to attach it to the inside.

 

[303travism]

I think to the backside would be fine you just want to use the best thing you can find to bond the glass to the glass I'm not sure what that would be silicone or epoxy?

 

[tlsrcs]

silicone to clean glass has very srtong bond

 

[jahmic]

Dropped you a pm. As an afterthought, even with the baffles if the glass is cut to the correct dimensions, you should be able to slide them in and silicone it from the inside. Might be more than a pain than it's worth to get the glass cut, but having a piece siliconed to the back wall and the baffles would completely seal the crack off.

For repairing it from the back of the tank, I'd probably go overkill: use some glass-bonding epoxy, coat the area, and place the glass patch over that, then silicone around it. Silicone between the pieces of glass could add enough thickness between the 2 panes that you end up with moisture in between as it could still leak through the crack. Doubt it'd leak out from behind the patch once water got that far, but I don't know how effective it'd be long term.

 

[KhensuRa]

Thanks for all the help everyone... maybe it can be fixed, nothing beats a failure but a try.

 

[Cherub]

Don't give him ideas, I want this so I can remove the internal fake wall, fix the crack, then drill it and put a sump on it.

Just do that with mine lol 100 bucks!

 

[Metalsniper]

Something I think a few people have overlooked is the vinyl covering on the outside of the tank. I agree that patching it from the inside would be good and probably work but you wouldn't be able to patch it on the outside because you wouldn't ever be able to get glass/glass contact or a good mating between the rough vinyl and the glass patch.