Thank you so much i looked through a lot of them and didn't go far enough, going to check them out. Thanks for putting these vids up, my local aquarium shop wanted around 450 to replace the glass and all it included was the glass and labor and no guarantee. If i wanted guarantee i could buy a new 124gal for $700 and most people just junk these tanks! Doubt anyone would junk a 124gal tank lol..
thanks for this video m8, i repaired the bottom of my 4 foot tank with the glass from a photo frame for the inside of the tank and to be on the safe side i used a 4 foot mirror for the underside witch was a perfect fit and is now 100% water tight .
Nice job man i Just cracked my 65 gallon tank (minor crack with a slow leak). I will be using your method to fix my tank . This is very good information. I hope i do it right!
Thanks for the clear instructions! My girlfriend dropped her goldfish tank in the sink and I am now sure I can fix the one large crack in it. What do you do about the cracks on the outside of the tanks, if anything? More silicone? Tape? Another layer of glass?
@Bingo6104 Happy to help, when we repair aquariums we guarantee to fix them if they ever leak from the same area again, so far we have never had a second leak.
thanks Carl, you were right its just a scratch. that being said, will the scratch weaken the glass in any way. its a, "miracles" aquarium with 3/8 thick glass. i don't know if its tempered on the bottom. should i put a piece of glass on it anyway. i am planning to put some river rocks/stones as decorations. should i put something under them to disperse the weight . thanks again carl.
Carl, I appreciate your videos. Very informative! I have a 200 gal tank that has a crack along the bottom from end to end. My question is, can I use an acrylic plexiglass sheet and glue it in the same manner that you show in your video to the glass tank? or is it better to get a 1/2" slab of glass? I figure it'll be less expensive with the plex but haven't really shopped for glass... Worried if there is a reason you shouldn't glue plex to glass...
@CarlsAquarium Thanks a lot for all the info. I think it might be cheaper to get a hole pane of glass thats 48x24 3/8 thick since one crack goes over half the tank. what would be the best steps to install the glass correctly? I got the tank on its top and have removed the frame and I am about to remove the old glass and clean all the old silicone off. What is the best steps on installing the new glass.
@MsCivilwar Yes, it is possible to replace the glass. Take a hammer and tape the glass and then break it, then using gloves, a pair of pliers, and razor blades, clean out the broken glass and then silicon a new piece of glass in place. We do the patches sometimes because the tank is built in and it would be hard to get out or mostly because it is cheaper.
@bobthegazebo If you can't stop the leak you could set the canister in the sump, how many gph is your pump? the canister is good for extra water movement and it is good for phosphate removers and other media..
@whatnext222 Hi Paul, to patch the tank, you just need to put a patch on the inside, a patch on the outside would not be sealing the edge of the cracked bottom, unless you have a floating bottom in the tank, you can also watch the video's on patching a tank with three pieces of glass. # 265 to #267
@likes2fly Is the over flow made out of glass or plastic, if glass then you can clean out the old silicon in the bottom corner, and the silicon bead holding the glass over flow and use 2 pieces of glass, one inside the box, and the other outside the box, inside the tan. If your over flow box is plastic the best way to fix the crack would be to remove the overflow, seal the crack with a piece of glass, and resilicon the overflow in place
@whatnext222 Clean and silicon the crack and clean out the old silicon and put a bead of new silicon where the patch meets the edges of the tank, clean your patch, press it in place, and then run a bead of silicon around the edge of the patch to keep the water out from under the patch.
@CarlsAquarium cool, since its cracked on one side and goes 3 different ways, its going to be pretty much one hole side getting new glass. Since it goes to the edge it would be best to edge to edge then at least 6 inches past the crack. Its some think glass i dont know if lowes/home depot carries that thickness? I think glass shops charge more for small pieces since the have to cut more don't they?
@CarlsAquarium Thanx I just went and stripped the all the silicone from the tank.Thought better safe than sorry later.Tank now like NEW :) Thanx for response Carl
Is there a crack or is it just chipped? If it is chip you can glue a strip in the seam to reinforce the area, if it is cracked you have to end the crack and then patch the tank.
glass is ordered and should be here friday. 27by20 half inch thick.about ten inches past crack . had to go that for to clear the over flow.hopefully test it sat night. it makes since that it will be as strong as before. any tips on getting all the airpockets out?
@CarlsAquarium well i made sure it has no anti mold and its window and door silicone. i checked every tube of silicone and they all said "not recommended for aquarium use" and the one tube i found at an aquarium shop and it was $22.09 US for one tube. So i went and got a good brand of the other. Sorry for asking all these questions but there arent too many places in oklahoma that would be of very much help.
@bobthegazebo Yes the tee goes just under the box, and then the side hose is to let the air in to stop the gurgling, I will get the Boy tp show me how to upload a picture. The pump should be quiet so it does not stress the fish, do you know what brand the silicon was? We used to be able to get aquarium silicon at Canadian Tire, but they stopped carrying it, it was $6 a tube.
installed the glass this evening. i will try a water test tomarrow. I'm not sure how i will support it since the return tube is sticking out three inches and its in my floor. i was going to face the crack next to my patio door so if it gave way it would go out over my balcony. need to figure out a way to support the tank. i wish i had a few two by fours. not sure if all the bubbles are out. i should have put the glue on both surfaces but didn't have enough glue. the glass is 20 buy 17 half inch
@fullspectrumm The plastic is mostly there to protect the glass, if you are worried, fill the tank outside, sitting on some styro foam to make sure it does not leak.
Hey Carl, I live in London Ontario and I'm looking for 'all glass aquarium silicone' like the one you're using in your video. Any idea where I can find some for a decent price? I have found a couple but they look to be small containers, unlike the one in your video.
@musicluva4shiz Did you get the silicon from an aquarium store, or does the silicon say that it is safe for aquariums? Silicon will not stick to plexiglass, you need to use a piece of glass that is the same thickness as the glass used to make the tank, you should be able to get the glass at your LFS or a hardware store, or glass store.
@CarlsAquarium can i use any single sheet window glass for this....will it hold for a 55 gallon tank (the 625lbs and the preasure and all)...also the bar that connects both large wall is not there...will that have a big impact....
@adrian10049 No, the glass does not need to hit the corner, it does need to extend a couple inches on either side of the crack, and of course against the bottom seam. Remove all the old silicon, and clean the surface very well and it will be water tight.
installed the glass this evening. i will try a water test tomarrow. I'm not sure how i will support it since the return tube is sticking out three inches and its in my floor. i was going to face the crack next to my patio door so if it gave way it would go out over my balcony. need to figure out a way to support the tank. i wish i had a few two by fours.
@bobthegazebo Your ph is low, they like 7.5 better, the nitrites need to be 0, did they have a land area to burrow into. Copper at elevated levels is bad for them. What happened to the other inhabitants of the tank?
The original seal was done with a tar-like sealant that I have never found. Silicon will not stick to the slate, what I have did in the past is to cut a piece of glass and seal it in place above the slate bottom and re-caulk the inside seams so the tank holds water and it retains the classic look on the outside.
@bobthegazebo Hi, the noise is happening because the water is pulling air down with it, to quiet it you can slow the water down, or attach another hose to the side of the drain hose to let the air in from the side, use a pvc tee with the straight piece vertical and add a flexible hose to the side and bend the hose so it is vertical and make it a little taller than the overflow box so it cannot flood. Vaseline is bad for rubber, use silicon grease or get a new o-ring.
Hey Carl this is Carl :) I have a 72 bow front leaks in bottom corner I removed the silicone from inside all around the bottom .Question is do I have to redo the sides also?Thanx
I have a 20 gallon tank with a crack down the middle on one of the long sides. I was wondering, when I patch the crack, does one edge of the patch have to be touching an aquarium corner? Also, will the tank be fully water proof after I patch it? Thanks
@whatnext222 It is hard to say without seeing the tank, but based on experience, most likely you should change quite a bit of the water, use a really good water conditioner, and a a bacterial culture as per instruction, and try to stabilize the water.
@likes2fly I would wait a couple more days before I put water in it. Whatever you use to support it make sure it is stable, and if you got some styrofoam, put that under the tank as well.
@CarlsAquarium...can i replace the entire broken side with a window glass(small right side)....and even if the middle bar that connects both large walls is missing(front and back)...will this hold the 55 gallons of water....
I have a question about my 20 gallon aquarium. its cracked on the side panel and its shaped like an arrow from the bottom of one side to the middle of the other and back to the same side at the top. do i need to replace the whole panel or just put the silicone on the crack or do like in the video with a small piece over the crack?
can i use this method to fix my 55gallon tank....it has a crack on one of the smaller sides (rectangular shaped)....the crack is from left to right....i was thinking of using Ge 1 silicone and plexiglass...i want to use it for my cichlids....thank you soooo much!
@trooperx666 It might make it half-way, if, you are using it very lightly, I would suggest the caulking tube size, just have a couple of other projects ready to use the rest of the tube.
the over flow is plastic. ok so what thickness of glass should i use,how big,and will it be as strong or stronger? the glass on the outside will hit the plastic frame so won't be able to go all the way to the bottom on the outside and the crack does go all the way down
Ok i get the idea but what about the other side of the cracked tank? Are you Patching both inside and the outside of the cracked tank? Just asking because im going to try and do this tomorrow to one of my cracked tanks. Also How does it look once the silicone dries? Does it clear up much or is the repair gonna be clearly noticeable? Thanks for your time.
Hi im trying to re-seel an old 29 gallon tank with a slate bottom and stainless steal frame. My dad tried it when he was a kid but failed many times and i would like to restore it in time for his B-Day at the end of June. Are there any tips about technique or products to use?
@Ericec4126 If you use the silicon from the aquarium store it will be ok, just make sure you use a lot, clean the surfaces well before sealing, and if you add some weights that helps as well.
hi carl, I have a 90 gallon tank that i got for free. it was used as a reptile tank. when i peeled off the, (stick on the bottom reptile heater), i noticed a 4 inch hairline crack in the center of the base. i goggled and seen this video. a patch of glass silicon ed over the crack. is this a safe way to fix. ...i am on a tight budget and cant afford a new tank..will the crack expand? how much bigger should i make the patch? will window glass be thick enough? thanks
@CarlsAquarium Okay, I have some older tanks. No breaks in the glass, but the plastic PVC trim is getting brittle. Where can I find that trim? On a couple of the larger tanks the plastic seems to help keep deep the front glass from bowing. Any ideas?
I have a 130gal i just picked up really cheap. the prior owners dropped a heat lamp and it cracked the bottom pretty bad. Well I am not going to use it to hold 1300 pounds of water, but i will need it to be able to hold about 6-8 inches of moist sand. Can i use this method for a bottom piece of glass? If so what thickness? Same as the old bottom? Do i need it to go on the hole bottom etc? Thanks!
Can you also do this when the crack is in the middle of the glass? I have a 125 gallon aquarium with a crack in the front center of it and I would like to repair it like that, would it be able to hold up?
so i did this with silicone from pet smart that is pet safe and a sheet of glass, the pressure of my 55 gallon tank will not cause the side to explode and break? because this tank is gonna be on the 3 floor of my home and i have a person that sleeps directly under my room, its not leaking just wondering if the pressure might push the tank to the endge and crack it
@tjopman It may, there have been some window and door silicones that also said they were good for aquariums, if it does not say it is safe, I would not use it, it is good if you buy it from an aquarium store.
@likes2fly You only need the glass on the inside, it should be as thick as the glass the tank is made of, and should overlap the crack by at least 2 inches. Clean out the old bead of silicon on the bottom of the inside where the glass will fit, clean the inside corner seam, and the bottom corner. wipe all glass clean w/ alcohol or acetone. apply heavy bead of silicon over crack, along bottom and in the corner. press patch firmly into place, then silicon edges. and your tank is strong as new.
@redrider187x Only the inside of the tank is patched, the silicon is visible, but if you seal around the outside, the algae does not get in, and it will look okay.
@TenaciousTbag Well, at least you tried to make it through our video's, we appreciate that. Thank you. Yes you can remove the silicon from the bottom corner of the tank and put a 7 by 7 patch of glass, the same thickness as the tank to cover the crack, and then silicon on some background to cover the patch, it will work for a while, eventually the silicon will let go of the plastic background if you are not careful. You might want to try a hot glue gun to hold the piece of background
Hello, I have a 180g tank that i bought and didnt see the crack that ran from the top to the bottom about 9 inches from the end. half inch thick. the crack ends in the corner at the bottom . can i scab a piece of glass on the back and on the inside and it be structurlay sound? there is an over flow on the inside covering 4 or 5 inches of the crack so small part would not be covered on the inside. how thick,wide,should the patches be? it has the plastic framing and plastic cross members on top
Hey carl,do i need a special silicone or will 100% silicone work? Ive heard a few people say that there is a small difference between aquarium silicone and normal silicone and ive heard people say there is no difference. Can you comment yes or no whether i can use normal stuff? i already have a few tubes bought.
If you have a tank that you don’t plan to fill with water (for a snake), can you just use epoxy over the crack, or is it still best to put new glass down?
@Bingo6104 If you use the same thickness of glass as the original bottom and clean the glass very well and wipe it with alcohol, then silicon it all around and 6 inches past the broken area on either side it will work very well for water as well as wet sand.
@hotmr2 A lot of people have told us that they have to watch the video's one at a time so they can recover, if you watch some of our newer video's they are a little less shaky, and in some we use a tripod, so they are steady, but the tripod is not always convenient, so we do our best.
@likes2fly To keep the air pockets from interfering, do a regular bead of silicon along the bottom and corner seam, then do a large bead of silicon along the crack, then press the patch of glass firmly into place so that the silicon over the crack makes a wide bead, and when the patch is in place seal the other side and top and then smooth the bead on the corner and bottom, that way no water gets in to allow algae growth under the patch.
I just bought a used 55 gallon tank and I noticed a small crack in it that does NOT go all the way through the tank. It is also on the outside of the glass, not the inside. It is in the top 25% of the tank and doesn't seem to be very thick. Part of it is also right on the edge as well. It's about 3-4 inches long I think. Do I need to patch this or will it be ok to use as is(at least after I reseal the inside of the tank)?
Question: after resealing my entire 125g i filed it with water later that day I came home half the tank empty I noticed one corner seal split and 2 glass separated from each other. How can I fix this and how do I prevent it from happening again? ?
@corvettkiller666 Did you find one that said it was safe for aquariums? Or are you going to try one that says it is "not recommended for aquarium use" and see if it will work?
@austinrouse12 The glass is for strength and to protect the lizards from sharp edges, if the tank is strong then the silicon will cover the sharp edges, but it doesn't add much strength
@bobthegazebo I tried to leave this answer yesterday, but it kept saying error try again, It probably will not need to be patched, home depot silicon is bad for aquariums, use silicon from a pet store, if it needs the patch it should be the same thickness, if it does not need it, it will not matter, I sell the sponges for the wet dry.
If the crack is in the centre of the bottom you need to tap it until the both ends of the crack reaches the edge of the glass so that it will no longer expand. Preferably you should use glass the same thickness as the bottom glass, if not use a double layer of glass to get the strength you need. First, check both sides of the crack to make sure it goes all the way through, it could just be a scratch, it is unusual to get such a small crack in the middle of the bottom, use your finger nail.
@musicluva4shiz Yes, as long as the glass is the same thickness, and you clean the glass very well, and put the silicon in the beads correctly it should work fine, we will do a video on how to replace end glass in a tank, watch for it in a few weeks.
Thank you very much sir, this is a great help, actually my 120g aquarium side glass cracked I donno why I double checked the floor but found no reason, anyway I was going to fix it from the outside but I'll take your opinion as a master and do it from the inside.
There would have to be a new piece of glass made to replace the piece of glass needed for the repair and therefore more energy would be used, we patch the tanks with glass from other broken tanks which doesn't use up more energy.
The repair works better and easier on the inside, it is conceivable that you could fix it from the outside if you have a floating bottom, but if the sides of the tank are on top of the bottom glass it probably would not work.
@bobthegazebo I myself would not bother sealing it, but if you want to seal it use the same thickness of glass, extend it at least 4 inches past the crack on all sides. put the patch on the inside of the tank. The silicon at Home Depot is toxic to fish, you must buy aquarium silicon, I sell one brand for 16 and the other for 26 at my store, window pane is not thick enough, I sell the sponges.
You need to put a patch over the whole cracked area, making sure that all the cracks have ended. Your patch should be the same thickness as the original glass used in your tank.
@CarlsAquarium thank you but im gonna start trying to fix the end glass today...b.c i have all those cichlids (8) that were in the 55 gallon tank in a 20 gallon tank....therefore i cant wait a few weeks....but i will watch the video though.....and once again thank you....well, im off to there home deopt and petco...
@musicluva4shiz As long as the glass is the same thickness as the tank glass it will work just fine, the older tanks did not have bars to connect the front and back glass, and they did fine, the bar makes it easier for the glass lid, and does provide some support, just make sure that when you set up the tank on the stand, that you put it on a piece of white styrofoam to eliminate any irregularity's.
So I recently made a large crack on my currently unused zilla critter cage 20 gal long. The crack is on the bottom and I still want to use that tank. Should I repair it? Or just buy another one for like 25 bucks?
@HisakiYuki The crack needs to be ended, either tap the glass so that the crack angles up and ends at the top edge, and then patch, or take a glass cutter and start at theedge of the tank and draw a C that starts bellow the crack and ends above the crack, that way the crack can not continue, watch out other video's for more details.
To patch a tank is also a repair and it is a lot cheaper for people who do not have the extra money to spend, and also more environmentally friendly than removing the broken glass and replacing it with new glass..
thanks carl, i will flip up the tank and see if i can feel it on the bottom. keep up the great videos
Thank you so much i looked through a lot of them and didn't go far enough, going to check them out. Thanks for putting these vids up, my local aquarium shop wanted around 450 to replace the glass and all it included was the glass and labor and no guarantee. If i wanted guarantee i could buy a new 124gal for $700 and most people just junk these tanks! Doubt anyone would junk a 124gal tank lol..
thanks for this video m8, i repaired the bottom of my 4 foot tank with the glass from a photo frame for the inside of the tank and to be on the safe side i used a 4 foot mirror for the underside witch was a perfect fit and is now 100% water tight .
Nice job man i Just cracked my 65 gallon tank (minor crack with a slow leak). I will be using your method to fix my tank . This is very good information. I hope i do it right!
Thank u very much for teaching me how to fix cracked glass !
You are welcome
I Resealed the 29gal a week ago and its been sitting with water in it and no leaks. i used GE silicone 1 window and door. Thanks for the tips.
Thanks for the clear instructions! My girlfriend dropped her goldfish tank in the sink and I am now sure I can fix the one large crack in it. What do you do about the cracks on the outside of the tanks, if anything? More silicone? Tape? Another layer of glass?
@Bingo6104 Happy to help, when we repair aquariums we guarantee to fix them if they ever leak from the same area again, so far we have never had a second leak.
thanks Carl, you were right its just a scratch. that being said, will the scratch weaken the glass in any way. its a, "miracles" aquarium with 3/8 thick glass. i don't know if its tempered on the bottom. should i put a piece of glass on it anyway. i am planning to put some river rocks/stones as decorations. should i put something under them to disperse the weight . thanks again carl.
Carl, I appreciate your videos. Very informative! I have a 200 gal tank that has a crack along the bottom from end to end. My question is, can I use an acrylic plexiglass sheet and glue it in the same manner that you show in your video to the glass tank? or is it better to get a 1/2" slab of glass? I figure it'll be less expensive with the plex but haven't really shopped for glass... Worried if there is a reason you shouldn't glue plex to glass...
@CarlsAquarium Thanks a lot for all the info. I think it might be cheaper to get a hole pane of glass thats 48x24 3/8 thick since one crack goes over half the tank. what would be the best steps to install the glass correctly? I got the tank on its top and have removed the frame and I am about to remove the old glass and clean all the old silicone off. What is the best steps on installing the new glass.
@MsCivilwar Yes, it is possible to replace the glass. Take a hammer and tape the glass and then break it, then using gloves, a pair of pliers, and razor blades, clean out the broken glass and then silicon a new piece of glass in place. We do the patches sometimes because the tank is built in and it would be hard to get out or mostly because it is cheaper.
@bobthegazebo If you can't stop the leak you could set the canister in the sump, how many gph is your pump? the canister is good for extra water movement and it is good for phosphate removers and other media..
@whatnext222 Hi Paul, to patch the tank, you just need to put a patch on the inside, a patch on the outside would not be sealing the edge of the cracked bottom, unless you have a floating bottom in the tank, you can also watch the video's on patching a tank with three pieces of glass. # 265 to #267
@likes2fly Is the over flow made out of glass or plastic, if glass then you can clean out the old silicon in the bottom corner, and the silicon bead holding the glass over flow and use 2 pieces of glass, one inside the box, and the other outside the box, inside the tan. If your over flow box is plastic the best way to fix the crack would be to remove the overflow, seal the crack with a piece of glass, and resilicon the overflow in place
@whatnext222 Clean and silicon the crack and clean out the old silicon and put a bead of new silicon where the patch meets the edges of the tank, clean your patch, press it in place, and then run a bead of silicon around the edge of the patch to keep the water out from under the patch.
@CarlsAquarium cool, since its cracked on one side and goes 3 different ways, its going to be pretty much one hole side getting new glass. Since it goes to the edge it would be best to edge to edge then at least 6 inches past the crack. Its some think glass i dont know if lowes/home depot carries that thickness? I think glass shops charge more for small pieces since the have to cut more don't they?
@CarlsAquarium Thanx I just went and stripped the all the silicone from the tank.Thought better safe than sorry later.Tank now like NEW :) Thanx for response Carl
The pond fish we use here are goldfish Koi and Shubunkins, how cold does it get in the winter?
Is there a crack or is it just chipped? If it is chip you can glue a strip in the seam to reinforce the area, if it is cracked you have to end the crack and then patch the tank.
It the silicon to protect against cuts from the glass? If so that will be fine.
glass is ordered and should be here friday. 27by20 half inch thick.about ten inches past crack . had to go that for to clear the over flow.hopefully test it sat night. it makes since that it will be as strong as before. any tips on getting all the airpockets out?
@CarlsAquarium well i made sure it has no anti mold and its window and door silicone. i checked every tube of silicone and they all said "not recommended for aquarium use" and the one tube i found at an aquarium shop and it was $22.09 US for one tube. So i went and got a good brand of the other. Sorry for asking all these questions but there arent too many places in oklahoma that would be of very much help.
@bobthegazebo Yes the tee goes just under the box, and then the side hose is to let the air in to stop the gurgling, I will get the Boy tp show me how to upload a picture. The pump should be quiet so it does not stress the fish, do you know what brand the silicon was? We used to be able to get aquarium silicon at Canadian Tire, but they stopped carrying it, it was $6 a tube.
installed the glass this evening. i will try a water test tomarrow. I'm not sure how i will support it since the return tube is sticking out three inches and its in my floor. i was going to face the crack next to my patio door so if it gave way it would go out over my balcony. need to figure out a way to support the tank. i wish i had a few two by fours.
not sure if all the bubbles are out. i should have put the glue on both surfaces but didn't have enough glue. the glass is 20 buy 17 half inch
@fullspectrumm The plastic is mostly there to protect the glass, if you are worried, fill the tank outside, sitting on some styro foam to make sure it does not leak.
Hey Carl,
I live in London Ontario and I'm looking for 'all glass aquarium silicone' like the one you're using in your video. Any idea where I can find some for a decent price? I have found a couple but they look to be small containers, unlike the one in your video.
@musicluva4shiz Did you get the silicon from an aquarium store, or does the silicon say that it is safe for aquariums? Silicon will not stick to plexiglass, you need to use a piece of glass that is the same thickness as the glass used to make the tank, you should be able to get the glass at your LFS or a hardware store, or glass store.
@CarlsAquarium can i use any single sheet window glass for this....will it hold for a 55 gallon tank (the 625lbs and the preasure and all)...also the bar that connects both large wall is not there...will that have a big impact....
Does the silicone say it is safe for fish, hopefully it is. Good job, and good luck.
@adrian10049 No, the glass does not need to hit the corner, it does need to extend a couple inches on either side of the crack, and of course against the bottom seam. Remove all the old silicon, and clean the surface very well and it will be water tight.
installed the glass this evening. i will try a water test tomarrow. I'm not sure how i will support it since the return tube is sticking out three inches and its in my floor. i was going to face the crack next to my patio door so if it gave way it would go out over my balcony. need to figure out a way to support the tank. i wish i had a few two by fours.
@bobthegazebo Your ph is low, they like 7.5 better, the nitrites need to be 0, did they have a land area to burrow into. Copper at elevated levels is bad for them. What happened to the other inhabitants of the tank?
Will this type of repair hold water if the crack was replaced in this method at the bottom of the tank? The crack has ended.
The original seal was done with a tar-like sealant that I have never found. Silicon will not stick to the slate, what I have did in the past is to cut a piece of glass and seal it in place above the slate bottom and re-caulk the inside seams so the tank holds water and it retains the classic look on the outside.
@CarlsAquarium Cool video man ! Is there a way to take the lack trim off of a 10 gal tank? If so, will it ruin the tank?
@bobthegazebo Hi, the noise is happening because the water is pulling air down with it, to quiet it you can slow the water down, or attach another hose to the side of the drain hose to let the air in from the side, use a pvc tee with the straight piece vertical and add a flexible hose to the side and bend the hose so it is vertical and make it a little taller than the overflow box so it cannot flood. Vaseline is bad for rubber, use silicon grease or get a new o-ring.
Hey Carl this is Carl :) I have a 72 bow front leaks in bottom corner I removed the silicone from inside all around the bottom .Question is do I have to redo the sides also?Thanx
I have a 20 gallon tank with a crack down the middle on one of the long sides.
I was wondering, when I patch the crack, does one edge of the patch have to be touching an aquarium corner?
Also, will the tank be fully water proof after I patch it?
Thanks
@whatnext222 It is hard to say without seeing the tank, but based on experience, most likely you should change quite a bit of the water, use a really good water conditioner, and a a bacterial culture as per instruction, and try to stabilize the water.
@likes2fly I would wait a couple more days before I put water in it. Whatever you use to support it make sure it is stable, and if you got some styrofoam, put that under the tank as well.
@CarlsAquarium...can i replace the entire broken side with a window glass(small right side)....and even if the middle bar that connects both large walls is missing(front and back)...will this hold the 55 gallons of water....
I have a question about my 20 gallon aquarium. its cracked on the side panel and its shaped like an arrow from the bottom of one side to the middle of the other and back to the same side at the top. do i need to replace the whole panel or just put the silicone on the crack or do like in the video with a small piece over the crack?
can i use this method to fix my 55gallon tank....it has a crack on one of the smaller sides (rectangular shaped)....the crack is from left to right....i was thinking of using Ge 1 silicone and plexiglass...i want to use it for my cichlids....thank you soooo much!
@trooperx666 It might make it half-way, if, you are using it very lightly, I would suggest the caulking tube size, just have a couple of other projects ready to use the rest of the tube.
the over flow is plastic. ok so what thickness of glass should i use,how big,and will it be as strong or stronger? the glass on the outside will hit the plastic frame so won't be able to go all the way to the bottom on the outside and the crack does go all the way down
Ok i get the idea but what about the other side of the cracked tank? Are you Patching both inside and the outside of the cracked tank? Just asking because im going to try and do this tomorrow to one of my cracked tanks. Also How does it look once the silicone dries? Does it clear up much or is the repair gonna be clearly noticeable? Thanks for your time.
Hi im trying to re-seel an old 29 gallon tank with a slate bottom and stainless steal frame. My dad tried it when he was a kid but failed many times and i would like to restore it in time for his B-Day at the end of June. Are there any tips about technique or products to use?
@Ericec4126 If you use the silicon from the aquarium store it will be ok, just make sure you use a lot, clean the surfaces well before sealing, and if you add some weights that helps as well.
would a 3 oz bottle of silicone completely reseal all the glass panels of a 15 gallon? its a pretty old tank and the old stuff is breaking down
hi carl, I have a 90 gallon tank that i got for free. it was used as a reptile tank. when i peeled off the, (stick on the bottom reptile heater), i noticed a 4 inch hairline crack in the center of the base. i goggled and seen this video. a patch of glass silicon ed over the crack. is this a safe way to fix. ...i am on a tight budget and cant afford a new tank..will the crack expand? how much bigger should i make the patch? will window glass be thick enough? thanks
@CarlsAquarium Okay, I have some older tanks. No breaks in the glass, but the plastic PVC trim is getting brittle. Where can I find that trim? On a couple of the larger tanks the plastic seems to help keep deep the front glass from bowing. Any ideas?
We believe in doing things completely assed or adzed, Tony will see the light, Carl always wins.
I have a 130gal i just picked up really cheap. the prior owners dropped a heat lamp and it cracked the bottom pretty bad. Well I am not going to use it to hold 1300 pounds of water, but i will need it to be able to hold about 6-8 inches of moist sand. Can i use this method for a bottom piece of glass? If so what thickness? Same as the old bottom? Do i need it to go on the hole bottom etc?
Thanks!
That is correct, I have repaired many aquariums this way.
Can you also do this when the crack is in the middle of the glass? I have a 125 gallon aquarium with a crack in the front center of it and I would like to repair it like that, would it be able to hold up?
so i did this with silicone from pet smart that is pet safe and a sheet of glass, the pressure of my 55 gallon tank will not cause the side to explode and break? because this tank is gonna be on the 3 floor of my home and i have a person that sleeps directly under my room, its not leaking just wondering if the pressure might push the tank to the endge and crack it
@HDMann292 Silicon glass strips along the front panel and a little bit on each end to be safe.
@frylockmovie Yes, it will work as long as it is the same thickness as the glass the tank is made from, make sure you clean the surfaces very well.
@tjopman It may, there have been some window and door silicones that also said they were good for aquariums, if it does not say it is safe, I would not use it, it is good if you buy it from an aquarium store.
@likes2fly You only need the glass on the inside, it should be as thick as the glass the tank is made of, and should overlap the crack by at least 2 inches. Clean out the old bead of silicon on the bottom of the inside where the glass will fit, clean the inside corner seam, and the bottom corner. wipe all glass clean w/ alcohol or acetone. apply heavy bead of silicon over crack, along bottom and in the corner. press patch firmly into place, then silicon edges. and your tank is strong as new.
@redrider187x Only the inside of the tank is patched, the silicon is visible, but if you seal around the outside, the algae does not get in, and it will look okay.
@TenaciousTbag Well, at least you tried to make it through our video's, we appreciate that. Thank you. Yes you can remove the silicon from the bottom corner of the tank and put a 7 by 7 patch of glass, the same thickness as the tank to cover the crack, and then silicon on some background to cover the patch, it will work for a while, eventually the silicon will let go of the plastic background if you are not careful. You might want to try a hot glue gun to hold the piece of background
Hello, I have a 180g tank that i bought and didnt see the crack that ran from the top to the bottom about 9 inches from the end. half inch thick. the crack ends in the corner at the bottom . can i scab a piece of glass on the back and on the inside and it be structurlay sound? there is an over flow on the inside covering 4 or 5 inches of the crack so small part would not be covered on the inside. how thick,wide,should the patches be? it has the plastic framing and plastic cross members on top
Hey carl,do i need a special silicone or will 100% silicone work? Ive heard a few people say that there is a small difference between aquarium silicone and normal silicone and ive heard people say there is no difference. Can you comment yes or no whether i can use normal stuff? i already have a few tubes bought.
If you have a tank that you don’t plan to fill with water (for a snake), can you just use epoxy over the crack, or is it still best to put new glass down?
You can cover the crack with epoxy or silicone so your snake won't cut himself
@Bingo6104 If you use the same thickness of glass as the original bottom and clean the glass very well and wipe it with alcohol, then silicon it all around and 6 inches past the broken area on either side it will work very well for water as well as wet sand.
@hotmr2 A lot of people have told us that they have to watch the video's one at a time so they can recover, if you watch some of our newer video's they are a little less shaky, and in some we use a tripod, so they are steady, but the tripod is not always convenient, so we do our best.
@likes2fly To keep the air pockets from interfering, do a regular bead of silicon along the bottom and corner seam, then do a large bead of silicon along the crack, then press the patch of glass firmly into place so that the silicon over the crack makes a wide bead, and when the patch is in place seal the other side and top and then smooth the bead on the corner and bottom, that way no water gets in to allow algae growth under the patch.
I just bought a used 55 gallon tank and I noticed a small crack in it that does NOT go all the way through the tank. It is also on the outside of the glass, not the inside. It is in the top 25% of the tank and doesn't seem to be very thick. Part of it is also right on the edge as well. It's about 3-4 inches long I think. Do I need to patch this or will it be ok to use as is(at least after I reseal the inside of the tank)?
@whatnext222 It does not matter, as long as the heater gets good circulation to distribute the heat.
@bobthegazebo Is it cracked or is it a surface scratch?
I just got a new 30 gallon and chipped the outside corner pretty bad I think...what u think I should do ?
Question: after resealing my entire 125g i filed it with water later that day I came home half the tank empty I noticed one corner seal split and 2 glass separated from each other. How can I fix this and how do I prevent it from happening again? ?
@corvettkiller666 Did you find one that said it was safe for aquariums? Or are you going to try one that says it is "not recommended for aquarium use" and see if it will work?
so water can not leak at all from this right (if done properly)??
@austinrouse12 The glass is for strength and to protect the lizards from sharp edges, if the tank is strong then the silicon will cover the sharp edges, but it doesn't add much strength
It is fine as long as you do not hit it from the other side of the scratch. If it is tempered there will be a label saying it is tempered.
You can patch cracks any where this way. Use the same thickness of glass and it will be strong.
@bobthegazebo I tried to leave this answer yesterday, but it kept saying error try again, It probably will not need to be patched, home depot silicon is bad for aquariums, use silicon from a pet store, if it needs the patch it should be the same thickness, if it does not need it, it will not matter, I sell the sponges for the wet dry.
If the crack is in the centre of the bottom you need to tap it until the both ends of the crack reaches the edge of the glass so that it will no longer expand. Preferably you should use glass the same thickness as the bottom glass, if not use a double layer of glass to get the strength you need. First, check both sides of the crack to make sure it goes all the way through, it could just be a scratch, it is unusual to get such a small crack in the middle of the bottom, use your finger nail.
@musicluva4shiz Yes, as long as the glass is the same thickness, and you clean the glass very well, and put the silicon in the beads correctly it should work fine, we will do a video on how to replace end glass in a tank, watch for it in a few weeks.
What if I do same thing but from the outside of an aquarium will it work?
Sumit Jagtap No, it only works from the inside
Thank you very much sir, this is a great help, actually my 120g aquarium side glass cracked I donno why I double checked the floor but found no reason, anyway I was going to fix it from the outside but I'll take your opinion as a master and do it from the inside.
There would have to be a new piece of glass made to replace the piece of glass needed for the repair and therefore more energy would be used, we patch the tanks with glass from other broken tanks which doesn't use up more energy.
@sickknightninja If you put the silicon on the outside of the tank it will not work, you must use aquarium safe silicon.
In our recycling program they do not accept plate glass, only bottle glass, therefore aquarium glass is thrown in the landfill.
if i use window and door silicone would it kill my fish ?
The repair works better and easier on the inside, it is conceivable that you could fix it from the outside if you have a floating bottom, but if the sides of the tank are on top of the bottom glass it probably would not work.
@likes2fly As long as you sealed the crack, and around the edges any bubbles left should be okay, when you say glue, I hope you mean aquarium silicon.
@bobthegazebo I myself would not bother sealing it, but if you want to seal it use the same thickness of glass, extend it at least 4 inches past the crack on all sides. put the patch on the inside of the tank. The silicon at Home Depot is toxic to fish, you must buy aquarium silicon, I sell one brand for 16 and the other for 26 at my store, window pane is not thick enough, I sell the sponges.
You need to put a patch over the whole cracked area, making sure that all the cracks have ended. Your patch should be the same thickness as the original glass used in your tank.
@CarlsAquarium thank you but im gonna start trying to fix the end glass today...b.c i have all those cichlids (8) that were in the 55 gallon tank in a 20 gallon tank....therefore i cant wait a few weeks....but i will watch the video though.....and once again thank you....well, im off to there home deopt and petco...
At what time in the video?
@sdhaenens1986 Silicon sticks to glass, it does not stick to plexi, better use glass, that way it will work. Plexi usually costs more than glass.
@musicluva4shiz As long as the glass is the same thickness as the tank glass it will work just fine, the older tanks did not have bars to connect the front and back glass, and they did fine, the bar makes it easier for the glass lid, and does provide some support, just make sure that when you set up the tank on the stand, that you put it on a piece of white styrofoam to eliminate any irregularity's.
what do i do if it is in the bottom corner of my 225.
So I recently made a large crack on my currently unused zilla critter cage 20 gal long. The crack is on the bottom and I still want to use that tank. Should I repair it? Or just buy another one for like 25 bucks?
Put silicon or duct tape over the crack and use it without water.
@HisakiYuki The crack needs to be ended, either tap the glass so that the crack angles up and ends at the top edge, and then patch, or take a glass cutter and start at theedge of the tank and draw a C that starts bellow the crack and ends above the crack, that way the crack can not continue, watch out other video's for more details.
@martinez199327 Does it say it is safe for aquariums?
@avijit44 If it a small crack it should work, for bigger cracks use 8mil.
To patch a tank is also a repair and it is a lot cheaper for people who do not have the extra money to spend, and also more environmentally friendly than removing the broken glass and replacing it with new glass..