How To Repair Cracked Glass On Fish Tank

Whether you take a 55-gallon fish tank or a small fishbowl, a crack in the drinking glass can pose a serious problem. Fortunately, in many cases, fixing a cleaved fish tank is a adequately easy procedure that you tin complete with just a few basic supplies. Be sure to evaluate the condition of your tank to decide whether it is worth repairing or if you would be meliorate off investing in a new aquarium.

Young Teen Girl Feeds Fish In Home Aquarium.

Repairs might or might not be possible.

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Reasons a glass aquarium breaks

There are many possible reasons your aquarium may have developed a scissure. If the aquarium is on an uneven surface or doesn't have enough cushioning, the heavy weight of the tank and the h2o can place pressure on the glass, causing it to crack. Heavy or sharp decorations, such as rocks, tin can also damage the glass, especially if they fall or shift while you are moving the tank. Be sure to take steps to correct these weather condition and take care when cleaning to avoid causing a new crack in the glass.

There are some other reasons a tank can pause that may brand replacing the tank a safer alternative for your fish. If you have an old tank or one made with inexpensive materials, the glass may not be thick or strong enough to withstand the water pressure inside the tank. It may besides be more prone to breakage when moving and cleaning the tank.

Empty the tank

Earlier you can repair a crack in the fish tank, you need to empty the tank. Motion the fish to another tank or container. It tin can take 24 to 48 hours for the sealant to fully dry, so make sure the container is large plenty for your fish to live comfortably for this menses of time.

It is a good idea to marker the crack with some masking tape, especially if information technology is a modest fissure. This ensures you can easily locate and repair information technology one time the tank is emptied. Drain the water from the tank, taking intendance to remove the water in a fashion that doesn't add together weight or pressure to the cracked area. Exist sure to remove all decorations, plants, and substrate also. Finally, dry the tank completely with a clean towel.

Fish tank cleft repair

The all-time fish tank crack paste is an aquarium-safe silicone. Be sure to read the product label and follow the instructions to ensure the crack is sealed properly. If there is sealant from a previous repair, be sure to remove it completely with a razor blade. And so, utilize a towel and acetone to clean the glass where the crevice is located. Applying the silicone to dirty glass may prevent it from fully sealing the crack.

Apply the aquarium-safe silicone gel to the crack on the inside of the tank. Polish the sealant with your finger. You can besides use a caulking tool if this is easier for you. Allow the sealant to dry completely. This may take up to 48 hours but check the product label to determine the recommended drying fourth dimension.

In one case the sealant has set, add h2o back into the tank to make sure the seal holds and the crack no longer leaks. Move the fish back to the tank when y'all are confident in the repair.

Supervene upon the pane

If the glass has a large crack, you lot can also consider ordering a new pane rather than replacing the entire tank. Mensurate the pane precisely to ensure you become the right size. In one case the tank is empty and dry, dissever the damaged pane and scrape off the former silicone from the exposed edges of the tank and make clean them with acetone.

Apply the silicone gel to the edges of the new pane and position the pane on the tank. Secure information technology with duct tape to hold information technology in place. Apply another layer of aquarium-safe silicone gel to the seams on the inside of the tank and allow the sealant to fully dry.

Remove the duct record and fill the aquarium with water. When you are confident the seal is holding and at that place are no leaks, you can return the fish to the tank.