Aquarium cracked after 2days

Started new 37 gal freswater aquarium 2 days ago,sand substrate with HOB fluval filter using cycled water from my 60 gal and ceramic bio media from my canister filter. Temp right, water parameters good, water clear. Almost added fish. Woke up this morning and there was a diagonal crack across the back. And of course the water was everywhere except the tank.
I don't have any idea why it cracked! The stand and tank were both level. No trauma when I carried it in and set up.I didn't notice any defects setting it up?
The crack goes from the right side top down left, sparing 6 inches from bottom,
Petsmart will trade it out. Any ideas what happened? Any ideas how to avoid in future?

 

Try placing a piece of 1/2" rigid styrofoam insulation (purchased at building supply centers like Home Depot) on your stand cut just a little larger than the foot print of your tank and place your tank on top of it. The styrofoam will help protect your tank from imperfections in the stand that may cause pressure points. If the surface of the stand isn't perfectly flat, (flat is slightly different than level) the tank won't be well supported along it's outer edges and corners and pressure points occur.

 

You didn't ask about this, I but just wanted to mention that water does not cycle. Bacteria grows in your filter that converts the ammonia to nitrites and nitrites to nitrates as the water passes through. So there really is no reason to use old tank water in the new tank if you are getting new fish, since they will have to be acclimated anyway. If you are transfering fish from a tank you already have, and the pH in the tank is different than the pH of your tap water, you may want to use old tank water so it is more like a partial water change to the fish.

But other than that, all you are doing by using old tap water is to add nitrates to the new tank.

 

Thanks, I will try the styrofoam under tank. That makes sense.

When I set up the new tank if I use tap water and declorinater and use the ceramic bio material from my current tank, will that be enough to get through the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate period? I don't want to be cruel to any new fish and I want to move one of my angelfish to the new tank as soon as possible because the other 2 are starting to bully it.

 

It is possible to obtain an "instant" cycle by using cycled bio media in a new setup. It's best to keep an eye on your readings for several days to make sure no spikes occur. Sometimes there maybe only enough beneficial bacteria on the previously cycled media to seed the new media in which case you may get some spikes just until the bacteria have a chance to start to colonize the new media. It doesn't usually take long for the tank to stablize because it doesn't have to cycle from scratch but you may need to do some extra water changes to keep ammonia and nitrite levels low if they do peak.

Your 60G appears to have enough flora and fauna in it that the ceramic bio media from it should be able to instantly cycle a tank with just a few small fish in it, or your one angelfish without much of a problem, but like I said, test it for several days just so that you are aware of any problems that might occur early enough to help prevent them from causing issues for your fish.

 

Thanks, I will keep close watch on the parameters and make water changes as needed. My trees welcome frequent water changes with the severe drought and record highs. I hope aquarium water is good for them.

 

I use my aquarium water to water my indoor plants as well as my globe cedars and flower gardens. Everything seems to appreciate the extra nutrients they receive from it.

Best of luck with your next new setup!