Big Chip In The Top Of A Cube Tank

Hello my friends! I have another post about the same tank - my brand new 35 gallon cube tank (20×20×20") that I got for $20 on CL. There's a reason why this tank was so cheap...it's drilled for a saltwater reef tank, but I plan to make it a goldfish tank (I'll silicone a glass pane to cover the holes and like remove the corner filter.) The tank also has two chips; a tiny chip on the front top left which I doubt will cause any issues, and a nice deep one on the back top right. That's the one I'm worried about, as that's the same corner where I'll silicone the glass to the bottom. Here's the thing; this is an awesome tank, especially it's brand and price, and I'd like to use it for my baby thai oranda and telescope, but if the new tank is unsafe, I obviously don't want to risk it.

The glass is about 3/8" thick. The chip covers 2 panes and the deepest part is more than half of the tank's thickness. The guy who sold it said it has 2 chips and that it could probably be sealed with acrylic. Is this true? Thanks all

A few pics of said chip:

 

That looks pretty risky to me.
About all you can do is fill the tank up in a safe place & see if it holds water.

 

If the chip were closer to the bottom where water pressure is greater, this would be far to risky. Even with the chip at the top, I would be hesitant to use the tank anywhere other than an unfinished basement where a water spill could not do any damage.

Since this tank has no top rim for structural support. the only thing holding the tank together is the silicone between glass panes. If the damage had been limited to just one pane, the risk is not as great. It looks like the tank suffered a pretty strong blow to the corner, damaging two panes of glass, so there is little structural strength left. If it were me, I would not take the risk. Unless you have see it, you would not believe how much damage 30 gallons of water can do. There could be hundreds or even thousands of dollars of damage. Purchase a new tank.

 

If the chip were closer to the bottom where water pressure is greater, this would be far to risky. Even with the chip at the top, I would be hesitant to use the tank anywhere other than an unfinished basement where a water spill could not do any damage.

Since this tank has no top rim for structural support. the only thing holding the tank together is the silicone between glass panes. If the damage had been limited to just one pane, the risk is not as great. It looks like the tank suffered a pretty strong blow to the corner, damaging two panes of glass, so there is little structural strength left. If it were me, I would not take the risk. Unless you have see it, you would not believe how much damage 30 gallons of water can do. There could be hundreds or even thousands of dollars of damage. Purchase a new tank.

Thanks for the input! I do have a brand new, empty 29 gal that I've stored in the pet closet for 3 years but I liked this tank since it's 37 gallons, and I feel it's better for 2 small, round goldfish. Since a 29/40 is more LENGTH than DEPTH, maybe it's for the best...

I also keep paludariums and vivariums (amphibians, invertebrates, and small mammals). Since it's chipped on the outer top corner with thick glass, it's perfectly safe to fill with heavy substrate but maybe not a lot of water. It's about 400 sq in if I remove the filter so not big enough for hamsters, but definitely large enough for mice, asf rats, Kiwi the small toad, my 2 ornate tree lizards, Al the tiger salamander, hermit crabs, tree frogs, and even my dream ant vivarium! As long as I remove the corner filter (which is only held on by silicone), it'll provide a lot of height, depth, and width, perfect for the pets listed above. For a vivarium or paludarium, I'd create a tall substrate hill in the back for a sense of depth with moss and other plants. I can do that. Does that sound good?

 

Hello my friends! I have another post about the same tank - my brand new 35 gallon cube tank (20×20×20") that I got for $20 on CL. There's a reason why this tank was so cheap...it's drilled for a saltwater reef tank, but I plan to make it a goldfish tank (I'll silicone a glass pane to cover the holes and like remove the corner filter.) The tank also has two chips; a tiny chip on the front top left which I doubt will cause any issues, and a nice deep one on the back top right. That's the one I'm worried about, as that's the same corner where I'll silicone the glass to the bottom. Here's the thing; this is an awesome tank, especially it's brand and price, and I'd like to use it for my baby thai oranda and telescope, but if the new tank is unsafe, I obviously don't want to risk it.

The glass is about 3/8" thick. The chip covers 2 panes and the deepest part is more than half of the tank's thickness. The guy who sold it said it has 2 chips and that it could probably be sealed with acrylic. Is this true? Thanks all

A few pics of said chip:
View attachment 862318View attachment 862319View attachment 862320

May I ask what CL is?

 

May I ask what CL is?

Ah sorry. It stands for Craigslist which I'm sure you've heard of from Utah. If not, it's a popular North American buy, sell, & trade website. Exactly like Gumtree in the UK. I've used it for 8 years and found great deals like a free 125 gallon with stand. It's worth looking at

 

Ah sorry. It stands for Craigslist which I'm sure you've heard of from Utah. If not, it's a popular North American buy, sell, & trade website. Exactly like Gumtree in the UK. I've used it for 8 years and have found great deals like a free 125 gallon with stand. It's worth looking at

Awesome! Thanks!

 

Awesome! Thanks!

No problem! Scroll around on the page, especially the pet section, and you're bound to find tanks, pets, supplies, plants, etc

 

There is no reason not to use the chipped tank for something other than an aquarium. Just turn the tank so the chip is near the back to lessen any further damage to you or the tank.

 

I’d be tempted to silicone in and outside anyway since you’re going to be doing it to plug the drill hole . I’d be happy using it as frog tank. I’d not want to risk 30G of water though. Is there anyway you could create a brace for the top of the tank too?
I do want to stress this is merely my opinion and I have no experience with it. I have had a large tank ‘pop’ a seal though and it’s stressful with a lot of fish and water everywhere.

 

i wouldn't trust it to be honest any crack or chip in a tank is cause for concern you don't want to take that chance, though you can still i would say use it as a non-aquarium tank like a lizard or frog etc. or even to store supply's in.