First Timer - Fish Tank Questions

Hello everyone, new to the forums and I have a few questions about a fish tank I recently purchased for my wife. I found a 50 gallon glass tank and wood stand on craigslist for 40 bucks, the tank looked to be in good condition except for some scratches and a busted center support on the top frame. I plan on replacing the top trim, but because the tank will be upstairs next to my home theater equipment and above my office downstairs I want to make sure this thing will never burst. I know tanks bursting is very rare and the tank looks in good condition, but is there any extra measures I can take to ensure it won't burst? The tank is about as level as my house will allow and there's no debris under the tank. Has anyone ever siliconed plastic/acrylic corner pieces onto their tank for cheap insurance? The glass doesn't have any cracks, just scratches, some of them can catch your finger nail. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

If it's acrylic you can glue another piece of acrylic on top of the crack. Make the patch as large as you can without blocking some of the top openings. Also make the patch go from the back of the tank all the way to the front. use thickened acrylic cement in a tube.When your done let it dry for 2 days, Then put it on a board on in the garage or somewhere it won't matter if it leaks, and let it sit for 2 days full of water. When you glue on the patch make sure you get as many bubbles out as you can between the patch and the tank.

https://www.eplastics.com/accessories/plastic-adhesives

 

Its not acrylic. Its a standard black plastic trim top with the center aupport piece. Unfortunately I didnt realize that it was to support the center of the tank until I noticed the center piece wouldnt reach the side it was broken on when I let it sit for 6 hours to find leaks. I hope nothing happened to the joints. I really am looking for ways to support every weak point on this tank as a catastrophic failure would be disasterous.

 

If it's a glass center brace, you need to cut it out and brace and silicon . If it crached get a new piece. Clean off all the old silicon from the area the brace was on. Put a bead of silicon on each side of the brace, and clamp it. You need a large wood working clamp to hold it in place, let it dry with the clamp on for 3 days, and cross your fingers. Or you can wait for the next good sale on aquariums.

 

Thanks for the help. I think I am just going to buy a new tank. Cheap insurance. I am specifically looking at the Sea Clear 50 gallon 36 x 15 x 20 L W H. Anyone have any experience with these tanks? I have read they are good tanks but have also read few people have had issues with them bowing out after a while. I want something reliable. I know they scratch easy but my wife and I are pretty meticulous and am sure we will clean it properly to reduce scuffing. Also how is the filtration system setup on these tanks? Can I use my Fluval 50gph filter that hangs off the back but instead hang it in the over flow area? Little confused about the overflow area on the tank.

Also, anyone have good experiences with Aqueon? If the acrylic tank doesn't work out I would like to pickup an aqueon tank since they look nice and are readily available in town.

 

Aqueon is a good glass tank, I use them in my tanks that are 40 gallons down. If not leaking is the biggest issue get an acrylic tank! Sea Clear is a well known tank builder that has been around for years, It would be a good chose. Most acrylic tanks bow, That's what's part of them hardly ever leaking. I have sold many thousands of acrylic tanks over the years, and have seen 3 new tanks leak ever. If you take care of the tank, and don't do things like clean it with a Brillo pad it will stay clear and scratch free. the filter hole is on the top center of the tank, it's an oval shape approx. 12" X2.5". the tank will also have 1 or 2 holes, 1.5" round depending on who makes it in the far back corners of the tank. It will also have 2 airline hole in the 2 back corners.
Good luck, Harry