Hairline fracture or scratch!

Today while checking on things in the tank I noticed what seems like a scratch in the top right corner of the tank. It looks like it starts at or under the black rI'm and curves down about an inch or so. I didn't feel anything on the inside to make me think it was all the way through. And its not noticeable from the angle I'm sitting currently, only from the front.

I marked it with a tiny sharpie dot and I'll keep an eye on it. I'm really hoping its just a scratch, even though I'm not sure how it would have gotten there. I'm the only one that messes with it and I really don't think the kids could have caused it with any of their toys. Its possible it was there already and I'm just now noticing.

If its more than a scratch, is there anything I could put on it to help stop it from getting worse? Or, if it is more than a scratch, should I just start searching for a new tank?

 

Can you feel with your fingernail on both sides if it is on both sides. Alison

 

Are you sure it's not the silicone residue?

 

Can you feel with your fingernail on both sides if it is on both sides. Alison

I didn't feel anything on the inside to make me think it was all the way through. No grooves or anything. So its definitely only one-sided currently. I'm just curious about the strength of these 10 gal tanks.

Are you sure it's not the silicone residue?

Positive. Definitely a scratch. Doesn't seem super deep, but deep enough to have me concerned, somewhat. I'm just curious about the structural integrity of a 10 gal tank. Do these things hold up okay with scratches? Its not really something I considered before.

 

I would think if it is just a surface scratch then it would be nothing to worry about. Alison

 

Positive. Definitely a scratch. Doesn't seem super deep, but deep enough to have me concerned, somewhat. I'm just curious about the structural integrity of a 10 gal tank. Do these things hold up okay with scratches? Its not really something I considered before.

Oh ok, just checking. When I first got my tank, I saw what I thought was a scratch originating from the black rI'm like yours. When I started to scrape it with my finger, it came off.

 

Oh ok, just checking. When I first got my tank, I saw what I thought was a scratch originating from the black rI'm like yours. When I started to scrape it with my finger, it came off.

I know what you mean though, I thought it was worse because it looked like a nasty chunk of glass was missing from edge of the same corner, but then it scraped right off like epoxy glue or something. I assumed that was just part of the caulk from where it was sealed. But this mark is definitely a groove in the glass.

 

Do you think you'll feel better exchanging it?

 

Heh, I'd feel better not doing anything that will disrupt my cycle and the little fish that has lived way longer than the previous occupants!

My birthday is coming up in June and I've been dropping hints all over the place to my wife that I want to upgrade my tank to at least a 29g. But I'm searching around online and a few local places for something in the 45-50g range. That's what I'd really like to do. So I think since it appears to be just a scratch, it should hold up another couple months, at least. I'm hoping that its nothing, but even if it were, there would be nothing I could do about it because there's no way to prove that it was already damaged.

The only other option is to drain it and give my DG back to the pet store until I can get another tank, but currently, I don't think that will be necessary. Fingers crossed.

 

Petco's $ per gal sale ends next weekend. A nice 55 gallon would be perfect.

 

Petco's $ per gal sale ends next weekend. A nice 55 gallon would be perfect.

Tell me about it! Its not the price of the tank that gets me..its the additional 150 or so that would go into it. I haven't checked the price of filters and heaters for a tank that size, but I imagine they're at least 40 or so each. Plus the lid/lights. Then the substrate and plants/decor. And I would need a stand for it.

With my 10g, I just bought a kit on an impulse trip to Petco with the kids.

This next time around I want to get everything as quickly as possible, but I don't want to rush it. And I can't get it piece at a time because of storage issues. No, I want to save some money up and get everything I need in one or two trips. I'll probably do a fishless cycle on the next one though.

 

Gotcha! It does add up. I don't wanna think about how much I've spent after it's all said and done.