Fixing A Broken Fish Tank
 Last week was tiring for you after shifting the furniture from one room to another and today you notice a wet carpet –this could be a broken fish tank! No need to panic, because we provide you easy do-it-yourself tips to fix the broken fish tank. It is a time consuming act but not all difficult and just think of the money you will be saving on a new tank! This article is here to deal with all your broken tank problems.
Cause of leaks : You must be wondering what caused that leak in the first place ,of course the fishes are not be blamed for it! Well, actually it is the fault of the sealant which was generated during the construction of tank or the sealant has simply become weak over time and is peeling away from the glass.
This type of peeling can lead to pin-hole sized leakages which can be fixed easily from out side or inside depending on the situation. But if your tank is having a big leakage problem or the glass has broken down then it may lead to reconstruction or replacement of the glass.
Required items for fixing the tank
- Non toxic 100% sealant like NAPA.
- Acetone
- Single Edged razor blades.
- A roll of duct tapes
- Washable felt tip marker
- Paper towels
- Silicone carbide sandpaper
Now we have all the equipment ready so let’s get down to fixing the small leakages.
Your tank will need 12-24 hours before it is ready to be used again.
- Find the source of leakage and mark the 1 inch area around it with a washable felt tip marker.
- Take out all your fishes and shift them at a safer place.
- Take out all the water from the tank
- Clean the area with a towel and make sure that it is completely dry(You can also use blow dryer)
- Position the razor on the leakage and scrape out the silicone from it( the one inch area is also included in this)
- Put some acetone on the paper towel and clean the scraped area with it.
- Now apply small drop like silicone to the cleaned as well as the glass joint area.
- Allow silicone to settle for a t least 24 hours.
- Now refill the tank again.
- Check if the leakage has stopped.
- You can put it in garage for another day or two if you are not sure yet.
- It is ready to be used again.
Big leakage: If your problem is related to broken glass then read on –
- Follow steps 1-5.
- Carefully remove the glass with a razor but DO NOT PRESS.
- Measure the thickness and the length of the glass.
- You can order for a new glass of the same size.
- If it is a very small piece brush its edges with a silicone carbide sandpaper.
- Put it gently back with your fingers but do not press.
- Follow steps 7-8.
- Put some strips of duct tape on both sides (inside-outside)
- Check if the alignment of the glass is proper.
- Follow steps 9-12.
Here are some Do’s and Don’ts for the broken fish tank
DO’S : - Clean the glass surface properly.
- Locate the exact area of leakage.
- Allow the silicon to dry for at least 24hrs.
- Avoid using duct tapes in humid conditions.
DON’TS: - Don’t use wrong kinds of sealants.
- Don’t use soap for cleaning your tank though salt can be used.
- Don’t use any ordinary cleaning agent for acrylic tanks as they scratch easily.
- Old tank should not be totally emptied and filled with fresh water. Keep the old
and fresh water proportion 50-50.
Hopefully this article has helped you to fix your broken fish tank by now but if you are still having leakage then it is better to reconstruct a new tank or purchase a new one.
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