Acrylic tank repair question

[Panicked Reefer]

I have a very nice 120g with a major problem. I would really like to salvage this tank if possible. I have no idea what I am doing, how to do it, or even that it can be done. Im fairly experienced in carpentry and wood working so Im inclined to DIY most things. This however is out of my wheel house. The bottom panel has crack along the edges. Can this be repaired, replaced, braced or am I just SOL? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance-Bill

 

[CBonito]

Whoo...I'm thinking that's a bit too far gone man. It looks like those cracks run pretty deep and they are everywhere. I wonder how this happened. It's almost like the tank was improperly supported or something.

I know who can answer this one...

@Troylee

 

[Panicked Reefer]

Whoo...I'm thinking that's a bit too far gone man. It looks like those cracks run pretty deep and they are everywhere. I wonder how this happened. It's almost like the tank was improperly supported or something.

I know who can answer this one...

@Troylee

Allegedly, the previous owner had it on a mat that gassed off and caused this? I shouldn't have bought it but it was $100 and in the dark. To his credit he told me about it but said it wouldn't effect anything. Ive spent more on worse I just want to save it if I can.

 

[CBonito]

Allegedly, the previous owner had it on a mat that gassed off and caused this? I shouldn't have bought it but it was $100 and in the dark. To his credit he told me about it but said it wouldn't effect anything. Ive spent more on worse I just want to save it if I can.

Troylee is far more of an authority on these things than I'll ever be. When He sees this, he'll give a take.
Acrylic is super strong stuff, but it can be vulnerable to things like this.

I don't think that's saveable, but I might be wrong.

 

[UncommonSense]

Wow! This looks like a chemical spill more than anything!

I do know alcohol can definitely affect acrylic structurally, but who knows here… I’ll defer to the experts on this one!

 

[Panicked Reefer]

I don't know if the bottom panel can be removed and replaced or if that would even make sense financially. If I can brace it and seal it maybe? I don't know. Ive never worked with acrylic.

 

[CBonito]

Wow! This looks like a chemical spill more than anything!

I do know alcohol can definitely affect acrylic structurally, but who knows here… I’ll defer to the experts on this one!

Yeah, I'm thinking if something degassed from the leveling mat, it would be crazed throughout. it's just the front.
Almost like someone tries to clean it with something and made a big boo boo.

 

[CBonito]

I don't know if the bottom panel can be removed and replaced or if that would even make sense financially. If I can brace it and seal it maybe? I don't know. Ive never worked with acrylic.

In theory, the bottom could be removed and the bottom edge planed flat if there's a big enough planer to join a new bottom to it, but that might be a lot more trouble than its worth.

What size is this?

 

[CBonito]

I could see someone using windex to clean the front of it and excess windex getting down under the front into the matt. I don't think you're supposed to clean acrylic with ammonia either.

I always wipe mine down lightly with a wet paper towel then dry with microfiber cloth to get any salt off it.

 

[UncommonSense]

I could see someone using windex to clean the front of it and excess windex getting down under the front into the matt. I don't think you're supposed to clean acrylic with ammonia either.

I always wipe mine down lightly with a wet paper towel then dry with microfiber cloth to get any salt off it.

This is definitely the best acrylic cleaner I’ve ever used; it makes saltwater smudges, fingerprints, etc just disappear!

 

[CBonito]

This is definitely the best acrylic cleaner I’ve ever used; it makes saltwater smudges, fingerprints, etc just disappear!

We're so cool, we're so neat...

 

[Panicked Reefer]

I could see someone using windex to clean the front of it and excess windex getting down under the front into the matt. I don't think you're supposed to clean acrylic with ammonia either.

I always wipe mine down lightly with a wet paper towel then dry with microfiber cloth to get any salt off it.

This is the bottom panel. It's on its side in the picture. It's a 48x24x24.

 

[CBonito]

This is the bottom panel. It's on its side in the picture. It's a 48x24x24.

Yeah, i think if someone had a big enough planer, they could cut that bottom off it and with it perfectly flat a new bottom panel could be welded on. That's the only part that has the crazing and cracking...

 

[Panicked Reefer]

Something that size seems a bit un obtainable. At least to me.

 

[CBonito]

I actually hung onto this one wondering if the same couldn't be done for me. Plane the back off it and put a new panel on it. It was damaged in shipping, and I got a replacement. But I would love to put a new back on this one. I'd lose maybe 2 inches of the back of the tank if that was even doable and have another nice tank.

 

[Panicked Reefer]

I was hoping I could weld braces on there. That seems like something I could manage. Removing and planning it is definitely not something I can handle. I have a large table saw but nothing anywhere near this size to be able to plain it.

 

[CBonito]

Something that size seems a bit un obtainable. At least to me.

Well, I mean if there was a place that could do it...
I wouldn't attempt to make that precise a cut myself without expert help present and I do have quite the shop. I just know when to stop to avoid looking like an idiot with a lot of tools.

 

[UncommonSense]

Something that size seems a bit un obtainable. At least to me.

Do you have any local plastics fabrication shops? I know I brought in a scratched up 125g corner pentagon to my local shop years ago… they couldn’t replace the viewing pane purely because it had radius bends in it!

 

[Panicked Reefer]

I don't. Thats why I have this huge hunk of plastic wedged next to my safe lol.

 

[Panicked Reefer]

Do you have any local plastics fabrication shops? I know I brought in a scratched up 125g corner pentagon to my local shop years ago… they couldn’t replace the viewing pane purely because it had radius bends in it!

Ill have to look around the Charlotte or Winston area. I live in the sticks of NC so I doubt I have anything really close.