Is this tank doomed (cracked, with pics)?

[GrumpyAlison]

I drilled my 75 and when I screwed the bulkhead on and I heard some weird grinding noises. Took it off and noticed some cracks in it. One is an actual crack, the other is a large chip near the edge of the hole.

I assume it would be dumb to actually use this and I should get a new tank? The crack doesn’t extend to the edge of the tank (barely to the edge of the bulkhead) but it seems like the kind of thing that has potential to get worse even though it’s near the top of the tank.

I’m just supper annoyed because I had to pay full price for a tank after petco broke my first one that was on sale and didn’t tell me until I went to pick it up after the sale (so I missed the sale).
And if I do need to get a new tank idk what to do with this one and I’m paranoid to drill it but I don’t want to drop another 200 on a tank and then also buy an expensive HOB Overflow. I’m just salty because I’ve punched at least 20 holes in tanks and never had a crack before If I need to get a new tank my boyfriend is going to be salty af...

I am also familiar with the rule about having the hole far enough from the edge. I did slightly mis measure this one but it’s still close to the distance it should be from the edge.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[KingTideCorals]

I would not trust that at all sadly...

 

[GrumpyAlison]

I would not trust that at all sadly...

I'm not sure i would either ;n;
If you were me and had to get a new tank, would you risk drilling the 2nd one or get a lifereef HOB? I really don't like HOBs but I'm super skittish about drilling the thing again (1 crack out of like ~20 drilled tanks and it has to be the biggest/most expensive one :/) Thanks!

 

[KingTideCorals]

I'm not sure i would either ;n;
If you were me and had to get a new tank, would you risk drilling the 2nd one or get a lifereef HOB? I really don't like HOBs but I'm super skittish about drilling the thing again (1 crack out of like ~20 drilled tanks and it has to be the biggest/most expensive one :/) Thanks!

Maybe source someone locally who can help out? Sometimes LFS workers are well versed in this exact thing and could help out! Or pay someone to do it... IDK..

The HOB overflow is a lot easier and less stressful... All up to you!

 

[Brian_68]

Cracks usually spread over time, not worth a costly failure when you least expect it.

 

[michaelmessinaglass]

The one crack will continue to grow with pressure and temp changes. I would not trust that panel of glass now

 

[GrumpyAlison]

Thanks guys. As soon as I saw it I was just like 'I should suck it up and get a new tank' but it helps to hear other people say it too -_-'

Wonder what I should do with the old one... There's not a lot of space for it but I do have some terrariums and stuff... Maybe I could store it vertically and grow some more bromeliads or something in it... I feel like nobody is going to actively want a cracked tank except maybe some reptile people...

 

[lpsouth1978]

I had the same thing happen on the last tank I drilled. I would get another and drill again. Just go even slower and make sure you are using a new diamond bit that is sharp, and use a good amount of water. When in doubt, go even slower.

 

[lpsouth1978]

Thanks guys. As soon as I saw it I was just like 'I should suck it up and get a new tank' but it helps to hear other people say it too -_-'

Wonder what I should do with the old one... There's not a lot of space for it but I do have some terrariums and stuff... Maybe I could store it vertically and grow some more bromeliads or something in it... I feel like nobody is going to actively want a cracked tank except maybe some reptile people...

I was able to sell the cracked tank in a hurry. The guy was going to use the glass for baffles in a sump.

 

[GrumpyAlison]

Idk why but it makes me feel so much better to have other people tell me I'm not insane for trying to trash this tank.

I had the same thing happen on the last tank I drilled. I would get another and drill again. Just go even slower and make sure you are using a new diamond bit that is sharp, and use a good amount of water. When in doubt, go even slower.

Thanks. I normally just turn the hose on low and stick it by the hole. Every 20-30 seconds I'll pull up and wash off the glass bits then go back to drilling. Takes me like 10 minutes to do a hole XD Still all the salt XD

I was able to sell the cracked tank in a hurry. The guy was going to use the glass for baffles in a sump.

That's actually... That's a really good point :P What do you feel like a reasonable price might be for the tank? It would def be nice to make some of the money back on the thing -_-

 

[lpsouth1978]

I sold my cracked 40b for $40, I paid $50 at the $1/gallon sale. I think you could sell it for $50-$75 and re-coupe something.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Dang. Sry ms! U wanna hold the drill up and take the weight off the glass when drilling. Really let the bit do all the work and cutting. Even at the last little bit. Patience. Lol. Sorry again! Next 1 do a lifereef hob? Lifereef makes great stuff.
D

 

[GrumpyAlison]

I sold my cracked 40b for $40, I paid $50 at the $1/gallon sale. I think you could sell it for $50-$75 and re-coupe something.

That's kind of what i was thinking too. Thanks for the thoughts!! Hopefully someone actually wants the thing XD

Dang. Sry ms! U wanna hold the drill up and take the weight off the glass when drilling. Really let the bit do all the work and cutting. Even at the last little bit. Patience. Lol. Sorry again! Next 1 do a lifereef hob? Lifereef makes great stuff.

If I do a HOB I'd do life reef I just... really don't want a HOB XD I'm kind of thinking of trying to drill the new tank again but we'll see... I normally don't put that much weight on the drill at all while drilling, I think i might have just hit the bottom of the hole/inside of the tank at a weird angle or something.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Two hands. Put a towel on the underside to catch the heavy piece of glass that falls when u actually do cut through. If you get close this next time. Put the drill in and try and slowly start it back up. Light on the trigger. Lol. U got this i think. Sorry about ur 1st tank :/ 75gal?
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Holding it straight up and down is key too.
D

 

[GrumpyAlison]

I 've drilled like 20+ holes in tanks before :P of course the first crack I ever had was the big 75 gal. Other hole I did first came out pretty much perfect too :/
But yeah, I normally tape on the bottom so the piece doesn't fall at all and still have a backup towel on the bottom.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Kk. Sounds good. It was deffinatly more diffricult for me to drill a 1/2" thick 120g vs. 20Ls. Lol. I didnt know u had drilled that many. lol.
D

 

[GrumpyAlison]

I actually found it weirdly easier to drill the thicker glass (apart from the crack...) because once you got the bit in it just kind of burrowed straight down for eternity and there was less room for lopsided drilling. But then again, it cracked so who the heck knows.

 

[kcinnick]

Thicker glass is easier IMO. 75's are relatively cheap, especially when you factor in other costs. I have only cracked on smaller tanks, stuff happens. All hole saws are not built the same either, get decent ones, BRS ones have been solid for me over the years.

 

[GrumpyAlison]

Thicker glass is easier IMO. 75's are relatively cheap, especially when you factor in other costs. I have only cracked on smaller tanks, stuff happens. All hole saws are not built the same either, get decent ones, BRS ones have been solid for me over the years.

Glad to hear I'm not the only ones :P I've been using little diamond bits from amazon because i needed an assortment of sizes and the one i just used for the cracked hole was the first time i've used that one so it seems like it should have been fine. might invest in some better ones though...

And yeah, relatively speaking $200 for another 75 isn't super crazy compared to the fish and the coral and whatever else, but it still hurts XD Just like.... another unexpected expense I wasn't planning on dealing with but also obviously need. Def not worth not getting a new tank and then having all my fish and stuff die later.