Seam failure?

[FishLvR]

I just can't catch a break. This is not even the seam I fixed back when the tank was brand new. This is the corner, the bottom pane of glass and the side. I noticed it because light hit it weird. If it is failing, I think I know why. Instead of starboard on top of this aluminum stand I used plywood and the edges sort of bowed up. The weight of the tank pushed the board flat, but I bet maybe, maybe not. I don't know. For now I am just keeping and eye on it. I am going to move everything over to a little 22 gallon I have then drain this thing and check it over. Replace the plywood with starboard or the like. Or maybe I am just freaking out over nothing.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

@UncommonSense

 

[rtparty]

Do you have other angles? Maybe with bright, white light on it? Helps to shoot a flashlight through the silicone from multiple spots.

 

[FishLvR]

Do you have other angles? Maybe with bright, white light on it? Helps to shoot a flashlight through the silicone from multiple spots.

Really hard to get because it's the bottom. I can sure try later today.

 

[FishLvR]

This doesn't look as concerning with light but there is a bubble.

 

[UncommonSense]

This doesn't look as concerning with light but there is a bubble.

This appears to be a rimless tank… it’s hard to tell what’s what in some photos (photos in general are tough to diagnose silicone defects from)

— I’m looking at the stand top, it looks like particle board with a black foam pad? If no pad is on the stand top, this could be part of the problem!

— there’s definitely a defect in the silicone there, how far into that structural seam would you say it progresses? — it’s challenging to work out glass thickness without knowing tank specs!

It merits attention, regardless… I think draining the tank and addressing any issues like potential stand high spots would be a prudent move here; this looks suspiciously like my old rimmed 60g tall tank from back in my early days of the hobby, with a shallow, wide bubble emanating from the outside-center of a vertical structural seam in, primarily due to stand design/support issues! (A rimless tank would exhibit this phenomenon much more readily than a rimmed example!)

 

[FishLvR]

This doesn't look as concerning with light but there is a bubble.

This appears to be a rimless tank… it’s hard to tell what’s what in some photos (photos in general are tough to diagnose silicone defects from)

— I’m looking at the stand top, it looks like particle board with a black foam pad? If no pad is on the stand top, this could be part of the problem!

— there’s definitely a defect in the silicone there, how far into that structural seam would you say it progresses? — it’s challenging to work out glass thickness without knowing tank specs!

It merits attention, regardless… I think draining the tank and addressing any issues like potential stand high spots would be a prudent move here; this looks suspiciously like my old rimmed 60g tall tank from back in my early days of the hobby, with a shallow, wide bubble emanating from the outside-center of a vertical structural seam in, primarily due to stand design/support issues! (A rimless tank would exhibit this phenomenon much more readily than a rimmed example!)

Is is a 90 gallon SC Aquarium eurobraced with 1/4 inch glass on an aluminum stand with plywood drilled down to the aluminum to hold it in place with a foam on the top. Then the tank is on top of this foam. Unsure the exact foam brand but it came from bulk reef supply and goes beyond the tank. I am having surgery next week. The second of two so I will be unable to do anything with this tank for a while.

I can't afford custom made 90 gallon tanks. Last quote I got was well over 5k. For a 90 gallon not including shipping. So I would have to get like a waterbox or innovated marine. The aluminum stand is very very good and I wish I could afford another tank. With shopping these prices are just out of my realm. I have threatened this before but this might be the end. I have a 22 gallon long tank that I could fit most everything in of I smash it in there. But it's not plumbed. I gave away my old jbj 45. That's where I am at right now.

 

[UncommonSense]

I am having surgery next week

I’m actually going to be having one of these momentarily…

Before I go under, I’d encourage you to consider a holding stock tank for your livestock, which buys you essentially unlimited time!

 

[FishLvR]

I am having surgery next week

I’m actually going to be having one of these momentarily…

Before I go under, I’d encourage you to consider a holding stock tank for your livestock, which buys you essentially unlimited time!

You think this is bad enough that it can't wait until next month?

 

[FishLvR]

So I have this 22 gallon long. It actually a very nice tank and it has a decent stand. I'll have to get a yoga mat because to ship a mat will take too long. I have several hob filter and a canister. I also have a comline skimmer that can fit in the tank. Last time I used that hob on a tank it got clogged and over flowed all the dang time. So I will maybe just use the canister for now. I can order one of those hob full filtration things. Then that will buy me time. I have a three day weekend.

 

[UncommonSense]

You think this is bad enough that it can't wait until next month?

I think it’s going to just get worse the longer you leave it, ultimately leading to the tank becoming unusable! — my thinking is just getting a good bit of the water out of this tank until you can get a good look at the stand!

I can order one of those hob full filtration things. Then that will buy me time. I have a three day weekend.

The rock in the tank does a lot of the heavy lifting for you, HOB stuff is primarily for mechanical filtration or skimming purposes!

I think the 22g will work great, you could even drain the big tank to a lower water level and address it once you’re recovered from surgery!

 

[FishLvR]

You think this is bad enough that it can't wait until next month?

I think it’s going to just get worse the longer you leave it, ultimately leading to the tank becoming unusable! — my thinking is just getting a good bit of the water out of this tank until you can get a good look at the stand!

I can order one of those hob full filtration things. Then that will buy me time. I have a three day weekend.

The rock in the tank does a lot of the heavy lifting for you, HOB stuff is primarily for mechanical filtration or skimming purposes!

I think the 22g will work great, you could even drain the big tank to a lower water level and address it once you’re recovered from surgery!

Unsure if that would work as the over flow is so high? I mean maybe. I might have found a plumbed 75 gallon so this might just be a swap.

 

[UncommonSense]

Unsure if that would work as the over flow is so high? I mean maybe. I might have found a plumbed 75 gallon so this might just be a swap.

Just check those seams on a used tank!

 

[FishLvR]

Unsure if that would work as the over flow is so high? I mean maybe. I might have found a plumbed 75 gallon so this might just be a swap.

Just check those seams on a used tank!

Right?

 

[FishLvR]

So I found my tank. It is still being made. I might buy another, and put starboard under it this time.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Is is a 90 gallon SC Aquarium eurobraced with 1/4 inch glass on an aluminum stand with plywood drilled down to the aluminum to hold it in place with a foam on the top. Then the tank is on top of this foam. Unsure the exact foam brand but it came from bulk reef supply and goes beyond the tank. I am having surgery next week. The second of two so I will be unable to do anything with this tank for a while.

I can't afford custom made 90 gallon tanks. Last quote I got was well over 5k. For a 90 gallon not including shipping. So I would have to get like a waterbox or innovated marine. The aluminum stand is very very good and I wish I could afford another tank. With shopping these prices are just out of my realm. I have threatened this before but this might be the end. I have a 22 gallon long tank that I could fit most everything in of I smash it in there. But it's not plumbed. I gave away my old jbj 45. That's where I am at right now.

so sorry to read this.

Hope it works out and you stay in the hobby. I hear you with affordability. I am an average earner and this hobby will break you at times.

 

[FishLvR]

So I found my tank. It is still being made. I might buy another, and put starboard under it this time.

Ok purchased the same crappy SC tank, Ordered the starboard. Will move everything this weekend into a temporary 22 gallon. I wanted to redo the plumbing anyway. So what the heck.

 

[FishLvR]

so sorry to read this.

Hope it works out and you stay in the hobby. I hear you with affordability. I am an average earner and this hobby will break you at times.

I am soooo done. Man the dinos almost got me then the hair algae. Then finally I turned a corner and it was like YES, then this. But this is good. I wanted to redo the plumbing anyway. I will pull off the plywood and put a nice 1/2inch starboard in dolphin gray. They are even going to cut the darn thing for me.

 

[UncommonSense]

Ok purchased the same crappy SC tank, Ordered the starboard. Will move everything this weekend into a temporary 22 gallon. I wanted to redo the plumbing anyway. So what the heck.

Cabinet grade plywood usually suffices if well fastened down, then a sheet of foam between (finished) plywood, and tank bottom!

The primary concern with using starboard (HDPE) directly under a tank is the low surface energy of the plastic; it’s very slippery, sometimes seen used as a bearing material!

That said, the tank will be relatively easy to shift on the stand top, even full of water! (Consider a perimeter lip, likely removable!)

 

[FishLvR]

Ok purchased the same crappy SC tank, Ordered the starboard. Will move everything this weekend into a temporary 22 gallon. I wanted to redo the plumbing anyway. So what the heck.

Cabinet grade plywood usually suffices if well fastened down, then a sheet of foam between (finished) plywood, and tank bottom!

The primary concern with using starboard (HDPE) directly under a tank is the low surface energy of the plastic; it’s very slippery, sometimes seen used as a bearing material!

That said, the tank will be relatively easy to shift on the stand top, even full of water! (Consider a perimeter lip, likely removable!)

I was going to screw it down with L brackets. Glue won't work with starboard, too slick! The foam of course is sticky on one side. So what is on there now is builder grade plywood. But the piece was very warped. On top of the plywood is foam. I am picking up the starboard tonight from my manufacturer. Everything has to survive my 22 gallon for now. The biggest pain is trying to lift these tanks. They are so heavy and I'm a wuss.

Do you think even with the tank in top of foam it will shift? Cause that's not good.

@UncommonSense So I found some stainless steel corner brackets online with some 1 inch L brackets. I can put the corner brackets at each corner, then one L bracket on each side. Then the mat is sticky on one side the tank will be on that foam. Is this OK or should I go track down cabinet grade plywood. I am 100% in your debt for this info.