Bottom middle trim broke

[Jvesche20]

I got a 220 gal tank and I’ve been leaving it outside in the grass for the time being. Well we got a bad snow storm so I decided to move it in the garage. It was too heavy to lift with the people I had so we slid it across the grass. Well we ran over a sprinkler and it snapped off the bottom trim that connects the 2 sides. The trim that goes all the at around the tank is fine. There was 2 pieces but 1 broke off. Does this really matter? I don’t wanna trash the tank because of 1 thing.

 

[ihavecrabs]

It certainly does, though you might be able to weld it with some expoxy.

Those are what keep the plastic trim from bending outward to keep it rigid.

 

[Jvesche20]

It certainly does, though you might be able to weld it with some expoxy.

Those are what keep the plastic trim from bending outward to keep it rigid.

I figured the bottom wasnt needed as much as the top but do I get this?

 

[ihavecrabs]

I figured the bottom wasnt needed as much as the top but do I get this?

That is what I was thinking, though I have never done this myself. I'd definitely do a test fill outside or in the garage at minimum so make sure it holds.

 

[Jvesche20]

I have a 125 gal and I broke the top of my trim and just glued it back with gorilla glue and taped it and never had an issue. Ive had the tank running for 1.5 years so thats why im not sure if its a huge deal

 

[cvrle1]

Thats your bottom brace, and it is needed. It is structural piece and it helps keep tank from bowing and seams from coming apart over time. Gluing it together may work for a bit, but it will fail due to pressure put on the glass. That plastic is injection mold, so integrity of the brace is gone. You can buy replacement brace for it, so thats one way of going about it.

If you have top brace, you could try to remove whole plastic frame, replace the bottom one with it, and then build euro bracing for the top. Just another option for you.

 

[lapin]

If you cannot find a replacement bottom brace you might try to silicone a piece of glass across the inside connecting both panels. I would use structural silicone and make the piece of as wide if not wider than the brace and the thicker the better. A 3mm to 4mm gap at each edge should provide enough silicone to secure the glass brace to the front and back glass. You will need to be sure you are bonding to the glass not the silicone bead securing the bottom to the front and back panels. Some sort of spacer will be needed to keep the glass high enough. Once cured pull out the spacer and seal the gap so crud does grow under it.

 

[Jvesche20]

If you cannot find a replacement bottom brace you might try to silicone a piece of glass across the inside connecting both panels. I would use structural silicone and make the piece of as wide if not wider than the brace and the thicker the better. A 3mm to 4mm gap at each edge should provide enough silicone to secure the glass brace to the front and back glass. You will need to be sure you are bonding to the glass not the silicone bead securing the bottom to the front and back panels. Some sort of spacer will be needed to keep the glass high enough. Once cured pull out the spacer and seal the gap so crud does grow under it.

When you say inside to you mean literally inside the tank where the water is? Im a little confused on what you mean. The trim broke under the tank. only 1 piece

 

[lapin]

Yes inside the tank. There would be no way to do it outside the tank.