My $90 180 with on broken center brace.

[Shawn85]

Should I try to replace the whole brace or just try epoxy? I just bought it and have it filled about 75% to check for leaks none so far and it have been about 12 hours. Would it be safe to proceed with setting it up?

 

[Brew12]

I would consider replacing the entire top support system. I'm not sure you could repair it properly by just gluing in a new piece or epoxying that together.

Odds are it would last a year or 2 with that brace broken, depending on the current condition of the tank. The cross braces are to minimize bowing of the glass on longer tanks to reduce stress on the silicon RTV holding the tank glass together.

I've spilled 2 gallons of water on the floor before. It made a mess. I wouldn't take any risks involving 90 times that much water. I would do whatever I could to make it right. I believe Glass Cages sells aquarium frames.

 

[Shawn85]

I definitely want to do it the correct way, thank you i didnt know about glass cages hopefully tbey can he lp me out.

 

[dbl]

Agree with @Brew12...the framing needs to be replaced. Will it work with a repair job, maybe. Do you want 180 gallons on your floor, likely not.

 

[mfinn]

I've repaired a broken cross brace before. I used a piece of acrylic, epoxy glue and nylon screws.
But it was on a 55 gallon that was sump, and it was only going to be filled up to about 75% max.
That was about 3 years ago and it's still holding.
But in your case with it being a display tank filled to the top, IDK if I could sleep at night.
I'd replace the whole top frame.

In the first picture, it looks like a chip in the glass on the corner. I would be a little concerned about that too.

 

[Shawn85]

Yup there is a small chip on the corner not very deep at all, I am filling with water to see it it leaks.

 

[BoomCorals]

Yup there is a small chip on the corner not very deep at all, I am filling with water to see it it leaks.

That's a big looking chip. The issue is that damage like this won't manifest as a leak right away, but instead seem fine until a sudden catastrophic failure down the road.