Need help, is tank still stable with cracked supports...

[JZ199]

So just started getting my new 150 gallon tank up and running and came home today to see that the plastic "support" brackets that go across from the tank are no longer connected. Is the tank still safe and stable or am I pretty much dead in the water and have to tear down the tank and junk it...

 

[twilliard]

It looks that there was an attempt to repair it in the past.
Will it fail?
Not sure but may add more stress to the end seams.

 

[ermartin]

I would say NO you could fix those supports with the proper 2 part epoxy but since im guessing there is already a lot of FLEX you would need to drain the tank to get a proper fit

 

[JZ199]

I got a good deal on it, and didn't even notice the previous repairs till it was already home. So is draining it and trying to repair them pretty much my only option? Also if so what kind of epoxy would you recommend? I'd really hate to have to drain it all over again but definitely don't want to end up with 150 gallons of water and fish all over the floor eventually either lol

 

[ermartin]

If i remember correctly this was the best stuff I have found. http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1274196&cp=2568443.2568451

you want one that drys hard as some of them have a bit of a flex to them

 

[twilliard]

I don't think you will have to drain it all the way.
Drain it enough for the seams to come back together.
Now what to use is a tough one.
Take a dremel and get rid of all the previous epoxy and rough up the bracing.
Use a 2 part epoxy and overlay the break of the brace.
Let it cure completely
The forces on it will be great so make sure you get all the way around it, just not the top as I see they tried before.

 

[JZ199]

Thanks everyone, I guess I'll have to start searching for the best epoxy to use now. Yeah, it looks like the previous owner only globbed a bunch of epoxy or some kind of stuff to the top of it and not on the sides or underneath. I was hoping it wasn't too good of a deal to be true! Lol, for the tank, stand, hood with 4 36" t5 bulbs, a huge filter that I won't be using from them, and a giant ship ornament I'm not using, $150

 

[Dtackett]

you can replace the entire brace and frame for pretty cheap through glass cages. you can also make a new brace out of some acrylic.

 

[Justiful]

If I had to repair it and it was my tank this is what I would do. This has nothing to do with REEFING experience as I am a newb, just physics and practical knowledge.

1. Empty to tank immediately into 3 50 gallon trash cans.
2. guide a straight edge along the tank to detect any signs of bowing. If you detect bowing you need to use 2 sets of double sided bar clamps to reduce it as much as possible before proceeding. (make sure to use 1/16th or 1/8th in rubber between clamp point of contact and glass.)
3. Either take the easy way and place 2 new braces, or make yourself a Eurobrace(google it)
4. Assuming Easy way measure across top of tank where braces will be placed you will be laying these new braces across the top of the tank. not to the sides. Go to home depot and get 2 cut for to fit.

5. If metal sand both points of contact of the metal. Then use your metal epoxy, I would talk to the guys at home depot, or lowes about the best product to use for your LOAD bearing application. If plastic select the correct chemical weld product for the type of plastic you are welding.

6. After the weld or epoxy has had time to dry and cure. Reduce pressure equally on both bar clamps but do not remove all pressure, just enough that the pressure is placed on the new braces. Leave it like that for a day and recheck again.

7. Fill tank with bar clamps still in place, check for bowing. If none is detected leave clamps on an additional 24hrs check again, then remove next day.

some bowing is possible, I can't remember how to calculate what is "safe" sorry. But for me I would call anything under 1/3 - 1/4th the thickness of the glass "safe".

8. All done. Wasted 3 days, but you saved your water, and your house.

---- All of this is going to cost you about $50-100 depending on if you already have some of the stuff and tools you need. You can also barrow tools at some ace hardware stores, not sure about other stores. ---

Detacet idea about glasscages.com also seemed like a good idea. Might be easier. Assuming the tank is not bowed yet at all, you may be able to just use a good epoxy to fix like others have said. But getting all that old crap scrapped off and sizing it right might be hard. good luck.

 

[Justiful]

you can replace the entire brace and frame for pretty cheap through glass cages. you can also make a new brace out of some acrylic.

I think his tank is glass. But acylic would be nice. That would be easy to weld, but if it was acrylic they would have done a euro cage to begin with one would think. Good idea though, seems like a very easy thing to use. I checked the website.

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

I'd remove the old bracing completely and silicone in glass braces (local glass place could cut you some for cheap). You'll want to drain the tank at least halfway and clamp it prior to siliconing new glass braces. Let cure for ~48 hours and off you go. This will avoid "shading" from the black plastic braces as well.

 

[Dtackett]

I think his tank is glass. But acylic would be nice. That would be easy to weld, but if it was acrylic they would have done a euro cage to begin with one would think. Good idea though, seems like a very easy thing to use. I checked the website.

didn't say anything about what his tank was made out of... he can brace it with acrylic very easily.

 

[Dustin1300]

Definitely fix. Even the epoxy would make me nervous as it looks like it's been poorly repaired in the past, I'd get the new frame since it's a fairly normal tank size.

 

[Harold Green]

I wouldn't try to repair it. If the repair suddenly failed it could shatter the tank. I'd go with either replacing the entire trim or with removing it and adding glass braces. You'll have to remove the old trim either way but generally they aren't glued in very well and should come off easily.

 

[ATB USA]

I had a 72gal bow do this one time. I drained it down 7 inches and put a clamp that has a hand squeeze to get it back to where the broken pieces were back together. I then used a small piece of acrylic with some Weldon on top of the crack. I also made a acrylic brace to hold it also. Let it cure for 48 hours and removed the clamp and filled it back up.

 

[ATB USA]

So just started getting my new 150 gallon tank up and running and came home today to see that the plastic "support" brackets that go across from the tank are no longer connected. Is the tank still safe and stable or am I pretty much dead in the water and have to tear down the tank and junk it...

Here is how I fixed mine, hope it helps:
http://richmondreefers.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1538

 

[domination2580]

See if you can find the trim somewhere online...

 

[Russ265]

i had this happen on my 220. the front glass bowed out a good quarter inch (scary).

i drained the tank halfway and nylon screwed an aluminum scab over the break. mine was in the middle. not the edge like that.

if i were to attempt to repair that one i would get some pvc floor trim from home depot and scab it.

im not sure what epoxy would work, but i think a good primer and pvc cement could hold it until you get a suitable replacement.

 

[Michael Stephenson]

Check out youtube there's a few videos on how to fix a broken brace not hard at all

 

[BruceW]

I would start off by getting a couple of furniture clamps and small pieces of plywood. I would place the clamps with wood between them and the glass at the points where the cross braces have failed. I would not apply any pressure, just use them to prevent further movement. I believe that would prevent a complete tank failure while you are deciding how to repair.