Top Brace Cracked

WhatTheFrag · May 3, 2016

I was doing some cleaning on the tank tonight and found one of my top braces is cracked. This is a new tank that I have been setting up the past couple of months. It is a 210 g and the dimensions are 72x24x30. I purchased it from craigslist but it was a brand new tank stand and canopy that the person had never used.

First of all what is causing this and second can it be fixed without draining the entire tank and starting over. Thanks for the help.

AlexStinson · May 3, 2016

Given that it hasn't cracked all the way through yet, maybe you can put a clamp across the top of the tank and glue it down. Ideally you would drain the tank and replace the rim.

WhatTheFrag · May 5, 2016

AlexStinson said:
Given that it hasn't cracked all the way through yet, maybe you can put a clamp across the top of the tank and glue it down. Ideally you would drain the tank and replace the rim.

Thank you. I think I will try and glue it first.

jsker · May 5, 2016

clean as mush moister out of the crack and squeeze some of this in the crack http://www.amazon.com/SCIGRIP-10315...TF8&qid=1462477318&sr=8-1&keywords=scigrip+16, the lightly clamp for 24 hours and the joint will be stronger the before

Tank2379 · May 5, 2016

Same thing happened to my 90G

Dreadnaught · May 5, 2016

Get some JB Weld or any two part epoxy.

WhatTheFrag · May 5, 2016

jsker said:
clean as mush moister out of the crack and squeeze some of this in the crack http://www.amazon.com/SCIGRIP-10315...TF8&qid=1462477318&sr=8-1&keywords=scigrip+16, the lightly clamp for 24 hours and the joint will be stronger the before

Excellent. I will give that a try.

jsker · May 6, 2016

WhatTheFrag said:
Excellent. I will give that a try.

FYI the glue is very runny. You might want to do a couple of fills to build it up. The glue say 24 hr to cure, but is will set up in 2 to 3 hours.

Reefing Madness · May 6, 2016

Remove the brace, but a bar clamp in place to keep tank from bowing. Get a piece of glass cut to the inside dimension of the the tank, at the top. Lower the water, no need to remove it, few inches from the top, your going to silicone in the piece of glass right at the top inside of tank. The silicone will bond it to the tank and make it like new. Like euro Bracing. Thick piece of glass, none of this thin stuff, or it won't work.
Lossen the bar clamp, place glass piece in tank, using silicone on the edges, tighten clamp back up. You want this to be a tight fit, so the measurement is crucial.