Cracked center brace for aquarium

While painting it, i noticed that one of the corners of the. The center brace on my 45 gallon has been broken for a while and im trying to figure out the best way to make a brace for it that doesnt look. Center brace cracked aquarium advice aquarium forum community. Im concerned because the center brace is broken, and ive read a number of horror stories about what can happen if the glass is under too much pressure. A quick fix to a broken center brace the reef tank. Mar 29, 2009 i bought my cousin a 46g bowfront the other day and when he started to fill it up at about 23 full the space where the center brace on the trim connects to the back cracked and started to split. I bought a used 125 gallon aquarium with a broken top frame for a great. Home forums freshwater aquariums diy bracing the bottom of an aquarium. This is a simple and easy way on how to make your fish tank stronger. Take away the center brace and you compromise safety. Mcdaphnia brings up a very valid point regarding lighting issues.

At first i didnt notice but now i do, on 2 of the sides the bottom brace has a crack in the corner, its hard to explain so ill post pics. I do not know if this came from the cat flipper incident or if was started before without notice. In order to be able to post messages on the aquarium. I want to take out this brace so i can put a light above the brace. Before purchasing, please see our video on how to determine the canopy you need, located in upper lefthand side of this listing. Repairingreplacing a tanks broken center brace youtube. Run a generous layer of silicone around the edge of that brace that contacts the tank on both ends. I am in the middle of moving my 90 gallon aquarium to my new house. A 40 gal can be built with this glass, but a center brace would be needed.

But, the center brace on top has been melted and warped. I am trying to find ideas and opinions on how to replace current glass center brace because it is huge currently have a 210 gallon tank. Generally tanks past 300 gallons will use the plastic brace method. A friend of mine gave me his 125 gallon aquarium that had been sitting in his garage for a few years.

I know there are some other fixes out there, but i just went with replacing the top rim. We drilled stainless steel screws into the fish tanks bracing to fix it. Its a used all glass aquarium 46g measuring 36x18 to the center x 21 high. Cutting the brace even if you diy brace the side voids your warranty, voids 100% of the value of the tank for resale purposes, and opens the door to catastrophic failure of your tank when filled with water. I just got a 55 gallon aquarium, im planning to make it a aquarium. To replace the top its gonna be a ton of time and you have the possibility of cracking the tank. As far as i can tell from my net search, there are no center braces. And since we mentioned living creatures around us another option with a clear better aesthetic value is turning the tv set into an aquarium fishtank tetras old tv aquarium ever wondered what to do fishtank tetras he used the old tv cabinet to enclose an aquarium but that s not all if you are going have a it might as well look like has something. Should the cracks on the top trim along the side glass panels be any concern. If it is a glass tank, you can actually make your own center brace out of glass and silicon. If having a hood or lid to your aquarium is a must then braced aquariums. I tried to repair it with 5 minute epoxy, but it only held for a couple of days. Found a 220 gallon cheap, center braces are cracked reddit.

The pros and cons of rimless aquariums vs traditional braced. After that i applied aquarium safe 2ton epoxy to where the brace had broken. I also want to make a frag and possible qt tank if i have enough acrylic left. Its not broken from the middle but from the lip of the front side. The tank was holding water without leaking and without visible bowing. Is the center brace on the perfecto aquariums are necessary. Its a really nice tank, 12 inch glass, nice glass canopy, custom stand. The cracks on the top and bottom both lead into the center brace. Also if building a shelf in the tank, is it safe to use plastic instead of acrylic. The center brace in a 55 gallon is very important, the old style 4 tanks often didnt have a brace because the glass was thick and real glass not tempered but with these newer tanks, it is a must to have the bracing. I wouldnt trust the probably hundreds of pounds that brace is going to see to a soft flexible compound. On the bottom of the tank the entire bottom serves as that brace. The plastic center brace of many a small to medium sized aquarium has been the bane of my and many a reefers existence since plastic frames were introduced to build modern massproduced aquarium.

It just sits on the trim being supported at the perimeter. Fortunately, fixing cracked aquarium glass is fairly simple and doesnt take much effort. Fixing center brace aquarium advice aquarium forum community. A top corner might be okay with using some plastic epoxy as long as the center brace is still perfectly intact. Its not the crack so much that bothers me as it is questioning the structural integrity of the tank. A week ago, i just noticed that the center brace on my 125 is cracked. Better than rimless for a tank as large as a 55 gallons. The hardest part is getting the old one off, and since its broken and being resealed, not much to worry about. Also i am hoping to get some new lights soon and start my reef. I noticed that when the aquarium is on it, it wont make any contact with the stand at all. Im going to contact marineland but doubt theyll do anything as i dont believe these tanks are even in production any longer from them.

Multiply that by 55 and thats what youll have without that center brace. The top center brace on my fish tank has been broken for a year or longer. Then i saw the crack in the center brace with a gap between. Faqs on glass aquarium repair, bracescross supports. I solved this problem in a used 90 gallon tank with cracked plastic trim and compromised plastic center brace by getting a piece of fairly thick glass of the proper length and about 4 wide and gluing it across underneath the cracked plastic center brace. I have attached a photo so you can get a visual of what i am talking about. The reefuge is a marine aquarium social network that provides tools for businesses and individuals in the reef aquarium hobby. Come view some of my favorite items from past and present. Every where else i have tried tells me that i need to buy a new tank duh. I just want to learn from itnot trying to dwell or diagnose. I went to the hardware store and bought a stainless steel strip. A standard 6x2x2 has about 650 liters of water pressure working around 247 on a 15mm glass, the whole tank is held together by silicon at the edges at width of 15mm.

Over nearly two decades the plastic center brace has cramped our reefing style by being in the way, shading corals, gathering salt creep, preventing complicated twohanded rock placing maneuvers and just overall sucking. So now i have a used 75 gallon tank with a cracked center brace that i would like to sell to recoup some of my costs. A crack in a glass aquarium can make a mess, and it doesnt take much to create a crack, especially in older aquariums. The center brace is in great shape and intact, its the actual rim in the back corner. This 55 gallon originally built in 1983 has sure been through some rough times, but restoring it to usable condition has been fun. If your aquarium has a plastic center brace, please note as stated elsewhere in this article that silicone does not adhere to oil based products well and eventually fails, so repair of this is doomed to eventual failure again. I just got a free 55 gallon with a broken center brace hoping i could fix it. I ended my aquariums stupid plastic center brace with a.

The center brace on the top of the tank is there to keep the front and rear panels from bowing out. Are their guidelines somewhere on how thick i need to buy for x wall height. Im 90% sure that i shouldnt remove the center brace on my 36gal bow front, but theres this tiny little 10% of me thats like doooo iiiitttttt. Right now, i have it drained down to about 40% and it appears to have stopped bowing the two cracked halves of the brace are touching now.

This is a fish room tank, so it doesnt have to be pretty. So like allglass aquarium or versa tops are 2 pieces and they sit on the center brace. Center brace repair tropical fish keeping aquarium fish. Aug 03, 2016 aquarium repair broken trim cracked trim tank repair.

Hello i just bought a 36 gal glass bowfront tank made by aqueon. Where can i get a replacement frame equipment aquatic. I would put a strip of equiv plastic on top, attached with epoxy. The reason i want a top is too keep dust out and i have 3 large dogs so i wouldnt be happy if dog hair from them rough housing got into tank. The center brace is missing and could be replaced with some epoxy and new fabricated center brace. I took the opportunity of the move to paint the bottom frame black to match. Jun 08, 2011 any handy person can replace a brace with minimal effort. The crack in question actually occurred on the front where the brace meets the frame, the two sides are cracked where the glass hoods rest but the center brace is just barely holding see image. How to repair the top brace of a fish tank my aquarium club. Then i drilled 4 small holes in the metal, thru the center brace and screwed it together with stainless steel screws. The center brace and the trim along the front and back glass panel show no signed of cracking. Is the center brace on a 55 gallon tank essential to the tanks strength and stability. A funny website filled with funny videos, pics, articles, and a whole bunch of other funny stuff. Made sure everything on the brace was clean and dry.

So my question is can i repair this or should i just replace the tank. Aquarium forum other aquarium topics tank setup 50 gallon with a broken. Be sure to hit that like button, share this video on your social media and m. Fixing broken center brace freshwater aquarium builds 421648. General tank bracing styles list them all here the. It would help to measure the glass thickness to determine whether this is indeed an older tank that does not require the center brace. My next question is, what would cause such a young tank to crack and how can i prevent it in the future. Question does anyione know if the center brace top molding piece can be bought as a replacement part anywhere. Jan 02, 2019 i have a used aquarium i just picked up that has crack along the top trim on the side glass panels. Also, it did not have a trim at the top but it came with an aluminum brace for the center. Over the years i and many other reefers have taken it upon ourselves to remove and replace the dreaded plastic center brace with a myriad of other options, but im particulalry happy with my newest solution, the aquarium brace protector from fluid designers.

One thought i had was to build a double tank stand, and put the broken tank on the bottom. So if it were you, would you try and repair the brace and then sell it, or sell it with the broken brace and let the buyer fix it they way they want. My next tank was a 72 bowfront that also ended up with a cracked brace after many years. The pros and cons of rimless aquariums vs traditional. I would take a new brace over a diy fix any day, and u usually need both sides of the center brace, looks like one side of yours cracked clean off. The previous owner had melted the center brace on the top plastic with the heat lamp. Is the fixable, can i just get a piece of glass the same. Most of the pressure will be on the front and rear glass. Hello all i got a 72 bow front awhile back and the top center brace in it is broken. Our anodized, marine grade aluminum frames will never turn brittle and crack like a. Anyone have a broken tank i can take the brace off of or does anyone know how to fix the center brace.

New tank cracked frame freshwater aquarium builds 233252. Couldnt i easily add a new brace with some glass and silicone. Recently purchased a 29 gal tank with the dimensions of 30 14 long x 12 14 wide x 22 34 high. Discussion in general reef related discussion started by agent m, mar 15. Carefully select size and match exact canopy measurements. Or just try repairing the current brace by siliconing the broken edge. The back class is 38 and the front is 14 and the gap where the crack is on the center brace is about 34.

Center brace cracked aquarium advice aquarium forum. The tank has that standard black plastic frame around the top and bottom edges. Repairingreplacing a tanks broken center brace duration. Center brace repair tropical fish keeping aquarium. The center brace in an aquarium is there for a reason, it supports the front and the back panels of glass from bowing and the top brace from cracking and breaking away from the sealant. The center brace was clearly under a little bit of. Right now i have a big clamp across the tank to hold it, as it wants to spread apart if i leave it alone.

If having a hood or lid to your aquarium is a must then braced aquariums should be your choice. Evidently it was a reptile tank and the heat center brace repair tropical fish keeping aquarium fish care and resources. I was going to try and use marine epoxy but after reading instruction more thoroughly it say not to use on aq. Then went to home depot and had an aluminum brace made for. Discussion in diy started by chriseisenbraun9, nov, 2012. I wonder what the purpose of that crossband is supposed to be. Ive had this 125 gallon salt water set up since 1991. Only problem is the center brace is cracked through. Cleaning and repairing a used broken aquarium, how to fix a broken center brace. In the end choosing a rimless aquarium or a braced aquarium is really just personal preference and the type of reef tank experience you want to create. How to fix a 55 gallon fish tank middle top brace thats cracked. Free tanks are always nice, but sometimes they do come at a price. Gls tk cross bracing f2 wetwebmedia, aquarium, pond, marine.

Instead, the tank is braced along all 4 sides, with bracing as wide as 4 inches wide for large tanks. May 03, 2016 cleaning and repairing a used broken aquarium, how to fix a broken center brace. Over nearly two decades the plastic center brace has. Standard glass bracing is characterized by a narrow glass strip that runs around the top entire top perimeter of the tank, as well as a center glass brace the runs front to back. Susan, thanks for the info on how to replace the frame. You should be ok without the brace if the glass is thick enough. If they dont give much support i plan to cut mine out but still leave the black trim on the edge of the tank. So i just recently bought a used 180 gallon aquarium. On top of that you will be able to have a larger tank as the braced aquariums can support larger weight loads of water. Staggered bracing this bracing style is beneficial when trying to optimize light penetration from your lighting.

It also has a plastic crossbands going across the top and connecting the midpoint of the front to the midpoint of the back wall the same crossband exists under the bottom glass. Here is a youtube video we made for aquarium crack. Gls tk cross bracing f2 wetwebmedia, aquarium, pond. If you feel that you need an aquarium without a center brace then a euro brace. I am planning to build and acrylic sump for my 300 gallon dt i was planning on a 125 gallon sump. The vertical braces could be used to brace the center of the 55 gallon and hopefully prevent bowing and leakage. Since the existing center brace was still in place and keeping the tank from bowing out. Aquarium glass canopy set for 75 gallon, 90 gallon and 110 gallon aquariums 48 long x 18 wide with a center brace 4. The problem is, the trim is in horrible shape, cracked in the corners, missing chunks in some spots on both the bottom and the top pieces. May 31, 2011 i posted a little bit about this topic here. So i have an opportunity to buy a 125 gallon tank with stand for super cheap, in great condition, except the brace has snapped. No longer is the center bracket a long term failure risk.

Be sure to hit that like button, share this video on your social. If you feel that you need an aquarium without a center brace then a euro brace is the way to go. Like recommended dimensions, safety factors, how to install the typical filter plumbing, etc. How does a person go about getting a new brace and changing one out. The seams at the corners are the strongest part of the aquarium because of the one piece contruction of the top and bottom with a center brace on each. Cichlidforum crackedbroken plastic aquarium molding. I know its tempered glass which is stronger then regular glass, but the center bracing on the top of the tank is gone got it used, should i find a way to rebrace it or should i just. Mar 15, 2015 large tanks require glass bracing for strength. Does anyone have any experience they would like to share. A 3 wide 14 thick glass cut to the length of the inside of the frontback dimension of your tank will work well. There are a lot of howtos on the interwebs as well, but i never found one with pics, so i thought id share.

I knew some of the silicone was in rough shape from algae scrapers but also noticed the top rim is cracked. Diy broken center brace minnesota fish keepers forum. This is the 1st time i have asked a question because i definitely want to ensure the stability of my 180 gallon room dividing custom tank. Aquarium silicone, tank repair, applications, diy, how to use. The plastic frame that is at the top and bottom, i guess it would be the trim is cracked in the center bar that supports the center weight of the tank. If its not in place, those long panels of glass will have to hold themselves from bowing. Diy acrylic tank building guidelines on thicknessbracing. The center brace on my 46 gallon glass bowfront tank broke. Blue spotted offers glass canopies for aquariums 1 gallon to 360 gallons with or without a center brace by aquarium masters, deep blue, perfecto, and more. I have yet to see it at 3ft perhaps ada may have it. Ive seen eurobracing aka perimeter bracing mentioned a few times recently. I would strongly recommend you leave the center brace alone and find an alternate way to fit the lid and light without melting anything.

I used aquarium sealer and glued the metal strip in place. Aquarium frame cracked habitats and equipment turtle forum. If you have children in your home, your chances of needing to fix a crack are even greater. Is the fixable, can i just get a piece of glass the same size and silicone it back in. Aquarium top trim cracks reef2reef saltwater and reef.