reelsteel August 30, 2004 August 30, 2004 Hi everyone! I just bought a used 65 gallon tank and when I got it home and started filling it up, I noticed that the top plastic support bracket was cracked and started to seperate from the top trim. It looks like the top plastic trim and this middle support bracket is one whole piece. My question is can I fix it(like with epoxy) or am I in trouble. Does it need to be fixed for me to continue filling the tank and running it? My 58 gallon oceanic does have one of those support braces, so I was just wondering if it is needed. I would rather try and fix it if I can. Thanks Doug
HowardofNOVA August 30, 2004 August 30, 2004 Doug, A support bracket is just that, added support to your tank walls. As you can see filling it up, the walls are buckling out. IMO, STOP before you have an indoor pool, add a thin in thickness piece of material epoxied to current support. Should be equal to width and length for durability. Of course, remove water to take weight off the walls. 2nd opinion, go get a new tank. A 65g tank will be supporting over 600# of pressure and that's alot of risk for the price of tanks now adays. Howard
ctreptow August 30, 2004 August 30, 2004 I agree I would not put more water in it until it's braced. The other option you have if your adventurous is to take the plastic trim off and construct a eurobrace from glass. Either way it may just be cheaper to get a new tank. Chris
michaelg August 30, 2004 August 30, 2004 If you know who made the tank, you can probably get the top pieces and put it back together.
AquariaUSA August 30, 2004 August 30, 2004 If the tank is AGA or Perfecto...the Aquarium Center in Randallstown usually has the braces in stock. Just call beforehand. 410-521-4529
gudgreef August 31, 2004 August 31, 2004 Doug, If it is an AGA and the aquarium center doesn't have the brace you can have AGA send you one. They sent me one for a 55g for less than $10 shipped!! Should be pretty easy too if you can still drain your tank, otherwise you drain 1/3 tank and it gets a little hairy:D
reelsteel August 31, 2004 Author August 31, 2004 Thanks for everyone's input. I just started on looking on this message board and already finding very helpful people. After I get the whole trim and brace piece how do you get the old trim and brace off, since it is one whole piece? Is it glued on? Thanks again Doug
flowerseller August 31, 2004 August 31, 2004 Look at the web site of the manufacturer and they generally brag how well they are glued with silicone to prevent leaks. My 220h had 2 braces and they both got brittle (heat - UV) and 2 years ago broke when it was full. The tank looked like a canoe until I put a big grippy clamp on it. I was afraid I would star the glass taking the rim off so I made steel angle braces and painted the heck out of them. Been that way for a year now. Yes it took a year to get around to fixing it! Welcome to come see what I did if you can mix cement and lay block. :p
reelsteel August 31, 2004 Author August 31, 2004 Thanks. I was wondering how do I know who made the tank? Do they put markings on the tank somewhere? Would like AGA trim fit on any 48" x 12" tank?
tygger September 2, 2004 September 2, 2004 There are no markings to my knowledge. Maybe the best way is to observe your brace and check the ones out at the lfs to compare.
reelsteel September 2, 2004 Author September 2, 2004 Is it hard to get the old trim off? How is it held on?
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