Question about tank bowing

[Jrod]

So I removed my canopy to throw on my new T5 fixture. I noticed the plastic rim around the lip of the tank top broke, from the piece that supports the center front to back. When looking at the tank from the side it looks as if the tank is bowing out slightly from the front and back.

 

Is there an aftermarket part to support this part of the tank again?

[FearTheTerps]

It's the center brace that has broken? Or the perimeter brace?

 

How bad is it bowing? It's a structural part of the tank, which means it could fail at any time.

 

You can buy replacement pieces of trim, but from all that I've heard it's a pain in the .... You will aslo have to drain and empty the entire tank. There are some repairs you could do, but it depends where the break is.

Edited August 6, 2011 by FearTheTerps

[Jrod]

It's the center brace, clean break. Perimeter is still completely intact.

[hypertech]

You could drain it to relieve the pressure and reduce the bow and use weld on to put a new acrylic brace across the broken one. Then fill back up.

[Jrod]

Thanks, I may just buy some weld on and use a large clamp I have laying around. I can push the ends back together by hand. I figure a clamp will work just as well while it cures.

[Jrod]

Well................... this did not work. I let it cure for 24 hours. Shortly after I released the clamp I heard a loud pop from the other room, followed by the noise of rushing water throughout the house. Fortunately my homeowners insurance covers stupidity. The water mitigation crew came out within the hour. They cut up flooring between three rooms and set up dehumidifiers and fans. My house will be loud till Thursday........

 

I managed to find a 55 gallon container at Lowes. I transferred all the rock, sand,and what little livestock survived. I am currently in the process of filling up the container with new saltwater from my RO unit. Luckily my power heads, T5 lights, and protein skimmer all fit the container well.

 

 

Thinking my wife would never let me have another setup again, especially after lastnight's episode, she surprised me this morning. She said once the repairs to the house are complete I can transfer everything into a new tank. The next tank will be acrylic vs. tempered glass..........

 

Edited August 9, 2011 by Jrod

[Buucca]

I had the same problem with a 55g. The metal halides dried out the plastic frame and after a while the center brace cracked in half. I bought one from elmers aquarium but I think they closed. Try http://cciaquarium.com/ they sell frames also.

 

If you need info on changing out the old one pm me.

Edited August 9, 2011 by Buucca

[Chad]

I am sorry to hear, that sucks.

 

At least you caught it quickly, which I am sure limited damage.

[FearTheTerps]

Sorry to hear the bad news, luckily you were home at the time and had the chance to save some of the livestock, and get the clean up started right away.

[Jrod]

Thanks ya'll,

 

My contractor says repairs should be completed w/i the next three weeks.

[stankyd]

Very sorry to hear of your plight. I've had a leak in the past but thankfully slow a slow one and owned a huge sump.

Not sure if you are going to use Metal Halides with the acrylic tank but this combination is actually more susceptable to causing seams to fail.

Guess its an occupational hazard :(

[Jrod]

Very sorry to hear of your plight. I've had a leak in the past but thankfully slow a slow one and owned a huge sump.

Not sure if you are going to use Metal Halides with the acrylic tank but this combination is actually more susceptable to causing seams to fail.

Guess its an occupational hazard :(

 

 

Thanks, I will be using a 48" T5 4 bulb setup I purchased new last Saturday.

[Origami]

I'm sorry to hear of the disaster, Jrod. I saw your original post and figured that somebody would jump in to offer a solution. I've seen tanks like this repaired, not only with a glued-in cross brace, but also bolted in to provide additional strength. That doesn't do you much good now, though. Good luck with the next tank. Personally, having had both a large glass and a large acrylic tank, I prefer glass as it's much easier (in my opinion) and quicker to keep the panels clean.

 

There's somebody who's posted in the General Discussion area who is getting out of the hobby. They're offering their system at a really good price. It may be something that you want to consider.

 

If you want to go big, Mr. Rock has some nice stuff at bargain-basement prices listed in the For Sale forum.

 

Good luck with rebuilding.

[Almon]

Wow....

 

My 220g display tank has both top support brackets melted by the Halides. It's been like that for a couple of years now. The front glass has pushed out approximately two (2) inches. Now I have a Bow Front tank.

 

When I eventually break this tank down to move it, I will not be using again to hold water. Hopefully it will last a few more months.

[extreme_tooth_decay]

My 220g display tank has both top support brackets melted by the Halides. It's been like that for a couple of years now. The front glass has pushed out approximately two (2) inches. Now I have a Bow Front tank.

 

 

Yikes, that is scary.

[trockafella]

SOrry to hear that, Ive had the not so pleasureable experince of having a tank completely break as well.. I hope your rebuilding process goes well. Now is your chance to make any corrections to your system that may not have previously liked..

[Jrod]

Seems my WTB thread went off track so I am posting over here instead.

 

 

Again, thanks for all the responses and offers!

 

 

Guess I am learning more as I go. Just this last weekend I dropped lots of money between a new light fixture, salt, fish, and frags just to see it all wash away two days later. Granted I still have most everything minus the fish, tank and 3 of 4 frags. I see I need to rethink how I want to redo my setup.

 

 

Something I have to do is be very cost efficient by using everything I already have.

 

 

My goal with the tank is coral with very few fish. Primarily sps's with one or two LPS's.

 

 

Items I have to base ideas from are:

 

Tank stand 48" wide

 

48" T5 fixture 4 bulbs 4 LED moonlights brand new..

 

About 50lbs or more live rock

 

About 25lbs live sand

 

2 Koriala 3's

 

and a protein skimmer that hangs off the back of the tank with a new Rio 800

 

 

 

I currently have it all set up on a 50gl tub in my basement with some surviving cleanup crew, 1 frag, live rock, and live sand.

 

 

 

Currently my budget was only to buy a used tank to set it all back up again once my floors are done.

 

I do have a couple of non aquarium items I am trying to sell so that I can reinvest into the aquarium.

 

 

All ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

 

 

Thanks

 

 

 

Jeff

Edited August 11, 2011 by Jrod

[zygote2k]

FWIW, any time you attempt structural repairs to either a glass or acrylic tank, you should always drain as much water from it first. Even if it means letting the fish stay in shallow water or moving the corals around to accommodate. It's way easier than that noise you heard that will always be in your head.

[Jrod]

FWIW, any time you attempt structural repairs to either a glass or acrylic tank, you should always drain as much water from it first. Even if it means letting the fish stay in shallow water or moving the corals around to accommodate. It's way easier than that noise you heard that will always be in your head.

 

Absolutely, it's definately one lesson learned the hard way. I'll never forget out it.

[Jrod]

FWIW, any time you attempt structural repairs to either a glass or acrylic tank, you should always drain as much water from it first. Even if it means letting the fish stay in shallow water or moving the corals around to accommodate. It's way easier than that noise you heard that will always be in your head.

 

Absolutely, it's definately one lesson learned the hard way. I'll never forget out it.