Centerbrace cracked/broken

[wds21921]

Your probably at your stress limit or very close to it so you won't see much more seperation in the gap. The next seperation would be the collapse of the tank. I'm not saying thats what's getting ready to happen.
Nicks idea sounds good but you will have to get that clamp as he and Ken suggested. The only way to check how much bow is in your glass is with a long straight edge such as a 2 foot carpenters square. Measure out the largest area of gap from the area with the straightest edge and that will give you an approximation of how much the glass is bowed. I wouldn't think it'd be much more than a 1/16" at it's worst point or even less but that's enough to cause problems.
I'm not sure how Nick did his tank but I'd seriously consider using some wood pieces to go between the clamp contact area and the tank or frame surface. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN EITHER!!!

 

[kaptken]

I think nick repaired his tank empty, no load. that way the glass was in the normal flat , un stressed state. then the strap would take the load when you fill the tank. to use a clamp i would spread the load on both sides with a couple pieces of wood. so as not to point stress the glass. and yes, do not tighten too far with the tank full.

 

[MadTownMax]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8005121#post8005121 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kaptken
I think nick repaired his tank empty, no load.

this is correct

 

[RBTA]

Well I think I found glues that might work.. My dad has 2 Ton Epoxy glue. But no place I can find has 1/4" acrylic. The hardware store near me only has 1/10". So I'm hoping to get that all worked out tomorrow. And I do plan on draining the tank beforehand.

 

[RBTA]

Well I think I found glues that might work.. My dad has 2 Ton Epoxy glue. But no place I can find has 1/4" acrylic. The hardware store near me only has 1/10". So I'm hoping to get that all worked out tomorrow. And I do plan on draining the tank beforehand.

 

[RBTA]

Well I think I found glues that might work.. My dad has 2 Ton Epoxy glue. But no place I can find has 1/4" acrylic. The hardware store near me only has 1/10". So I'm hoping to get that all worked out tomorrow. And I do plan on draining the tank beforehand.

 

[logans_daddy]

we read you the first time
and the second time
and the third time

btw...i know lowes carries 1/4" acrylic. its about $12 for a large piece...if i remember the piece was about 30" x 30".

shawn:bum:

 

[RBTA]

Ok thanks, I'll probably check out Lowes tomorrow then.

 

[MadTownMax]

I'd be careful for anything other than a plastics-specific adhesive - one piece you know is acrylic (and finding something to actually glue acrylic is hard enough)

as for the tank frame - I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing it's some type of colored polycarbonate (or PVC - Polyvinylcarbonate- same as the stuff we use for plumbing)

If you've ever worked with either, you'll know that you use a specific epoxy for each, as the epoxy actually breaks chemical bonds in the plastic and welds the pieces togather - so you basically need a *solvent* that is specific to the bonds you want to break.

Superglue is cyanoacrylate - acrylic with a volitile component that evaporates away, and leaves a type of acrylic behind to bond the pieces - however this does not *melt* the acrylic on it's own - that's why the plastic *activator* that came with the specific superglue package that I found was so important, as it softened (chemically melted) both the acrylic, and the aquarium's plastic frame so that the superglue could actually melt into each plastic a little bit for a super-strong bond.

The two-part epoxy that you have may work, but I think they make one specifically for plastics that may work even better (the epoxies are usually used to bond rough surfaces where they can physically hold the pieces togather, not chemically bond them) - so I still can't gurantee that it will hold forever; that's why I'm recommending the superglue pack as I can tell that the bond that I made is a permanent bond.


It is also possible that one of the Weld-ons may work also (like weld-on 16 that people use to build acrylic tanks) - this stuff is as thin as alcohol and is basically just a plastics solvent)

Weld-on makes a variety of plastic adhesives, but they can usually only be found at plastics-specific vendors or shops, not your local hardware store or home-depot

If you get a chance, try calling sears hardware in college square (behind the Newark public library) and see if they still carry the superglue pack with the "plastic activator" for plastics - if they do, that would be your best bet - and they have 1/4" acrylic too

 

[kaptken]

Hello Chris and Nick. I followed up on your info Nick and dropped by the University plaza sears tonight after my weekly ATM stop down the road. GOOD NEWS Chris, they have a couple suitable scrap pieces of 1/4 inch acrylic in their scrap bin marked for less than Five Donaro.. then i looked for Nick's super glue with activator. They didn't seem to have a two part, but they have a new one part tube that glues all plastic, including the impossible to glue polypropylene. It's called, get this, GRIP-TON-ITE by DEVCON. Quick drying, but still let it cure over night. they don't give a break strength, but in this application not much is needed. but bonding is essential. looks like its worth a try. the pack looks like this. i think its the clear, they have black auto plastic grip=ton-ite too. I bought a tube for home.

http://www.doityourself.com/invt/6031272

better living thru chemistry!! hey, this DIY site looks promising for other stuff and parts. i have to explore a bit.
hope this takes care of the problem.

 

[RBTA]

Tank is drained, brace is glued with acrylic, clamp is in place. Everything is happy in buckets being aerated and heated. When I get home from work tomorrow everything should be good to go. Only thing that stinks is I had tear down my rock work, but it gives me a chance to aquascape a bit more.

 

[RBTA]

Tank is filled up and the fixed brace is holding great. But the next few days will tell if it will stay or not.

 

[kaptken]

That's good news. let us know if that new glue does the trick. I'm sure lots of other people are looking for a good repair glue for tank braces. I bought a tube, but haven't tested it yet.

 

[RBTA]

We used Plastic Weld I tihnk it was. One container was the glue, the other container attached to it was the activator. And you just mixed it to get it to work. Looks good so far but Im still crossing my fingers.

 

[kaptken]

Ahh!! Another glue i hadnt heard of . where did you get the plastic weld and activator? and whats the brand name.? might as well fill us all in for the day we break our tanks..

learn something new everyday, i say...
keeps the cobwebs away!

 

[RBTA]

It didn't say it was an activator, my dad just called it that, or it works as an activator. I saw some at True Value, my dad also picked up some at the Sears Hardware store. We used it all and threw it away so I can't give the brand name 'cause I forgot.