FAILED BRACE in my 375 gallon tank HELP!

[sfsuphysics]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14386283#post14386283 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smoke15
what else causes a tank to bow in the middle?

Leemar is not the company they used to be, and as a result is cutting corners and building inferior tanks with glass that isn't properly sized??

Just a thought, not saying this is the case.

But yeah, lights caused the problem? ahem... riiiiiight. maybe if the bulb was right over the seam it'd heat it enough to soften the silicone a bit.

 

[smoke15]

If I resilicon these two failed braces in place, and add two additional braces OVER the top of those two that brace from the top of the glass edge from from to back will I GREATLY strengthen that brace and help prevent future detatchment?
I realize I will have a dark spot and those SPS corals under the brace may be deficent in light and it wont look so pretty. However, if I can prevent a total failure of the tank. I will live with it that way.
This is my plan of attack unless someone has a better idea.
Resilicon those 10 inch wide braces back in place and add a second pane of brace over these braces, but instead silicon these additional braces to the top edge of the glass.

 

[smoke15]

I love my glass tank. So much prettier and easier to clean. However, there are some big draw backs.
I really appreciate your input and have the ability to talk to others who can give me good input and advice. THANKS !!!!

 

[Eldredge]

You didn't mention exactly how you are using the clamp/braces. I wouldn't use them directly on the glass, I would put a good 2x4 or something under them (for the length of the tank) to spread the pressure out. I'm not an expert, but I would be worried about using just the clamps - the localized pressure could crack the glass if the remaining glass braces weaken at all and increase the pressure on the clamps/stress on the glass.

 

[Ninong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14387103#post14387103 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smoke15

This is my plan of attack unless someone has a better idea.

I really think you should be talking to a professional for advice -- meaning someone who builds tanks for a living.

 

[stunreefer]

WOW, this stinks... I'm really sorry this happened... and the reality of the CS at LeeMar today is now known worldwide.

FWIW, a local reefer friend of mine had his 240 gal split last summer (similar to yours - bracing at the top went), and he held it together with clamps for 3 months +... IIRC, Marshal also did this when his tank split a while back. Both of them ended up replacing the tanks rather than attempting a fix (BUT they were much older than 8 months).

I also highly recommend you put a link to this thread in the DIY Forum here on RC... some of the guys over there are incredibly knowledgable tank builders (and probably won't see the thread here).

GL man.

 

[JE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14387476#post14387476 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ninong
I really think you should be talking to a professional for advice -- meaning someone who builds tanks for a living.

agreed. i do alot of stuff myself. however in this case with a tank that size i would see if there is anyone that can help. where are you located?

if that is true about leemar i am suprised. i have heard nothing but praise about them.

do you have any pics?

 

[SMOOTHIE]

Could we contact them as individuals (800 372 4400) and state our disappointment on behalf of this guy? May at least get him some longer braces shipped to his door to properly weld on the top so he can fix their mistake that is now his problem.

 

[Raul-7]

Try contacting Charlie at www.fishtankfactory.com ; he deals with a lot of aquarium manufacturers among them LeeMar, Advanced Aqua and Visio.

 

[smoke15]

Here is a pic with the temp. home depot braces. I know its overkill, but I bought every brace they had on the shelf.
Leemar said they could send someone over at my cost since I am local BUT not till tuesday ( the guy is on holiday).
I stuck those two (loose center braces back into place) and cranked until they stayed put. MY WIFE WANTS TO KILL ME!!!!!!
The outer rim braces seem to be holding , its just those two main center braces that failed.
No lights, no heaters, no skimming ( everything is plumbed to garage).

 

[smoke15]

How do I move a thread to the DIY section?

 

[Ninong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14388368#post14388368 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smoke15
How do I move a thread to the DIY section?

A moderator has to move it for you. I sent in a request for you.

 

[Bax]

Uhg!

Your situation is making me very nervous!

I just picked up a used 375 that is braced almost exactly the same way! There are support pieces that tie in the front braces and cross braces underneath, but otherwise, the same deal where the cross bracing is but jointed to the front and back and the front and back bracing are short pieces that connect the cross braces at the same elevation. Wider center bracing though on my tank for sure.

... Not making me feel any better at the moment.

... I may be ill!

Nothing to offer but my support and keen interest in how it gets fixed.

 

[smoke15]

Bax

How wide are your center braces? Both of these braces are 10 inches wide each and 1/2 inch glass.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14389096#post14389096 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bax
Uhg!

Your situation is making me very nervous!

I just picked up a used 375 that is braced almost exactly the same way! There are support pieces that tie in the front braces and cross braces underneath, but otherwise, the same deal where the cross bracing is but jointed to the front and back and the front and back bracing are short pieces that connect the cross braces at the same elevation. Wider center bracing though on my tank for sure.

... Not making me feel any better at the moment.

... I may be ill!

Nothing to offer but my support and keen interest in how it gets fixed.

 

[Reefolution]

I feel your pain. Why is it that we pay big $ for tanks and can't good get customer service? I am tired of hearing this sort of thing. Maybe Lee Mar needs a wake up call. The poor excuse of the lights weakening the silicone is pitiful. If a tank malfunctions in only 8 months it is a manufacturing defect. They should be going out of their way to help you. If anyone from Lee Mar reads this remember, you won't have a job if your customers aren't happy. Do the right thing for this guy or go out of business!

 

[usefulidiot213]

If anything I wont ever be buying anything from Lee Mar, and I will also let everybody else I know in the hobby to do the same. I will make sure to bring this up in my next monthly reef group meeting. I am sure after hearing this story they will all do the same. It's crazy to think about how much future business or (money) they will loose, due to pulling shady B.S crap like this.. You would think they would know better. If it was the other way around, and they sent somebody out to fix the problem right away this thread would be completely different. We would be talking about how awesome their customer service was and we would tell other hobbies to purchase from them..

 

[KenT]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14389455#post14389455 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefolution
I feel your pain. Why is it that we pay big $ for tanks and can't good get customer service? I am tired of hearing this sort of thing. Maybe Lee Mar needs a wake up call. The poor excuse of the lights weakening the silicone is pitiful. If a tank malfunctions in only 8 months it is a manufacturing defect. They should be going out of their way to help you. If anyone from Lee Mar reads this remember, you won't have a job if your customers aren't happy. Do the right thing for this guy or go out of business!

In this economy and sooooo many people looking for work, this is no way to treat a customer. Image the impact if this thread was about how they came out right away, helped drain, empty, and set up a temparary tank for the corals, fixed the tank on site or back to the shop if needed?????

WOW, I'd buy from them in a second!!!! Now forget it!!

 

[AcroSteve]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14388329#post14388329 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smoke15

No lights, no heaters, no skimming ( everything is plumbed to garage).
[/IMG]

You should definitely keep running your heaters if you need them

And with the way you have it braced, you should be fine to run your tank until you fix it.


I vote for putting the braces back in the way they where, and then put some glass on the top as was mentioned already.

 

[smoke15]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14387756#post14387756 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Raul-7
Try contacting Charlie at www.fishtankfactory.com ; he deals with a lot of aquarium manufacturers among them LeeMar, Advanced Aqua and Visio.

Now this is customer service !! AND i didnt even buy anything from him. I called him, and he went into great detail on what I should do to correct my problem. Thanks Charlie!!

I for sure didnt want this to be a leemar bashing thread, more of a help me thread. Bottom line I am going to brace the **** out of this tank and suffer the "deminished light" look .
Thanks again all for your help.

 

[smoke15]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14390016#post14390016 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AcroSteve
You should definitely keep running your heaters if you need them

And with the way you have it braced, you should be fine to run your tank until you fix it.


I vote for putting the braces back in the way they where, and then put some glass on the top as was mentioned already.

Thats whats I have decided to do with the bracing. I may even rebrace the euro bracing with a 2nd pane of glass on top of the other around the edge.
I am running the 4 tunzes in the tank, but I dont have enough heaters to keep the tanks in the garage heated AND the display tank in the house heated too.