TokiHacker
New member
So my 180 I am getting up and running center brace (siliconed glass) just popped off on one side, the tank is now nearly full with no center brace... should i be worried?
Help urgent
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Smokey Stover
New member
New or Used tank? How much more do you think that glass can bow before it Pops? New return it! Used, I would be draining it already. Clean the brace and glass (may require removing other side as well) and re silicone it. Gently clamp it, Let it fully cure, And then maybe it'll be ok.
I agree, ...depending on how old it is it might be fine. Acrylic tanks are typically more structurally sound than glass tanks and if it is new return it and if it is only a year or two old probably ok. That is a lot of water however and the risk may not be worth it if your set up for some serious home damage if it blows. Good luck.
tkeracer619
New member
Yes, you should be very worried. Drain.
heathlindner25
New member
THIS! ....your center brace just cracked.....
tkeracer619
New member
I've been there and it wasn't pretty. Destroyed the floor and drywall up to something like 18 inches. You do not want a tank this size popping.
One of the two tow braces on my 220g freshwater went & the other was going, tank bowed out about 1.5". Drained what I could (large Pacu in there) until the bow went back in. Made a new top piece using aluminum angle all the way around the top and flat stock for cross braces, riveted it together, placed over the existing & filled it back up. It's not the most attractive fix but it works.
TokiHacker
New member
Well I dropped the water down to 50% and tried resiliconing the glass bracer. Do you have any pictures of this ?
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Smokey Stover
New member
The thing with silicone is the glass must be perfectly clean. Thats why I mentioned possibly removing the other side. I hope you researched this a bit first. I hope you didn't just squeeze some goop in between the old stuff and think it will hold.You have to use a razor blade and some kind of residue remover (alcohol,acetone),Srcape it with the blade again, remover,scrape again, remover ect... until your absolutely sure its clean. One smooth bead, No air bubbles, Duct tape will secure it until its cured. Not just skined over and dry to the touch. It can take a week for a strong bond.
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TokiHacker
New member
... I've built aquariums for over 10 years now... I know how to properly silicone. Thank you for making sure I do.
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Smokey Stover
New member
Oh, Good you'll be ok then, I could just imagine the worst possible outcome.
TokiHacker
New member
I think I am going to build some metal bracers too
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Shamous113
New member
I built this brace out of Stainless steel then painted it for my current tank, the center brace wasn't looking too happy so I wanted the extra safety.
TokiHacker
New member
What did you use for this?? Things I can get at Home Depot or weld my self
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Shamous113
New member
I used 316 stainless steel and tig welded it at work, if you have a stick welder you can get rod for welding stainless. Metal supermarkets or a local steel fab shop should have the stainless not to sure what home depot carries
Shamous113
New member
I attached a pdf drawing above.
TokiHacker
New member
Help urgent
So this will end up with what I did after I did the silicone job on the glass. I dropped it to 50% and then built this aluminum bracket and siliconed it to the frame raised the water higher than it was and it has no bowing
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So this will end up with what I did after I did the silicone job on the glass. I dropped it to 50% and then built this aluminum bracket and siliconed it to the frame raised the water higher than it was and it has no bowing
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
