Snapped Center Brace, need some help

[corivus]

So my center brace snapped, I'd like to just replace the whole trim but I'm having a tough time finding someone that would supply it locally. Does anyone know if Dave Bonnell is still supplying? or maybe another supplier/builder locally?

 

[Nibrown9]

So my center brace snapped, I'd like to just replace the whole trim but I'm having a tough time finding someone that would supply it locally. Does anyone know if Dave Bonnell is still supplying? or maybe another supplier/builder locally?

Just add a piece of acrylic and bolt it down with nylon bolts

 

[sweet2004r1]

When this happened to me I ran bailing wire across the tank. Has worked great now for 2 years.

 

[sweet2004r1]

Ill post pic so you can better visualize what i mean.

 

[spider1218]

is this glass or acrylic

 

[frogg21]

on 46 bowfront, i drilled holes in the plastic trim, ran cable through holes, crimp with the aluminum ferrules at home depot. Worked great, no shadows, and can put halide right over it..

 

[Kobashi]

I have heard of people cutting this center brace (on purpose) to put a piece of clear plexiglass in its place (to maximize light output... and no shadows). I once considered it for my tank. From my understanding... leave about 2" on each side and cut a piece of plexiglass about 3" longer than the span needed... a 3" overlap of these will allow a 1.5" overlap on each side. Use a plastic epoxy to securely bond these 2 plastics. Of course, the recommendation was to do this while the tank was empty, however with a couple of good clamps and being very careful, I think you could get a very good seal.

 

[GatorsUF]

jb weld plastic bonder

 

[corivus]

its glass, and not sure if I could get the curve right since its a 72g bowfront

 

[corivus]

Going to look into the plexiglass option I think ace hardware should have the right materials to do the job.

 

[dream54ing]

This calls for duct tape! haha....

make sure you get a thick enough acrylic so its nice and rigid.

Good luck!

 

[Kobashi]

Here's a picture from a prior RC thread (scroll to pic about 80% down in the thread):
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=21070074

Here's a "nicer" job from a prior RC thread (see pic about 60% down in the thread):
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1847085

Search on Google Images: "Top Brace Aquarium Modification" and you can find others but they're all practically the same.

But wait… the center brace is glass?!? On a bow front? That WOULD be trickier?

 

[corivus]

center brace is plastic as its part of the trim around the tank, my 120g cube has a glass center brace.

Edit: not enough material to do it like those photos, Frogg do you have a picture of your modification? how long has it held up for?

 

[frogg21]

Sho nuff. This cable was green plastic coated (might be the way to go, keep salt off the metal cable).. Center brace is rounded where it broke out, cable goes down through plastic, then back up through 2nd hole, the crimped ferrule. Then JB weld on much of it .. it held with 0 issues for years, till I moved it and broke the tank!
Hope this link works: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/album.php?albumid=8526&pictureid=58188

 

[corivus]

works just fine for me going to prob do that if I can't pull off the acrylic bit siliconed in.