Tank Broke!

[noreason]

Not the glass but the brace across the top of the tank broke loose and now the glass is bowing like mad. The tank is a 55 Gal. and I'm afraid that if i let it sit for much longer its going to break. I drained about 45% of the water and its bowing much less now.

What should I do? How strong is this glass without the brace? How should I fix it? What kind of silicone should I use? Do I have to drain the fish completely to silicone it or can i just leave it at 50% since its at the top?

Sorry for all the questions, I just wasn't expecting this to happen today!

 

[Mr James]

A new tank is needed. Some may say to repair the middle brace. I am one for sleeping all the way through the night and not worrying about the great flood. Also, is the tank still under warrenty?? IF so, contact the manufacturer and have them give you a new tank.

 

[guitar_lord]

If I were you Id be deekin to the LFS to get a new tank and do a transfer of all the livestock... unless you can re-inforce it somehow.
But that's a tough one to fix I think...

Good Luck

 

[noreason]

Ahh, not what i was hoping to hear. But I agree I wouldn't want to wake up to a flood! No warranty on the tank either. Damn.

 

[nebraskareef]

You can get replacment trim w/ the brace from your lfs. drain it down, cut off old trim, and silicone on the new one. I've done it 2 times before, never a problem.

good luck.

 

[poppin_fresh]

Sounds like its time to upgrade too. Might as well throw down and get that 125 you know you want!

 

[trippyl]

if you do decide to repair it yourself (tsk tsk tsk), bear in mind that trying to bring the bowed out glass back into position for the new brace could cause the tank to shatter.

 

[noreason]

A Few pictures of what i am dealing with. The tank is FO and pretty new (not the tank itself but as far as being up and running)

 

[JotaDe]

Man I feel for you on the stress factor.

Stories like this make me never want to go glass!

 

[MacnReef]

For now, get some clamps and clamp the tank until you get a replacement.

Mike

 

[MacnReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6962429#post6962429 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JotaDe
Man I feel for you on the stress factor.

Stories like this make me never want to go glass!

Guess you shouldn't look into "seam splitting" then or you wouldn't want an acrylic tank.

Mike

 

[MacnReef]

Hey just saw the pictures...for some reason they weren't working when I first came to the page. Get some clamps, clamp the tank at the top then silicone the brace back in...in a few days. voila

Mike

 

[JotaDe]

Do you have any QT hospital systems to transfer your livestock to so you can start emptying your display tank?

IRT: MacNReef
I have and haven't really found people with those problems. Have you ever heard of an acrylic tank leaking, breaking, etc.?

 

[noreason]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6962485#post6962485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JotaDe
Do you have any QT hospital systems to transfer your livestock to so you can start emptying your display tank?

IRT: MacNReef
I have and haven't really found people with those problems. Have you ever heard of an acrylic tank leaking, breaking, etc.?

I left my old 29 gallon running just in case anything happend! Just checked the water and i'm going to try and transfer the fish now and then drain the 55 gal and try and decide what to do next.

 

[MacnReef]

Of course...do some searches...they are out there.

-Mike

 

[JotaDe]

That sounds like the best plan at the moment, sure glad you caught it when you did and are somewhat prepared for this.

IRT MnR:
I have, as well as many discussions on the strength of welded seams which many claim are stronger than the acrylic paneling itself, and it's far more rare for it to break than it's aquarium cousin. While it sounds like we disagree on the integrity of acrylic aquariums it seems we are in accordance on "thinking differently."
I'm done with this hijacking of noreason's thread.

 

[noreason]

fish are transferred. if i decide to re silicone the 'partition' back into place what kind of silicone should i use/not use?

 

[JmLee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6962530#post6962530 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MacnReef
Of course...do some searches...they are out there.

-Mike

Yeah but I bet you, you will find more cases of glass tank failing then acrylic tanks.

 

[smorrow5773]

This happened to me a while back, I used 5 minute epoxy to glue the brace back in with it clamped, stronger than it was new, I wouldn't use silicone.

 

[noreason]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6963178#post6963178 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smorrow5773
This happened to me a while back, I used 5 minute epoxy to glue the brace back in with it clamped, stronger than it was new, I wouldn't use silicone.

really? and the expoy stuck to the glass nicely?