This can not be Good. I need options and suggestions, please.

[johnssm]

I have a older, (8-10 years old) custom Oceanic 225 gallon tank. Today I realized that the glass support plate, that runs across the top/middle of the aquarium has broker/split in half. It is as if the top front and back of the aquarium has so much tension on it, that it split the glass plate. Please see the attached pictures. I need to know if anyone has heard of this happening, and what remedies, if any, there are. Or, is this a situation, where the tank needs to be torn down and either repaired or replaced. I don't have enough experience or knowledge to make this call. Is it repairable, without tearing down the tank? Is it dangerous, to leave as is? Please see pics and tell me what you think I really should do. Dimensions are approx. 72" X 25" X 29". Also, a possibility in my mind, is that directly above the plate, has sat a 250 W metal Halide light for about two years. I don't really see any] bulge in the long side of the tank, so if there is a bulge, it is small. I would like your thoughts, thank you.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/a...eefcentral.com/forums/images/attach/jpg.gif46

 

[cooterbrown]

Measure the middle distance front to back. And then one of the ends front to back. If its drastically diferent you'll need to take the tank down or atleast drainit down a little bit and reglue a new brace. What probably happened of I had to guess was the glass got etched somehow by sand or what not and it popped. I have run tanks without braces before but if it bows out I wouldn't trust it. Should e able to get a new piece of glass for that fairly cheap

 

[johnssm]

Thanks for the Idea

Thanks for the Idea

I will do this tonight. I will replace the brace, if it isn't bowed too much!
I have draind the tank down fifty percent, as a precaution.
Thanks
Johnssm

 

[sfsuphysics]

hard to tell from the pictures, but it split in the long direction of the aquarium, as in there effectively is zero glass plate in the middle? If so slap some clamps on that bad boy asap while you're figuring out what to do, hell I'd do that even if it split in the short direction (i.e. had two smaller pieces of glass as a brace).

If it were me... I'd probably try to fix it, but I'm known for doing really stupid things that you shouldn't do but strangely get them to work alright at the end. Depending how much is hidden you could use metal reinforcing bars that are coated in epoxy or sandwiched in acrylic... replacing with glass while full would probably be my last resort.

Either way some clamps along the top (don't squeeze them too much, you don't want to push the sides in more than they should. And the 50 percent water probably is a good thing.

 

[Stomatopod1701]

It is a little hard to see but it looks like is has failed. I have had a brace break before and I dropped the water as far as I could, used clamps, and and, siliconed a piece of plate glass across the top, let it cure, and it has been good for ten years.