Your badluck rubbed off on me

[ggdowski]

Ok... my tank was running smoothly (perhaps with a little algae).
But I think our group is cursed with bad luck over the last month.

Last night --- I was putting in some frags into my Tank from Tim's event...
when the cross-brace on my 45G bowfront snapped. --- at 10pm. :eek2:
You dont realize how horrifying this event is until it happens to you.
The tank bulged out a full 0.25". I didnt really know how close I was to an exploding tank. I dont think I have ever sprinted as fast out to the garage for a wood clamp.

Luckily, I managed to brace it with the clamp until this morning.
I ended up rebuilding the brace with nylon screws. I think I'm safe... but holy cow... that a way to raise the blood pressure. :mixed:

 

[PCKRAJ]

Good thinking on your part - I would have freaked out.

 

[jfl14609]

The bigger question is why did it snap so it doesnt again do you have a metal halide over it

 

[zooman72]

+1 on the quick thinking.....but isn't a little bit of the unknown (and the accompanying rise in BP) what makes life interesting?!

 

[ggdowski]

The first thirty seconds... you are thinking no big deal that stupid plastic brace cant possibly do much...

Then after you evaluate it and ask yourself... how could that brace be short?...
you begin to realize the tank is bulging. I think I experienced heart defibrillation without the electrodes.

That brace does far more than you think...

 

[ggdowski]

Stupidity made it snap.
I put my arm on it as I was placing a coral.

I think a diet is in the works.

 

[Gravesj1s]

OMG. ...........shoot I got the same tank. anything you notice that might of been the cause?

 

[dreaminmel]

Oh my god Greg! Excellent news that you even had a wood clamp to grab... Halides over my tank have made the top brace so brittle and dried out that I know it's just a matter of time. First purchase now will be a couple clamps just in case. Next purchase? Either a replacement top trim piece or one heckuvan excuse to upgrade.

 

[ggdowski]

Seriously... I somehow had my hand on it as I reached in deep to place one of the frags.
I dont know if I was somehow blanking when I was doing this. I didnt think I put weight on it but clearly I did... It was one of those "the proof is in the pudding" types of things.

I honestly didnt think those really did that much --- just a safety thing.
I think I was just lucky that I had a bar clamp that would span the tank from front to back. The funny thing is you can get a sense of the pressure on that upper part of the glass just from the pressure you have to exert on the clamp.
It was impressive. It wasnt a ton of pressure... but certainly the seals would have failed if I had not solved the problem.

 

[ggdowski]

I guess I should take a pict of the rebuild...
10 nylon screws... and a piece of 3/8 plexiglass.

 

[backdraft79]

Stupidity made it snap.
I put my arm on it as I was placing a coral.

I think a diet is in the works.

Been there done that!

 

[superkat]

holy cow...just read this...so glad you were able to save it!

 

[Jacwil]

Good call with the clamps buddy...as soon as I read that, I made a mental note to make sure I knew where mine were.

 

[solRNY]

wah great save! i would of been like a deer staring at headlights i am sure you have inspected the corner silcon, did it bubble up?

 

[ggdowski]

Thanks everyone.
It really was one of those strange moments where you realize all hell is about to break loose right on your kitchen floor. I've had tanks for nearly 20yrs and have never come that close to dumping a tank. If you have a brace on your tank... a bar clamp might not be a bad thing to have around the house. It totally saved my tail until I could repair the brace.

ps. Silicone seals are not showing signs of bubbling. phew.

 

[superkat]

we braced and bolted the 90g to the wall tonight. thanks for giving us the incentive to do that!