Brace on tank frame has broken...now what?

[Joe DeSantis]

Has anyone ever replaced the top frame on a Perfecto brand aquarium. I have a 150 with 2 plastic braces that run front to back and one has snapped away from th rest of the frame. I have replaced the top frame on a 46 bow front which was empty and that was a pain. I needed to pretty much break it away from the top of the tank. I ran a putty knike up underneath the frame and broke it apart and slowly but surely removed all of it. My problem here is that the tank is full, up and running.. It does not seem to bow since one of the braces is still intact. Will it be ok w/ one of the braces? I can run a metal strap across to support the glass tops and strip lights.

Has anyone found an easier way to get these frames off? The seal is intense and it is very time consuming to remove the frame. Could I soften the silicone with a hairdryer......I am dreading doing this job. Another problem is that the tank backs up to a wall and the only way to get access to the back would be to drain it down enough so I can move it away from the wall..


Any suggestions or info. on past experiences would be greatly appreciated......Thanks

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
Heat does not soften up the silicone, so a heat gun won't be much help. I don't know much about Perfecto tank, so I can't be much help, but I can tell you that you don't want to do it with the water in the tank. You may end up having one of the panels broke "without any reason" while you are removing the top frame.

 

[fungia]

i would also recommend you dont do anything while the tank is full. try buying two strips of 6 inch wide glass and silicone it from front to back on the two sides of the tank.

 

[Anonymous]

If the braces were glass, then I'd recommend the same fix (I've had to do the quick and dirty on several glass tanks w/broken braces, and I did it on full tanks, too--but it is prudent to lower the water level).

You would need to use those long clamps to hold the front and back panels together safely, then tighten them til the brace edges meet exactly. Have ready a piece of glass (I used 1/4") cut (don't forget to have those edges polished/sanded down) and silicone to apply as a sandwich to the broken brace. Leave the clamps in place for 24-36 hours (longer is better in the case of curing in my book).

Being plastic (or maybe they're actually acrylic) you would need to substitute appropriate materials.

 

[LFS42]

ditto to SM's advice

 

[Anonymous]

Hey there, LFS! Where ya been? Having fun drilling, I hope.

Just FYI for y'all, this sandwich method works GREAT for fixing broken panels, too. Ain't the purtiest thang to see, but if you've not tried to seal new silicone to old, done a good job cleaning surfaces, and have sandwiched tightly and without excess bubbles, it really, really works. Including the bottom panel! (pers. exp.)

 

[LFS42]

while working on making my new sump, I almost took off the tip of my finger, 5 stitches (no big deal, I hit the ER about 1-2 times a year)
however this time I needed to get a Tenatus booster....

The nurse hit my tendon instead of the muscle, and I've been laid-up for the past 2-3 months with a bruised bone in my shoulder.
Needless to say, I haven't felt like typing 'till now.

It still hurts after typing this much.


other than that, I've been great

What have I missed?

 

[Anonymous]

Aw, you know, the usual. Griping, complaining, bigots, and some pretty cool folks. The usual.

I'm really sorry to hear about the mis-aimed nurse. That had to leave a mark, yeah? I don't know that I've ever had a bruised bone, my friend. :|

 

[LFS42]

I don't know that I've ever had a bruised bone, my friend

hurts like hell, takes 3-6 months to heal, hurts like hell (did I mention that yet)
Yada, Yada, Yada

I recomend everyone to try it once