Center brace on my 55 broke

[Anonymous]

Hi,
Need some rahter permanent solutions. Here's the problem...

I've had a 55 gal tank, was purchased back in 1992 or so. Was shipped from Hawaii, to North Dakota, and finally here in Boston. Always been kept full of water.
Over the past year or so, I've seen the center brace slowly separating from where it meets the front of the tank. Today, it finally snapped when I tapped it lightly to check its strength.
There was a noticeable bow to the front. Luckliy I had a few large clamps laying around.
Now I've got a large clamp holding the top of the tank back so that the center brace is pretty much flush to its old spot. I'll post pics so you can see. But my problem is the brace hangs out about 16" in fornt of the tank. It's an obstruction to foot traffic.
I'm thinking I can make a brace out of wood that fit nicely. Any suggestions? Is my tank in any danger as is?
I'm planning on getting a new, bigger tank in 6 months or so. Will the makeshift brace hold that long?
Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

A closer look at the cracked brace:

 

[Anonymous]

Opposite angle:

 

[Anonymous]

Clamp in place:

 

[Anonymous]

Clamp hanging over tank:

 

[Anonymous]

I'm no engineer but I wouldn't trust that for long, especially not 6 months. BTW, you wanna borrow my coralline scraper?

 

[hillbilly]

I'm no engineer but I wouldn't trust that for long, especially not 6 months. BTW, you wanna borrow my coralline scraper?

I agree. I can envision a huge crackle, followed by huge crash! Best of
luck to you.

 

[cdeakle]

I barely give it a week maybe two.... Get a cheap tank somewhere quick!

 

[Anonymous]

i had a buddy that tried what you got going on there and he is convinced it worsened the situation and stressed the glass to the point of breaking, causing him to have a very wet living room.


the clamp has a small impact area whereas the brace was holding a 2-1/2" area inside the plastic capping.
it is pretty different in application.
i suggest you try to distribute the stress more evenly by using some type of flat stock on each side and possibly use another clamp with the one you already have in use.
the tanks i have always seen when full had a brace that was still pretty slack. if there was notable resistance when applying the clamp i would be worried.


my last tank had cracks all around the upper rim and i could see light thru it in places... but i always had the center piece. are there cracks around the upper rim as well?

as far as the wlking area.... why not just saw on that clamp?

 

[macc415583]

Moe needs a new tank


Here's one for sale.

http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=37606

Seriously though, clean the glass

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, a new tank is in the works after I move out of the tiny apartment.
But for now...
I'm thinking of crafting a brace out of acrylic and wood. Two planks of acrylic would go across the top of the tank, and be fastened to a peice of wood on the front and the back of the tank. This would fit snugly in place over the top, then the clamp would be removed.
I need this to hold for 6 months or so.
Any advice?

 

[baseman]

Moe - it sounds like space is an issue, but if you have room, and can get to Nashua NH, Inland Reef has a used AGA 72g bowfront for $55. Reapairing the tank sounds risky to me too.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd have to get a stand too.
Wouldn't I also have to go through a cycle?

Space is very definitely an over-riding concern.

 

[Anonymous]

I've never seen a break like that, moe. The first thought I had can't be posted, it's all expletives.

So, you're going to move, and just need to nurse this through that time, yes? Take heed to pod's observations, and, if I understand your plan correctly, you're going to spread the area of support around the top of the tank, yes? If so, I would think that should hold, ugly as it'll be. I'll suggest going with two braces/clamps instead of one. The acrylic would go over the top, and then attach to the wood that would be encircling the tank top, yes? I would expect the weakest points to be where you drill the acrylic to attach to the wood, maybe some kind of sleeve (like a grommet?) would help, or using thicker acrylic, or sandwiching the acrylic.

Of course, after all that trouble, you very well may prefer to just get a new tank. If you do, as long as you transfer everything right away (keep it warm!), disturbing substrate as little as possible, I don't believe you would experience much of a cycle at all.

Leave the coralline where it is.

 

[Anonymous]

Is that an O'Dell tank?

My old 55 canter brace broke exactly like that. It was like that for at least 6 months.

I finally dumped the tank.
_________________
chocolate chunk photos

 

[Anonymous]

Moe-

Wish I saw this yesterday - we can order you a brand new frame from AGA but it would be next Thursday before it would come in. PM me for details.