centerbrace broke on 72 bowfront

[Rim_Reefer]

I have a 72 bowfront reef tank and have just noticed the centerbrace is seperating at the rear. It is pushing fowards about a half inch. What should i do until i can get a new one? I have another 72 bow i am selling that i could transfer to if necessary but would it be ok leaving it for a few days?

 

[nanoreefer22]

Can we get some pics?

If i understand you right I would switch tanks ASAP.

 

[reefman]

it will continue to bow out. no one can predict how long till it burst but i would empty it asap.

 

[aznt1217]

That center brace is crucial to holding that tank together. Is it an acrylic tank? If it is a glass tank, transfer everything right away or take like 1/4 of the water out to decrease the pressure on the glass temporarily to buy you some time.

If it's an acrylic tank it will bend in the front. Get the stuff out fast. That or get like a heat gun and melt the plastic back together (see if that works?)

 

[bushh23]

Had the same thing happen two nights ago to my 75 gallon. I had someone push on the front top rim where the brace snapped off of until i got back from lowe's with a heavy duty clamp that supports up to 1500lbs. It cost me about $40 and is 24" long but i put it over the tank from the back where the brace is still connected to the front where the brace broke and is separating. then i slowly tightended it until the brace was back together. So far it is working but from input ive gotten from others I am going to look into getting a new one. If it snaps by the seam of the rim then there is no fixing it. If it snaps somewhere along the brace you can fix it. Otherwise get a clamp part-time or get someone to make you a 6 inch wide piece of stanless steel aluminum bent over at both ends and slide it over the rim. That should buy you some time.

 

[Rim_Reefer]

yup i ran out to the garage and found my bar clamps so i put two on the center and clamped it back together. I figure this will be sufficient until tomorrow when i can get a new top frame. Now i am unsure as to why this broke. I did purchase this tank used about 4 months ago but the tank is only about 3 years old. The manufacture date is on the tank still and was made in 04. The tank is and all glass aquariuim 72 bowfront on an all glass oak stand and is perfectly level. I inspected the entire tank thoroughly when i bought it and there was definitely no defects. It is odd how it split where it connects to the rear. I will post pics in a little while as the camera batterys are dead:irked:.

 

[Rim_Reefer]

pictures are now in my gallery

 

[aznt1217]

Good Call with the clamps. Looks pretty bad, but I am not sure if that's salt or a crack. Good luck with it man... but also... NICE TANK

 

[Rim_Reefer]

thanks for the compliment but its defitely broken in half in like 3 places. Its just temporarily back together because of the clamps. Does anyone know if this is warrantied by aga ?

 

[Awibrandy]

That is some scary stuff!

I will surely be checking my bow front alot more carefully for now on...


Do you run MH? What wattage, how long, how far from the tank, is a bulb directly over the center brace?

Could this damage be related to lighting?


PS I would send AGA an email along with pic 1,2 & the last one and see what they say. And please do let us know what they have to say.
And don't mention that you purchased it used, nor that you do not have the receipt. I'm not telling you to lie, just do not volunteer any more info then the age of the tank. Best wishes buddy.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Had the same thing happen two nights ago to my 75 gallon. I had someone push on the front top rim where the brace snapped off of until i got back from lowe's with a heavy duty clamp that supports up to 1500lbs. It cost me about $40 and is 24" long but i put it over the tank from the back where the brace is still connected to the front where the brace broke and is separating. then i slowly tightended it until the brace was back together. So far it is working but from input ive gotten from others I am going to look into getting a new one. If it snaps by the seam of the rim then there is no fixing it. If it snaps somewhere along the brace you can fix it. Otherwise get a clamp part-time or get someone to make you a 6 inch wide piece of stanless steel aluminum bent over at both ends and slide it over the rim. That should buy you some time.

 

[MikeyZO]

Makes you think twice about getting a bowfront... I have one and I love it, but I never realized that the little plastic brace was so imperative.... Why dont they make it out of something a little more sturdy then thin plastic?

 

[RaSooch]

Sorry to hear about the bad news, hope everything works out for you Good Luck.

And smart thinking with the clamps

 

[noelskii]

i have a 65 gallon tank and the previous owner took out the center brace. he said he had it off for about a year and I've had it for about 6 months now. hmmm...

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Maybe the guy before you thought that AGA just feels like spending more money on plastic than they have too

i have a 65 gallon tank and the previous owner took out the center brace. he said he had it off for about a year and I've had it for about 6 months now. hmmm...

 

[wrasseman]

i was told that the plastic on tanks can be broken down by ultra violet light . the fix for this on the center brace was a piece of 4"pvc pipe cut in half so it makes a cup over the brace . this covers it perfectly and i have two 250 watt mh lites 7"above it on a 75 gallon tank 6 yrs old no problems as of yet. the edges are covered against direct lite by a 1/2"x3/4" wood trim around the inner lip of my canopy . works great ,this is something that is not provided for you if you buy a canopy you have to install it yourself ! good luck

 

[Rim_Reefer]

ya i called aga and they wouldnt do anything for me except for give me the part number for a replacement. Also i dont run metal halide only a 4x54 watt t5ho fixture about 4 inches off of the brace. The part where it broke does not even see light and the whole brace is always cool to the touch. At this point im going to order a new brace drop the water down half way and replace it.

 

[Rim_Reefer]

for your 65 gallon i would replace the brace because mine bowed about 3/4 inch when it broke and there was still some small pieces holding it together. If it had broken off 100 percent before i got there i think the silicone on the front would have torn.

 

[bushh23]

Mine is still holding together. It's not a bow front but had it not been for my clamp it would be by now! What number did you call and where'd you order the new top? Maybe i can do that instead of buying a new tank. Also i run 2 250 watt MH with 3 t5's. This didnt break because of light but maybe weakened because of salt? Don't know why but i know 75 gallons of reef and fish on my floor would not be fun. How much did the new top cost you and what did they say about installing it?

 

[bushh23]

Oh and Chemchef i may have fixed it like MacGuyver but i do not rock a mullet!