55g perfecto vs aga Frame/Brace

[Bk718]

Hey guys and gals
Ive got an issue. I bought a good looking 55g tank setup off ebay. Wood stand, perfecto tank with wood trim, you know the basics.. Well once i got it home and started to clean/fill everything was fine until the tank was filled about 1/4 of the way. Thats when i noticed that the top of the brace had a small crack on it. As the tank filled more the gap got bigger and once it was fully filled you can see the crack stretch across a few inches to the side along the trim. Had that up for less than an hour and then just slightly touching the brace it just snapped (tank still held lol)
I was pretty pissed because the first thing I went to check with the tank when getting it is the brace, and it "looked" okay.. well looks can be deceiving..

I sent an email to the guy who sold it to me.. though not sure if he can do much about it.. (or can he???)

I searched on the interweb for a replacement frame w/ brace and found one on petswarehouse, only thing is its AGA brace for $24 shipped.

My question is: Is there a difference between Perfecto and All Glass Aquarium Frames w/ Braces?? Specifically size wise..

I did some research and only thing i can find is that the perfecto has a wider brace which supports different glass tops, but nothing on the sizes..

Thanks in advance
-BK

Heres how the tank looks
http://i10.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/f1/82/33f6_1.JPG

[Bk718]

i guess this will be another thread where i answer my own questions lol...

I posted the same post on another forum and so far a person had suggested that the AGA and Perfecto frames are the same dimensions and all..

Will try and go to petco this week to measure out the regular vs perfecto just to be sure.. Also will see if a lfs wants to order them for a good price. If not, interweb here i come..

[Riiz]

How come you didnt contact perfecto and buy or ask the size of their brace? It should be as easy as replacing a seal, scrape off old junk and re-glue brace in. Also I have seen people that use metal, a piece of aluminum bent into a U-shape, it isnt glued in, but it braces from the outside, it might look ugly but a canopy will hide it.

[Bk718]

hmm well not sure why i didnt contact perfecto lol I guess i just went straight to finding one online for sale.. will try to get some info from them now

I was going to do the diy brace but i rather have it done right and look right than regretting it later.

Edit: Is Marineland the new name to perfecto?? because everywhere i go it directs me to marineland

[BoredAgain]

This one is Perfecto.

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/212149/product.web

EDIT: Yes, Marineland acquired Perfecto back in 1999.

[Rbishop]

Though I haven't had to physically do it, I would think that either one would work...

[Reddog80p]

I replaced one of my 55's top brace it's a perfecto. I got my frame from www.thatfishplace.com I think it was around $27 with shipping. You can search "55 frame" and it will come up. It comes in light oak only. I want to say that www.glasscages.com sells them in black. Here's the Link... http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/212149/product.web

[Bk718]

Guys thanks for the info..

Red ill see whats the final price at GlassCages..

The one i found from Petswarehouse is this :LINK (https://www.pets-warehouse.com/vpasp/shopexd.asp?id=91489&bc=no)
So far cheapest option.. but then again if i order something else from Fishplace i can consider that as savings..

Edit: just checked glasscages and its $13 there but minimum order is $15 with minimum shipping of $15 lol guess thats a no for that place..

[Fishy_Fun]

That would have sucked to have all that water on the floor.i can only imagine what it would do to my house :lipssealedsmilie:

[Bk718]

No water was on the floor lol
I tested it outside, went smart with it lol
And after filling the tank up fully and brace cracking it bowed about 1/4-1/2"

I tried emailing the seller asking if would like to split the cost of a new brace with me.. still no word from him..

[tennesseemom]

I always thought the plastic frame was just to make the trim look better and to hold lights. I didn't realize it had a real purpose.

[excuzzzeme]

I always thought the plastic frame was just to make the trim look better and to hold lights. I didn't realize it had a real purpose.

Not many people are aware that it does indeed serve a purpose. Also, not all braces are of the same dimensions. There is just enough of a difference to keep it manufacturer specific.Manufacturers have been known to modify the braces slightly over the years as well.

[BoredAgain]

So why don't you just purchase the oak frame made by Perfecto that I posted? Seems to me that purchasing a black frame or a frame made by another manufacturer isn't what you want to do.

[Bk718]

Bored i might end up doing just that. Now have to see if i or a buddy of mine need something else so i can save on shipping lol :P

[Bk718]

Not many people are aware that it does indeed serve a purpose. Also, not all braces are of the same dimensions. There is just enough of a difference to keep it manufacturer specific.Manufacturers have been known to modify the braces slightly over the years as well.

though the braces might be different (the actual part in the center) the trim of the tank (actual whole top) could actually be the same. Ive search more sites and some state that a 55g standard is standard for any manufacturer, so sizes of the actual glass dimensions are all the same. Its what they decide to with the brace design is what separates them from others..

I still didnt have time to measure anything out.. So if anything ill post some measurements here of my trim and compare it with someone here who has an AGA 55g tank.

[BoredAgain]

Good luck with it. If you do end up going with another manufacturer, I'd be interested in how it turns out.

[Bk718]

hmm just curious.. I just measured my tank and its 48x 12.5"
Can someone with a regular aga 55g tank measure the depth of the tank (against glass)