55 Gal Tank, Plastic crossbar cracking, Is this trouble?

[williams130]

I have a 55 Gal saltwater aquarium and the plastic crossbar that extends from the back of the tank to the front is cracking. I'm talking about the plastic that is molded and glued to the top of the tank to support the lights. The crack is runnning paralllel to the front glass and is about 3 inches long located directly in fron of the crossbar. Is this a common problem with glass tanks? Does this bar serve a purpose other that to support the lights? I mean is this cross bar necessary to keep the tank front from pulling apart at the sides? I was thinking about trying to make a cross bar from some threaded rod but haven't figured out the details yet.
I noticed the same thing a couple of years ago just before we were going on vacation and I got worried about coming home to a broken tank so I ran out and bought a new one the day before leaving. This tank is only about 3 years old so I'm pretty upset about this but I'm not sure how critical this piece is. I can post some pictures tonight if anyone would like to se them.

[Galaxie]

It is critical. You need to get it fixed or shored up by other means asap. The water pressure will eventually cause your tank front and/or rear glass plates to bow out then break.

In a 55g, this cross bar is 100% lateral support. That it supports part of your light hood is merely concidental. Until you figure out how to fix/replace, I'd at least tape fully across the top to give it as much help as possible (duct or strapping tape I'd think)

[devgru]

i accidently partially melted my support in a 55g and now have a semi-bowfront.im getting a new tank shortly and turning the 55 into a sump(framing the stand around it for support) but to answer your question....get a new plastic top, there around $15....better than bying a new tank as well as potentially losing your inhabitants.

[mikelush78]

Another idea for you is that you can fix it yourself... Simply by a piece of plexi glass and cut it to the size of you existingsupport bar. Cut the old support off and replace it with the plexi glass. This can be better anyway because the light can go through plexi glass and therefore eliminates the dark spot in your tank, and your tank will not bow.

To secure it simply does not cut all the support off. Leave about 1" from the front and also on the back. Then pre-drill and the bolt the new plexi glass to 1" that is left from the old support.

I am going to be doing this to my 90 gallon so that I can eliminate the light block from the support bar. I need it to be clear so that is what I am going to be doing.

Hope that helps
Mike

[ercnan]

Yup it's needed.
My old 55 has become a snake house because of that brace.
When empty you could not even tell it was there, but start filling it up and, and watch it spread. :eek:
I was only about 2/3 of the way cracked, but obviously it NEEDED that brace very much.
I guess I could have tried to repair it somehow, but the snake needed a bigger house and I wanted a new tank. :dance:

[cheech]

I have a 90 gallong with the same brace on the center. My 400 watt Metal Halide melted and warped the brace, plus, it would create a shadow in the water... I pretty much did what Mike suggests... I eventually replaced it with a piece of 1/4" plexiglass , and it solved my problem...