I used to have a 150 gallon tank in my kitchen, but it started leaking from the bottom one night, and was a disaster to clean up. So I traded it in (under warranty) for an 80 gallon tank. That was probably 10 years ago. About a year ago, when doing a water change, I noticed that the top brace was broken. I didn't think much of it until I refilled the water and realized it was bowing out slightly. So I panicked and emptied some of the water and put a bar clamp on it. I went back to Petsmart and tried to get warranty service, but they don't even carry tanks that size any more. They gave me the manufacturer's info, but the manufacturer claimed they didn't make it after I sent them the information from the sticker on the bottom.
I eventually tried to fix it by using some epoxy, but didn't trust that so I built my own brace using a steel rod with threads on both ends. I attached washers and nuts, and it appears to be holding. But I still don't trust it, after the fiasco with the 150 tank, and have now had the tank 2/3 full for about a year. But I'm not very happy with it that way.
So I'm trying to decide what to do. I've wondered about trying Bondic over the epoxy. I've thought about selling the tank and buying a new one, but can't afford it right now.
Here's some pics of what I've done.
https://plus.google.com/114627218090090466157/posts/JUoHDGEnifi
https://plus.google.com/114627218090090466157/posts/KG4GvZHLfJ8
I eventually tried to fix it by using some epoxy, but didn't trust that so I built my own brace using a steel rod with threads on both ends. I attached washers and nuts, and it appears to be holding. But I still don't trust it, after the fiasco with the 150 tank, and have now had the tank 2/3 full for about a year. But I'm not very happy with it that way.
So I'm trying to decide what to do. I've wondered about trying Bondic over the epoxy. I've thought about selling the tank and buying a new one, but can't afford it right now.
Here's some pics of what I've done.
https://plus.google.com/114627218090090466157/posts/JUoHDGEnifi
https://plus.google.com/114627218090090466157/posts/KG4GvZHLfJ8