Fixing broken center brace
- Thread starter skald89
- Start date
Cheapest and Simplest would likely be to check craigslist or the facebook marketplace for a used tank and just replace it.. it's less prone to failure that way.
It looks like a standard 55g from here? They are pretty common, and less expensive to buy a complete one than the top rim with the brace.
It looks like a standard 55g from here? They are pretty common, and less expensive to buy a complete one than the top rim with the brace.
You may find that new ones do not last as long as a lot seem to be more cheaply made than they used to.. say Oceanic in the 90s and early 2000s
I've personally seen far more failures on $/gallon tanks than I have from older used ones.
if you aren't worried about the looks, you can go to home depot or whatever hardware store, and get a couple of angled pieces, and connect those with screws or welding or whatver to the correct length.
I've personally seen far more failures on $/gallon tanks than I have from older used ones.
if you aren't worried about the looks, you can go to home depot or whatever hardware store, and get a couple of angled pieces, and connect those with screws or welding or whatver to the correct length.
I tried fixing it and failed. I used jb weld 50112.
This is what I did. The brace had a piece that was cracked. (red line in picture. the red circle is a pressure point where the broken piece and frame joined). I broke it off and started with epoxy to bond it to the glass and plastic rim. I spent 30 minutes of pressing and using a clamp to get it to stay. Finally it held without me holding it. I let this part cure for 30 hours before starting the next part. I put the epoxy on almost every surface. Under the plastic piece. On top of it to cover the seam/crack. Underneath it where it meets the glass.
Saturday night I used a bar clamp to bring the glass to its original place. Again I put the epoxy on every surface and cracked part to connect the brace to the frame. I let it cure for a couple of hours. As I took of the clamp the brace and piece I fixed Friday started to come apart. I closed the clamp back and started putting epoxy everywhere again. Let it cure overnight. Same thing happened in the morning. Taking off the epoxy was easy. It peeled right off.
This is what I did. The brace had a piece that was cracked. (red line in picture. the red circle is a pressure point where the broken piece and frame joined). I broke it off and started with epoxy to bond it to the glass and plastic rim. I spent 30 minutes of pressing and using a clamp to get it to stay. Finally it held without me holding it. I let this part cure for 30 hours before starting the next part. I put the epoxy on almost every surface. Under the plastic piece. On top of it to cover the seam/crack. Underneath it where it meets the glass.
Saturday night I used a bar clamp to bring the glass to its original place. Again I put the epoxy on every surface and cracked part to connect the brace to the frame. I let it cure for a couple of hours. As I took of the clamp the brace and piece I fixed Friday started to come apart. I closed the clamp back and started putting epoxy everywhere again. Let it cure overnight. Same thing happened in the morning. Taking off the epoxy was easy. It peeled right off.
Its a 55 gallon display tank.
I think if I would cut a piece of glass to put under the brace and either bond it withe silicone or epoxy it would help reduce the pressure on the original brace. Then even a weak bond would keep the center brace in place and make it look presentable.
My question is if I cut glass with a glass cutter or the twine and fire method would it create a clean break that doesn't need sanding?
I think if I would cut a piece of glass to put under the brace and either bond it withe silicone or epoxy it would help reduce the pressure on the original brace. Then even a weak bond would keep the center brace in place and make it look presentable.
My question is if I cut glass with a glass cutter or the twine and fire method would it create a clean break that doesn't need sanding?
I am not surprised that happened; the glass doesn't bow out just like that. It is one thing to have it empty, imagine the pressure when filled?
Even fixed I would only use it as a terrarium. I agree with Doug just get a used one they just aren't worth much.
Even fixed I would only use it as a terrarium. I agree with Doug just get a used one they just aren't worth much.
