Tank Braces

R

rockbellab

AC Members
Nov 21, 2005
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Turtle Lake, ND
Hi. I need some advice. We just found a beautiful 125 gallon tank. It is 18 years old, in perfect shape and very inexpensive. Here is the problem. It has no braces. Apparently they didn't put them in tanks then? Not sure. So basically I need to know several things.

1) Where do you get braces for a tank and what should they be made of?
2) How do you put them in the tank and with what kind of product?
3) Will adding two or three braces keep the tank from bowing?
4) Should braces be added to the top and bottom of the tank or just one?

All advice is appreciated and if anyone out there has dealt with this issue successfully I would truly be thankful for your input.
Thanks to all, Bridget
 
It may be a question of what thickness glass you have, or just a good improvement with the obset of plastics.

I wouldn't feel comfortable with a tank that size and age without them.

www.glasscages.com sells some frames and I believe they do custom ones.

They attach with sealant and will minimize bowing, top and bottom.
 
Thanks for the advice. I'll check the site out.
 
Hey everyone. i have a question about my 75 gallon with center brace. Yesterday it snapped at on end and i was wondering if there is anyway i can fix this problem. IT is bowed just a little but im worryed about it.I was looking at buying a perfecto frame for it but i dont know what my tank MANU. is. do you think the perfecto would work on it still. And also i was wondering how to take off the center brace to replace it? Any advise would help alot. THanks
 
cichlid4lovers said:
Hey everyone. i have a question about my 75 gallon with center brace. Yesterday it snapped at on end and i was wondering if there is anyway i can fix this problem. IT is bowed just a little but im worryed about it.I was looking at buying a perfecto frame for it but i dont know what my tank MANU. is. do you think the perfecto would work on it still. And also i was wondering how to take off the center brace to replace it? Any advise would help alot. THanks
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If I were you I would reduce the water level in the tank. It is on the road to failure and you want to reduce the stress. What is the center brace made of? you will probably be better of repairing the one in there rather than trying to remove and replace.
 
you will probably be better of repairing the one in there rather than trying to remove and replace
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i disagree. about a year ago i had a center brace on a 55 gallon tank break. i drained the water to less than half way and used a razor blade to cut the seal and remove the old brace, it was actually quite easy and definetly will last 1000 times longer than repairing the broken one. you should go to ur lfs and explain to them what happened and see if they carry different manufacturers replacement braces and buy one. take your broken one off and see if they'll let u exchange it if its not the correct fit. check underneath the tank if its possible, the manufacturer will usually be displayed somewhere on the bottom.
 
i just tried to expoxy my break in the center brace.. and it did not work..it just broke right back open again...What should i do i have no clue! :mad2:
 
I bought a 55gallon without a center brace a few months ago for $5. I looked into gluing a peice of glass in there ala euro brace, but decided to go with a replacement brace my lfs ordered for me. It was a pain to cut the old frame off, and glue on a a new one, but the peice of mind is well worth it.
 
cichlid4lovers said:
i just tried to expoxy my break in the center brace.. and it did not work..it just broke right back open again...What should i do i have no clue! :mad2:
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The best way to glue plastic is to solvent weld it, like PVC pipe. this is not something you want to do with the tank in use. you would have to find out what kind of plastic it is and find the proper solvent to use. Your best bet is to get a replacement from a LFS, or notch out the existing brace to allow a 3" wide peice of glass siliconed in place of the failed brace.

Brian
 
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