180 gallon bowing

[Newt]

I filled up my 180 last night. Went to check on it this morning because I was hoping to start moving fish in to their new home and the 6" wide 1/4" glass center brace I put in fell out.

I measured and the tank is bowed out on the center top about 1/4".

The tank is made of 1/2" glass and never had a center brace. The tank was made about 15 years ago by a company in Saginaw, MI that is now out of business. I put a brace in mostly to hold up the glass tops.

Is the tank safe? Should I get a new, 1/4" longer center brace cut (it really wouldn't be bracing the tank if I did that, would it?)

 

[mishelly111]

Hello There,

I recently purchase a used 150G and when we filled it, the glass bowed about 1/2" in the center. My husband put in 3 X 6" glass braces from front to back evenly spaced out along the top. When we filled it back up it didn't bow at all. That was in September and (Knock on wood!) we are still doing good.

Hope this helps.

Mish

 

[Dr Joe]

Fell out?

What did you install the brace with?

Drain the tank back down and reinstall the brace. Use a bar clamp to keep a slight pressure front to back while the brace is is curing (using silicone).

Putting in a longer brace will only force the glass to bow without the even force (pressure) of the water and could crack the front or back glass.

Older tanks were made with heavier glass but may not be as strong. In any case the older tank has been stressed and a brace would make a good addition to it safety and longevity.

Dr Joe

.

 

[Newt]

Fell out?

What did you install the brace with?

Drain the tank back down and reinstall the brace. Use a bar clamp to keep a slight pressure front to back while the brace is is curing (using silicone).

Putting in a longer brace will only force the glass to bow without the even force (pressure) of the water and could crack the front or back glass.

Older tanks were made with heavier glass but may not be as strong. In any case the older tank has been stressed and a brace would make a good addition to it safety and longevity.

Dr Joe

.

The brace was installed with silicone. It was clamped front to back with a heavy duty clamp while the silicon cured. It cured for two weeks before I filled it up. The brace was cut to fit very snuggly, it was a real bugger to put in. Less than 1/16" wiggle room.

As the top of the tank bowed it just fell out, sank to the bottom of the tank. Silicon can only stretch so far.

If I put it back on won't the same thing happen again? That's why I was thinking of a wood frame around the top, to help brace it.

 

[brianp]

This tank is unsafe and the brace should be reattached immediately. Drain tank. Use 1-2 bar clamps to return the front and back panels to their original flatness. Get a piece of stainless steel cut and then have 1-2" tabs bent on both ends so that they overhang the rim on the front and back of the tank. Push into place. A simple friction fit will suffice.

 

[Newt]

I'm just putting this out there:

Why would a tank be made without a brace if was un-safe?

The company that made my tank made lots of others, all un-braced. It held up for more than 10 years just the way it is now. The seam along the bottom leaked because the previous owner was trying to move it around, with water and decor in it. Basically they left it sitting un-level for too long, half the tank proped up on the stand and 1/2 on some tables.

I completely torn down this tank, cleaned it up and re-sealed it, just like new. I only put the center brace on to hold up my glass tops.

Anyway, I put the brace back in and I'm keeping the clamps on until I build a wood frame for around the top.

 

[FishDog]

The glass in your tank could of been weakened over time by hot and cold temps. I have seen glass strips siliconed in for braces but to be honest I personally would not trust them. That is why you see most glass tanks with a plastic top ring that has the braces all made into one. I fixed a tank one time that did the same thing you mentioned by using 1 1/2" wide strips of 1/4" acrylic that I used to go all the way around the top of the tank. I used Weld On to bond the corners then bonded strips front to back over the tank every 2 feet and slid it over the top. It worked out just fine. I would definetly due something because 180 gallons in the floor would be costly.