72 Gallon Bow-front w/cracked middle brace

[sikemd]

I bought this tank a few weeks ago and have it up and running as a reef tank w/fish and inverts. It didn't cross my mind to repair it prior to filling because I was in a hurry to get the live stock back into the tank (purchased all together from a private seller). However, now it's starting to become a lingering thought in the back of my head. I feel pretty confident it shouldn't be a huge worry, I am guessing before it would "explode" it would spring small leaks first. And I believe a simple 'fix' is quite possible. I'd like to hear from some folks that have been in the game for awhile and have actually had experience with this sort of thing and not just folks who are going to say "i wouldn't use it" or "buy a new tank". I read the bottom trim is the same as the top, but with the tank filled now I simply don't have the time or will to drain it remove everything and refill.

My thought for 'fixing' it WITHOUT having to completely break down the tank is to drain 1/2 water, slowly pull the 2 sides together with an adjustable bar/pipe clamp, then clamp 2 strips of plexi-glass (one on top and one on bottom) drill a few holes (maybe 2 on each side) straight through the plexi-glass and plastic trim and bolt them all together.

The pulling the sides together with a clamp part is especially worrisome with any water in the tank but I feel it would be fine at a very slow rate of pull. I've tried pulling the 2 sides together by hand and it s any thoughts from experienced folks? Am I being ridiculous and setting myself up for certain catastrophe? The back class is 3/8" and the front is 1/4" and the gap where the crack is on the center brace is about 3/4"-1".

If pulling the sides together is too crazy, could I not bother pulling the 2 sides together entirely... or even at all, and just bolt the plexi to the trim with the gap in the middle? I figure this would at least keep it from bowing out further over time.

 

[Ihsnshaik]

My friend gets tanks for free all the time because the brace is broken or other reasons. He goes to home depot gets some metal and drills two holes on the ends and two holes on the brace and bolts them together. He is paranoid too but he does it with no water. With the pressure of the water he doesn't risk it. He makes a tight fit before hand and then adds the water.


wow this guy did exactly what my buddy did. Do this!

 

[DN328]

From the picture, the gap appears to be greater than 1". Was the gap that far apart before you filled it with water, or, was it closer together. Just trying to get an idea of how much the bowed out from filling.

 

[sikemd]

From the picture, the gap appears to be greater than 1". Was the gap that far apart before you filled it with water, or, was it closer together. Just trying to get an idea of how much the bowed out from filling.

I measured the gap, it's just under 1" around 7/8". I honestly can't remember what what the gap looked like prior to filling it or if there was even a gap at all. I'm going to guess the gap was minimal before water though.

 

[Frank Castle]

I measured the gap, it's just under 1" around 7/8". I honestly can't remember what what the gap looked like prior to filling it or if there was even a gap at all. I'm going to guess the gap was minimal before water though.

don't use it. I just had my 70X-tall blow out last month cuz of this

Fix the brace first

 

[sikemd]

I went ahead and 'patched' it. I drained about 60% of the water, mostly into the sump, a cooler and buckets to re-add the rest went into the tub. With that much water drained the gap closed a good bit probably shrunk down to about 3/8". I was able to easily pull it the rest of the way together by hand. I found an old drawer roller in the basement that fit pretty well over the hump on the brace and already had holes drilled in good spots. I cut it to length, pulled it together by hand and drilled holes in the tank brace where the holes were on the metal were and bolted them together. There is still a very tiny gap but I feel safe now and it only took a little over an hour.

 

[Steveo73]

My 46 bow center brace broke
A entire new plastic piece was $38 at my lfs
They do claim tanks are at cost, prices are best around
Simple to change 100% piece of mind
If that plastic is dry rotted enough to break, a simple fix is only asking for more problems down the road
I can't see it being more than $80
Just my 2 cents
It would be worth fixing properly IMO