Crack in trim
- Thread starter Trop65
- Start date
Welcome aboard
I personally wouldn't use the aquarium for fish anymore because the center brace is crucial.
The center brace support the aquarium from bowing.
Yeah, I'm replacing it.
I'll donate my old one to my local Humane Society as a critter tank.
If you can't switch out until next week maybe use some kind of bar clamp to reinforce the center until you can switch it
If you don't have a bar clamp even 100mph duct tape will help.It's obviously bowing out because of the gap you can see in the trim. If there is any way you can drop the water level as low as you can and keep your filters running that will help as well.
Why not clean the glass thoroughly in that spot, front and rear, cut a piece of 3/8-inch glass the exact length needed and a couple inches wide, and silicone it in place? You'd need to have a bar clamp on hand to apply just enough pressure to counteract the bowing while the silicone cures. Once that's done, you will have a brace that is far stronger than that flimsy piece of plastic ever was.
If you carefully cut out the trim piece from where this is done, the repair will be quite acceptable in appearance. It will be strongest if you cut the brace long enough so that it sits on top of the front and rear panes, rather than trying to sandwich it in between them.
If you carefully cut out the trim piece from where this is done, the repair will be quite acceptable in appearance. It will be strongest if you cut the brace long enough so that it sits on top of the front and rear panes, rather than trying to sandwich it in between them.
I used two 24" hardware store C-clamps to keep my old 180 from exploding after an earthquake totally took out both center braces, it leaked a little after, but held for quite a while.
In the meantime you could use a clamp to brace the tank just to be safe.. A 2-3 ft adjustable bar clamp should work well...wont necessarily be pretty though
Here's the type clamp used to hold it together temporarily
Because of the frequent tremors, my latest 180 gal tank is euro-braced on both ends and in the middle
The old 180 is still in the yard under gutter for collecting rain water, leaks too much to hold fish,
Because of the frequent tremors, my latest 180 gal tank is euro-braced on both ends and in the middle
The old 180 is still in the yard under gutter for collecting rain water, leaks too much to hold fish,