Cracking Center Brace on glass aquarium

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DaveB

DaveB

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Feb 22, 2008
1,244
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Miami
I bought my cousin a 46g bowfront the other day and when he started to fill it up at about 2/3 full the space where the center brace on the trim connects to the back cracked and started to split. It's a used All Glass Aquarium 46g measuring 36"x18" (to the center) x 21" high.

I have owned a standard 90 that didn't even have a center brace so I'm inclined to think it doesn't matter, but then again, braces are there for a reason. And the glass is only 1/4" thick. And if it didn't matter, he wouldn't see the water pressure noticeably pulling it apart.

So I'm wondering what might be an acceptable way to fix this. Is there an adhesive strong enough to hold plastic together under that kind of pressure? Silicone? (After all, silicone holds the glass together under that pressure.)

He found a few threads on C-F about the same tank with someone asking a similar question and the person decided to put a glass brace in. I'm not sure how that would work. This is a plastic brace with the plastic trim. He can't just build some kind of clamp because the front face of the trim has to be undisturbed.

I'm inclined to demand my money back, but if there's a safe way to repair it I'd rather avoid that headache. It took forever to find this tank too (he can only fit a 36" tank on that wall and requires a nice stand) so if I don't have to shop around again, that'd be good.
 
Picture?
 
replace the frame...kind of a pain in the butt, but its worth it...why take chances with any amount of water IMO
 
Where would I get a new top frame? Straight from the manufacturer? Chances are that will cost more than I paid for the tank. If that's the case, I would rather just get my damn money back.

Assuming I do get it, how do I remove the existing top frame?

The break is straight through the plastic right where it hits the back, so at the lower level of the lip that the cover sits on.
 
If there is enough room,you can use a plexiglass strip and stainless machine screws to brace it,I had a few 55g braces fixed like that for years

To get the old top off youll probably need to cut it in a few places with a hacksaw,loosen it as much as possible with a carpet knife and pull it off.

Some stores will order the replacement frames for you.
 
DaveB;2965054; said:
Where would I get a new top frame? Straight from the manufacturer? Chances are that will cost more than I paid for the tank. If that's the case, I would rather just get my damn money back.

Assuming I do get it, how do I remove the existing top frame?

The break is straight through the plastic right where it hits the back, so at the lower level of the lip that the cover sits on.
Click to expand...

i would always go through the manufacturer, then again you could always get your money back...i usually just hit it with a heat gun and it comes off...pain in the arse though :ROFL:
 
i agree with the consensus here, a fix is better than a gamble...the gamble may be ok for a short time but sometime down the road when the silicone gets older it may just give way with the pressure being exerted on the wall...
 
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