Damaged 40 breeder go or no?

[scubasteve06]

I have a 55 right now where the light from the previous owner had no shield on it and the bulb melted the center brace and there is no bracing now...The water level is about 3 inches down from the trim because I am afraid that after I re-siliconed it almost 2 months ago and have had it filled half way for a month and a half now. I figure it can hold the water if it has so far...

If anyone thinks different please tell me should I just get a piece of wood and epoxy a new brace??? It would make me feel much better

 

[Bud8Fan]

I wouldn't use wood, it will rot in time. Get another piece of plastic to bridge the gap with epoxy.

 

[CaranxIgnobilis]

Well that pretty much clears it up thanks fellas. I'll try to get a piece of something to put in, but for now the wood should suffice.

 

[dmopar74]

The center brace needs to be "solidly" anchored to the side trim. If you use silicon you can easily pull the sides away from the bracing. Take some silicon and attach a piece of plastic to another piece of plastic and let it cure then see how easily you can pull them apart.

New tanks with center bracing have the center brace molded in with the side trim as one piece. And it's actually the trim that is holding the tank together with the silicon "sealing" the tank. A large tank with no bottom or top trim would fall apart in time.

on glass tanks that have glass center braces, the glass brace is siliconed to the tank, not the trim. i have a 100g and had a 150g(both perfecto i think) and both have been this way. on all glass brand tanks the brace is molded into the trim.

but to answer the original question, i bought a 40b last year brand new, no center brace. i have never even seen a 40b with a center brace.

 

[scubasteve06]

Well solved my debate today...I have had a 55 metal stand for a while and after hearing, and worrying about the 55 leaking and busting again I just bought a new one for 89.99 with tops and lights, got a emp 400 and whisper 30 seeding it right now. Chose white sand and am going to use a lot of driftwood. Gonna have 4 big veil angels 6 cardinal tetra's a pictus cat, a dojo loach and maybe a pair of rams later. If not the angels and such I'd really like to get a small ray that doesn't get too big....any suggestions to the ray in a 55??? I don't think it would work but if there is a small species I'd love to have one the sand in my tank is calling his name.