alright guys, this is my first DIY and I'm gonna level with you I've never really done something like this before. I picked up a 110 gallon tank and stand to day (dimensions 60.5x18.5x23.5) and it has no center brace, like it was just snapped right out of it. So I realize that im gonna need to take off the top trim and take all the old silicone off around the edges and get the rest of the snapped glass out of there but how do I go about really doing this? Dunno where to start lol. I know I'll need the new glass and replacement frames but thats all, guide me in the right direction lol ill post some pics of the damage as soon as i can get them uploaded
Fixing up a tank for the first time
- Thread starter Wretched5705
- Start date
before you do anything make sure you can get replacement trim. i removed and re installed top trim and it sucked, but i was saving it for reinstall..destructive removal would be lots "easier"..what glass is broke? if im reading this right your center brace was glass?..put up a pic of what you have to fix..you may be able to replace center brace without removing trim if thats all thats wrong
Unless you need to totally disassemble the tank don't remove the frame.
It may be difficult to get the proper frame if you don't know the tank manufacturer.
Maybe you can get a new frame with center brace, if not then replace the glass brace.
You should be able to reinstall the center brace replacement glass without removing the frame.
By the width of the silicone you should be able to tell how wide the new glass needs to be.
It may be difficult to get the proper frame if you don't know the tank manufacturer.
Maybe you can get a new frame with center brace, if not then replace the glass brace.
You should be able to reinstall the center brace replacement glass without removing the frame.
By the width of the silicone you should be able to tell how wide the new glass needs to be.
if thats all thats wrong i would clean it up and make a new bracket..was the old one just a piece of glass siliconed on? that sounds like a really bad design if so..carrying load threw glass and putting silicon under shear? 
maybe im seeing it wrong
i would pop rivit a piece of 1/8 or thicker lexan in its place..2 0r 3 inches wide and cut accurately you want as much overlap as possible on both sides...drill 1/8 holes threw lexan and trim leaving the max possible edge distance on both parts..equally space rivets about 3/4in apart...pop rivet using right length of rivet (grip) and cover upset and head of rivet with blob of silicon
sorry no cad or pro e at home...side view of what i mean..
red=rivet
black=trim
sketch NOT scale
thats what i would do anyways and it will carry a lot more load then the glass
maybe im seeing it wrongi would pop rivit a piece of 1/8 or thicker lexan in its place..2 0r 3 inches wide and cut accurately you want as much overlap as possible on both sides...drill 1/8 holes threw lexan and trim leaving the max possible edge distance on both parts..equally space rivets about 3/4in apart...pop rivet using right length of rivet (grip) and cover upset and head of rivet with blob of silicon
sorry no cad or pro e at home...side view of what i mean..
red=rivet
black=trim
sketch NOT scale
thats what i would do anyways and it will carry a lot more load then the glass
hmmmmm not a bad idea at all, shud i just fill the gap where the old brace was with silicone then?
Wretched5705;4157868; said:
or make new brace just as wide as old...give me sec and ill scetch it up
kinda like this...go as wide as you want and you can silicon on bracket and rivet if you wish...granted its prolly way over kill but i work in aviation so redundant is always better lol
