Frame broken, build one "myself"?

[BIGJchar]

Ok so I was given this 220 gallon aquarium and it had 2 braces, one of the 2 is broken in 2 places directly in the center amd then right were it attaches to the frame surround (hairline crack). At first i was going to just repair the brace because i thought it was only cracked in the middle until I noticed the hair line crack where it joins the main surrounding trim. Now since I work at a company that has its own metal fabrication on site I just thought why can't I design my own trim out of aluminum and design it to pretty much mimic the original. It will be welded aluminum that I will of course paint before putting it on so it will be protected from what water does to metal. Has anyone done this before? Any input? Rather than buy and siliconing glass panes I can just have this done for "free"...

 

[tlindsey]

Never read or heard of anyone building any frame of plastic or aluminum. That's a great idea and great you can have one made for free.

 

[Ulu]

It's polystyrene plastic. You can just glue it. Put plastic patches on the underside, lapping the cracks.

Aluminum and aquariums don't mix. If you powdercoat it, it will, but so will mild steel.

 

[BIGJchar]

It's polystyrene plastic. You can just glue it. Put plastic patches on the underside, lapping the cracks.

Aluminum and aquariums don't mix. If you powdercoat it, it will, but so will mild steel.

I was going to spray it with black or white krylon. Or something Marine approved, I wouldn't use steel as I think that would be too heavy. I have
1-1/2" X 1-1/2" x 1/8" architectural angle aluminum available to me at no charge. Architectural just means its formed and not rolled so all edges will be crisp. I think it will work great and be really light weight to boot. I'll post some pics after I get it made up and put on the tank.

 

[Jexnell]

I don't think it will be an issue.

When I was looking to replace s frame on a 125, i found a company that makes aluminum ones with center braces that come out when the tank is empty so you can get that big *** driftwood piece in.

 

[illbethejudge]

I build a top frame out of wood for a 125 a while ago.
I used pt pine and i cut 2 2"x4" in half getting 2 pieces of 1 3/4" roughly and then making a notch in the wood to end up with an l shaped piece of wood then cut the end to get 45° angles on each end put gorilla glue on the corners, clamp everything together and put 2 center braces made out of 3/4 pt pine with glue and screws.
pre drill everything before screwing together and paint it with spars urethane.

 

[BIGJchar]

I don't think it will be an issue.

When I was looking to replace s frame on a 125, i found a company that makes aluminum ones with center braces that come out when the tank is empty so you can get that big *** driftwood piece in.

Hell yeah, sounds like I got winner then. I was looking at the glass on this 220 and at minimum its 1/2" thick. I should probably go measure it. But what holds the old one on? Glue?

 

[Jexnell]

Hell yeah, sounds like I got winner then. I was looking at the glass on this 220 and at minimum its 1/2" thick. I should probably go measure it. But what holds the old one on? Glue?

It's just silicone that holds it on.

 

[The Morning]

I had same issue. Here was my solution. Had this made and then It was powder coated. Works great.

 

[Ulu]

I was going to spray it with black or white krylon. Or something Marine approved, I wouldn't use steel as I think that would be too heavy. I have
1-1/2" X 1-1/2" x 1/8" architectural angle aluminum available to me at no charge. Architectural just means its formed and not rolled so all edges will be crisp. I think it will work great and be really light weight to boot. I'll post some pics after I get it made up and put on the tank.

I have seen a boatload of architectural aluminum, my friend.

I was an engineer at the Kawneer company in the 80's and we had a 12" extrusion press that made window frames etc. All our stuff was usually 60-63 T5 and bronze anodized or clear anodized.

That works but then when you cut the pieces the edges are going to corrode. If you weld up the whole frame and then have it anodized then the welds will look funny. Kynar 500 paint was all the rage.

About the time I left they quit pressing and put in a paint line, and started painting for the other company presses. At the time I think they had seven plants worldwide.

As long as you paint the aluminum well and don't scrape it up it will be fine. I had painted aluminum braces on several of my tank lids for years.

Now days everybody likes Plasti Dip for fish tank stuff but I have never used it on an aquarium myself.