Help Broken Center Brace!!!!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
M

motogpfan82

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 17, 2011
7
0
0
VA
Hi all, my MH light and the combination of saltwater dried cracked, and destroyed my plastic center brace right down the middle. I found LondonDrgon's DIY http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?66111-DIY-Replacing-a-Juwel-Plastic-Brace-with-Acrylic-Brace&highlight=replacing%20brace, write up on replacing the center brace with clear plexiglass, and thought grate not only will it solve my problem, but also improve my tank. Unfortunately at the end it all went terribly wrong. While trimming some excess plastic from the old brace, the plastic brace anchor that goes all along the edge of the tank snaps off. I put some gorilla glue on it to glue it back on, but now even with a plexiglass brace, would my tank still have structural integrity? It seams like if the water expands it the glue wouldn't hold, cause the brace isn't anchored anymore, since the plastic that holds the brace isn't one piece. I also thought about putting some JB weld on it too for extra strength. Would any of this work? Is my tank ruined? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank.

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I just had this happen! Fortunately for me I had an extra tank. If I were to fix my old tank I would pull the trim and use glass to brace the top. cheap and easy.
 
cyberhog05 said:
I just had this happen! Fortunately for me I had an extra tank. If I were to fix my old tank I would pull the trim and use glass to brace the top. cheap and easy.
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Thanks for the reply cyberhog05, what would you just epoxy the glass brace to the glass? If that works then wouldn't just gluing my broken piece with the plexiglass brace work too then? I wouldn't think epoxying a brace to the glass would make it structurally sound. I hope I'm wrong though, I would love this to be an easy fix.
 
Be careful. I put a glass center brace in a 100 gal. CL special I bought. The UV light cured epoxy must not have cured properly. It held until I got it filled to the top. It dropped to the bottom of the tank, the sides bowed out, and the tank cracked from top to bottom. I'm not saying don't do it, maybe just get help from someone who has, or a glass shop. Good luck!
 
Whatever you decide to do, DO NOT use Gorilla glue. It breaks down when wet. JB weld might work, or another 2 part epoxy that is meant to hold up under water.
 
Honestly I would not do anything other than a glass brace siliconed in and large clamps to hold it there until cured. All you would be doing is making a much beefier center brace than any plastic would do. Plexi doesnt bond as well as glass will from what I have read. I broke my center brace on my 180 and was able to use plumbers strap and stainless screws to get it back together. My turtle tank broke like yours and it got swapped for my snake tank....with glass center braces:)
 
You would think after all these years the manufacturers would have a better way of making them. I recently noticed a very small crack on my AGA 150 gallon. They claim there tanks are guaranteed I think for life so we will see when the time come up. Good luck with the repairs
 
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