50 Gal Aquarium: Glass Bowing

[DarkShadow435]

Ok, so i have a 50 Gal aquarium. The center brace at the top is broken (got it second hand). I have the tank filled up and set up. (no fish in it yet, just gravel) I've noticed that the front glass bows outward about 1/4 in. Should i be worried? Is there a remedy for this?

 

[Davey Jones]

Ok, so i have a 50 Gal aquarium. The center brace at the top is broken (got it second hand). I have the tank filled up and set up. (no fish in it yet, just gravel) I've noticed that the front glass bows outward about 1/4 in. Should i be worried? Is there a remedy for this?

I would be worried, thats about 190kg of water exerting a hell of a lot of sideways preasure onto your tank, any weekness will fail sooner or later...

 

[Dude]

sounds really risky

i would get a new tank and use the one you have as a hospital tank in the garage or something

 

[doresy]

Should i be worried? Is there a remedy for this?

You are in luck my friend, there IS a remedy for this Get yourself a new tank

Like anything in this world, if it's broke then it's broke. If you have to ask then it shows concern so really you already know the answer, don't you

 

[demonmagus]

am I missing something here? Can't he just get the top braced fixed?

 

[Tolak]

Either repair the top brace, or replace the top frame. Measure it up, and contact any decent lfs.

I have a 72 gallon with a cracked top brace. A new top frame was around $40, having the shop mechanic weld up a stainless steel brace was $10. I chose the $10 option, steel is stronger than plastic.

 

[DarkShadow435]

Good advice. I have a friend who welds. I'll give him a call. One more question. Should i remove the gravel from the bottom of the tank? there's about 50 lbs of it. I figure it should be ok, since the water exserts more PSI than the weight of the gravel.

 

[doresy]

Sorry, just my policy. Anything that has pressure or force applied to it in use then if it's broke it's broke. Repair is just delaying the inevidable but if you are happy and confident then that's ok for you........sorry for my opinion and good luck!

 

[demonmagus]

but isn't the top brace holding it together, so if he replaces it all should be well? I don't know tbh with you lol

 

[DarkShadow435]

Replacing the top brace will repair the tank completely, and the tank will be just like new.

 

[demonmagus]

yeah, that's what I thought

 

[DarkShadow435]

Either repair the top brace, or replace the top frame. Measure it up, and contact any decent lfs.

I have a 72 gallon with a cracked top brace. A new top frame was around $40, having the shop mechanic weld up a stainless steel brace was $10. I chose the $10 option, steel is stronger than plastic.

Could you post a pic of the brace your mechanic welded. I have a friend who welds and i wanna give him an idea of what i need.

 

[Tolak]

Either repair the top brace, or replace the top frame. Measure it up, and contact any decent lfs.

I have a 72 gallon with a cracked top brace. A new top frame was around $40, having the shop mechanic weld up a stainless steel brace was $10. I chose the $10 option, steel is stronger than plastic.

Could you post a pic of the brace your mechanic welded. I have a friend who welds and i wanna give him an idea of what i need.

I'll be doing maintenance on that tank either today or tommorow, I'll post a pic.

 

[DarkShadow435]

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Tolak]

Got around to maintenance earlier this evening. I'll post links to pics just in case anyone with 56k trys to open this topic.

I got this tank & stand for free, 72 gallon bow front. The previous owner, who happens to be my bosses son, moved it with gravel & a couple of inches of water, along with a rather large plec. It was in the shop for about a year. Shortly after he moved it in I noticed this;

http/img90.imageshack.us/img90/6335/dsc01479apf3.jpg

http/img90.imageshack.us/img90/5287/dsc01480ayw2.jpg

http/img300.imageshack.us/img300/3624/dsc01481atz0.jpg

I got him a price on a new top brace. Replacing it would take a couple hours, time he didn't have. The tank was in the shop because he was selling his condo, having a house built, and had a baby on the way. Being the director of sales on top of that didn't leave any time.

It took him a couple of months to decide to talk to a guy who does fabrication for the shop. I bugged him a couple times weekly, said I would replace it. I told him I would buy the frame. I did not want to be there if that tank blew, his dad, my boss, would find some way to partially blame me. Finally, he said JB would build a brace for $10.


Since I was doing a 75% water change I didn't worry about removing it.

http/img90.imageshack.us/img90/1285/dsc01482axt0.jpg


Here's some pics of the brace. The rod is threaded, making it adjustable. The inside nut is welded to the angle iron.

http/img90.imageshack.us/img90/1911/dsc01485aiw1.jpg

http/img300.imageshack.us/img300/8042/dsc01484azl9.jpg

http/img170.imageshack.us/img170/1474/dsc01483aqq7.jpg


Here is how it fits across the top. The only other mod needed was to notch the light fixture a little to let the rod fit.

http/img170.imageshack.us/img170/9220/dsc01486amj3.jpg

http/img90.imageshack.us/img90/9840/dsc01487afj3.jpg


Here's a pic of the tank when it's up & running, you can see the brace a little, but for free who am I to argue.

http/img329.imageshack.us/img329/3466/dsc01488asw2.jpg