Aquarium Bottom Frame

[Jesse]

I wasn't sure where to post this, so it's going here. I bought a 210 gallon fish tank, and I have a problem. The bottom frame is completely broken on one of the small sides from being moved around. The top bracing is all there, and the tank is older...made of at least 1/2" glass. I just want to know...is the bottom frame part of the structure of this tank?

 

[Lunar Jetman]

Its difficult to tell from just the description but its very likely the frame is part of the support of the tank so I'd be reluctant to fill it with water if the frame is damaged or broken. You might be able to get it repaired but I don't know how you'd do that over there in the US.

 

[Lunar Jetman]

Sorry, just been thinking about this and reading your other thread, do you mean the bottom cabinet or part of the frame of the tank?

 

[Jesse]

Its the frame of the tank

 

[Lunar Jetman]

Ok then if its part of the tank then I'd be worried about using it without getting it repaired. It could be designed to take some of the weight of the tank when full so you could wake up to a flooded room and broken tank.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Does sound a bit risky, these frames are there for a reason.
 
Lunar Jetman had described already what could happen if you were to fill it up with water and substrate etc.
 
Can you possibly show a picture of what the frame and tank looks like. Might help.

 

[Jesse]

Okay here are a couple pictures. As you can see, there is a large glass support in the middle on the top, but the bottom has no center support. It looks like the bottom is only there to keep the glass off the top of the stand, but I don't know.
 

 

 

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

If the edge of the frame goes under the bottom of the tank then it is structural; called a "floating base"
 
I once had a Jewel tank which was second hand/old and the bottom frame was broken in a similar way. As long as you can get the tank into place with the frame where it needs to be, once you fill the tank with water the weight will hold the frame in place and if you're clever at patching it up from the outside no one will ever know it's broken! My frame was actually broken into three pieces but perfectly at the corners so once placed on the stand and filled with water it was fine.  
 
Now I know that this is a gigantic tank and you may not be able to manoeuvre it very well or make the trim hold together/look nice. A possible alternative, and I would like for someone else to confirm this, is to dump the frame but use styrofoam tiles or a purpose made aquarium mat (camping/yoga mats can work as well) underneath the tank. The camping mat is a more attractive option because you can trim them to perfectly fit the base of your tank and get black ones so they blend in. 
 
The frame fell completely off
 

 
I used a little glue and some masking tape to hold it while it cured but that didn't really work. It held just enough for me to get the tank lowered into position. 

 

 
Ta da! No problemo!
 

 

[Jesse]

The only issue I have is I am missing the long piece. I am thinking that the trim is not part of the structure because if you look at the top frame all the corners are mitre cuts and it's not one single piece.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

The bottom frame isn't there for holding the panes of glass together. The point of a floating base is to level the bottom of your tank against any flexing or imperfections in the surface it's sitting on which is why you would need some other "self-leveller" if you don't use it e.g. styrofoam or a mat to stop the bottom of the tank from cracking. I'm no expert by any means but this is my understanding from what I've read over time. 
 
Your tank's silicon is what's holding the panes together, along with bracing at the top.