Refurbishing A 150 Gallon Tank Question

[Black Forest Knight]

Hi,

I recently purchased an old 150 gallon tank (72" x 28" x 18") that I am currently refurbishing prior to set up. It had a 24" x 17" glass support piece that was affixed to the top of the tank in the midddle but it has come unattached. I plan on reattaching it because I've been told that without it there for support, the pressure of the water against the front glass will crack or break it without that extra support. Can anyone recommend the best type of expoxy or glue to reattach this?

Thanks for your help in advance!

Greg

 

[thereverendturtle]

Flip the aquarium upside-down when you do it and use aquarium safe silicone. That's how the manufacturers do it.

 

[Black Forest Knight]

Flip the aquarium upside-down when you do it and use aquarium safe silicone. That's how the manufacturers do it.

Thanks for the tip. One question though. Why flip the tank upside down? To put weight on the bond to get a tight seal? The tank is a monster and I'm a little hsitant to flip it. Perhaps just add some weight on top after the piece is glued in place?

Thanks again for the tip.

 

[OldMan47]

An obvious choice is to use aquarium sealer, the silicone stuff. I have a very similar tank that I rehabilitated by using a wooden top frame and including stress bracing in that top frame. What I did was to build a simple frame that surrounds my tank at the top and to join the front to the back at a couple of intermediate points, 2 ft and 4 ft. What I ended up with is a frame that slips down over an empty tank but, when I fill the tank, it is held in place by the pressure of the front and back trying to pull apart. Since I have a brace at both of the 1/3 and 2/3 points, the tank glass cannot bow out and the frame is held in place rather well by the pressure against the frame that the water exerts. I used simple pins made of wood dowel to hold the braces against the pressure that they experience.

 

[thereverendturtle]

Flip the aquarium upside-down when you do it and use aquarium safe silicone. That's how the manufacturers do it.

Thanks for the tip. One question though. Why flip the tank upside down? To put weight on the bond to get a tight seal? The tank is a monster and I'm a little hsitant to flip it. Perhaps just add some weight on top after the piece is glued in place?

Thanks again for the tip.

I take it the glass is not under a plastic frame...
If it rest on top of euro bracing, then yes just place it on top and use lots of silicone to hold it tight.