Tank Repair Question

[DoubleJ]

I just got a 90gl tank for free. Since it was free, I would have been crazy to turn it down. The only problem is, while the silicone is perfect and intact, the moulding around the bottom of the tank is missing. I know it is not water safe without the moulding as it helps to hold in the pressure. My question is about how to fix this. Anyone done this before? Can it be done?

 

[Rooster]

Moulding? any pix ? Never seen a tank that "needed" external support, as long as its supported (usual way is to use a layer of polystyrene tile) evenly any all glass tank should be fine.

 

[Tolak]

The top frame, especially if it has a cross brace, is usually the one missing. I know you can get replacement top frames for All-Glass tanks from shops that sell those tanks, I don't see why you couldn't get a bottom frame. Many bottom frames on larger tanks do incorporate a cross brace, it's there for a reason. If you could post a pic of the tank, or at least give exact measurements that would help.

 

[DoubleJ]

As you can see in the first pic, the frame on teh bottom is laying in pieces next to the tank. There is no frame attached to the bottom.

 

[Tolak]

Just by the design & build of the tank it looks like the bottom frame is only decorative. This is a tank of standard design, not floating base, which means it will need a styro pad beneath the bottom, between the tank & stand. Don't sweat the bottom frame, unless you want it for looks as it does nothing structurally. The third pic tells the story.

 

[DoubleJ]

You're sure? I don't want 90gl of water on my floor. I am thinking about doing it anyway, just to be sure. Not that I don't trust you but, my wife will make me do it I think. How should I do it?

 

[Tolak]

You need a flat, level surface to place the tank on. If you have a stand, level it before placing the tank on it. You will also need a thin sheet of styrofoam, around 1/4", between the tank & stand. If you only have the floor in the pic, which looks like it's concrete with a floor drain, find the most level area to test it.

If your wife says do it, you are off the hook if it leaks. Fill it a third at a time & wait it out, bad leaks appear immediately, smaller ones take a little time to show up.

Most of my tanks are used, I've probably gone through 20 used tanks, some have been sold or given away due to upgrades. I've had one leaker in all of the ones that I expected to hold water, some of the old metal frame slate bottom ones I have yet to work on are expected to leak. The one that leaked was a 20, and it was just a slight trickle.

 

[PaPeRo]

I would never use a quarter inch of styrofoam to support a long glass tank... Reason is it allows too much uneven compression.

 

[BigC]

Hi,
The moulding (as has already pointed out by Tolak) is merely decorative and just there for asthetic reasons (to make it look nice) providing there is no leaks then place the tank in situ on polystyrene ceiling tiles.

> <}}}}} °>
Regards
BigC

 

[Tolak]

The styro is used to compensate for any unevenness in the stand, or in the tank. Looking at that floor I wouldn't go with anything less than 1/4" if it is being filled there for a test. Once you have the 1/4" you may as well use it on the stand, it will work as well as 1/8" or 1/16".

 

[Rooster]

Yes, its definatly just a bit of trim... bin it, its doing nothing useful !