HELP! Center brace cracked!

blakeoe · 12/21/2007, 08:06 AM

As i opened the canopy on my 72 gallon bowront today i noticed that my center brace has completely detached itsel on one side of the tank!! I think i remember seeing a crack in it when i moved it a ew months back but didnt think much o it but now it is completely detached on the back side. What shoud i do? How bad is this? Do i need to drain the tank and re attach it some kind o way? Is it even a big deal?

Paulairduck · 12/21/2007, 08:14 AM

Is the tank acrylic or glass ???

blakeoe · 12/21/2007, 08:15 AM

Glass

SuperAWE · 12/21/2007, 08:19 AM

You can get a scrap piece of acrylic and make your own brace to replace the broken one. Go from top edge rear to top edge front. Then you can remove the old one completely. Might want to do it sooner than later.

Wryknow · 12/21/2007, 09:43 AM

I would drain the tank until I complete repairs. Those 72 bowfronts are kind of infamous for busting seems in a dramatic fashion. The good news is that the center brace repair can be a DIY project.

Use a razor blade to scrape the old silicon off completely and clean the glass throuroughly. Then apply a nice, thick bead of new silicon to the aquarium and press the vbrace back down into it (aquarium silicopn, NOT bath and shower stuff.) Do not try to clean the excess silicon off while it is still wet. If it bothers you, let it dry first and then trim the excess off wiuth a rzor blade.

blakeoe · 12/22/2007, 06:03 AM

since the tank is a little extra bowed out from the water pressure How do i know how far to "pull it back" so that it is the same distance apart as it was before?
Thanks in advance or all the help guys!

JHemdal · 12/22/2007, 06:37 AM

As I think you've already guessed, my understanding is that you need to drain the tank fully before repairing the brace in order to bring the sides back into their proper distances.
Is this brace the thin black plastic one? If so, be careful about the advice above to use plex and/or silicone to make the repair! Now, if I understood SuperAwe correctly, he/she is suggesting fabricating a new brace that will hang over the front and the back, like a clip. I've repaired braces that way and it works o.k.
If you use silicone, go with Dow 795 ONLY! It is hard to find, but it is the only silicone that I'll ever use for structural repairs. Otherwise, consider using a two part epoxy....

Jay Hemdal

bracebldrs · 12/22/2007, 07:09 AM

i had an old 55g brace break before tried epoxy ect.
the material was so brittle from uv and time it was impossable
to fix. so i went to HD and bought an alluminum flat bar
3/16 by1in by 24in.cut to fit bent ends over 1in notched canopy
has'nt moved since.

badazztealcobra · 12/22/2007, 11:32 AM

I would drop all the water out, take the old frame off and install a new frame for it....

I would think that a local AGA dealer can get a bowfront frame for you no problem, I think I walso found one at miracles.... its all the way down at the bottom of the page, I think the part number is YF27, but I would contact them to make sure its correct before ordering.

I think alot of the people posting about homemade frames missed the bowfront part of your original post...

Miracles Aquariums

Lo0seR · 12/22/2007, 12:11 PM

My 150 did the samething, at 30" tall glass I was freaked!! I went to the metal scrapyard and got some foodgrade stainless and off to my neighbors house for a quick weld. I didn't drain the whole thing just lowered water level and all worked out fine. You will come up with something, brainstorm and show us what you come up with.

12/21/2007, 08:06 AM	#1
blakeoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 370	HELP! Center brace cracked! As i opened the canopy on my 72 gallon bowront today i noticed that my center brace has completely detached itsel on one side of the tank!! I think i remember seeing a crack in it when i moved it a ew months back but didnt think much o it but now it is completely detached on the back side. What shoud i do? How bad is this? Do i need to drain the tank and re attach it some kind o way? Is it even a big deal? __________________ Somethings Fishy Around Here!! Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow front

12/21/2007, 08:15 AM	#3
blakeoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 370	Glass __________________ Somethings Fishy Around Here!! Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow front

12/21/2007, 09:43 AM	#5
Wryknow Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,203	I would drain the tank until I complete repairs. Those 72 bowfronts are kind of infamous for busting seems in a dramatic fashion. The good news is that the center brace repair can be a DIY project. Use a razor blade to scrape the old silicon off completely and clean the glass throuroughly. Then apply a nice, thick bead of new silicon to the aquarium and press the vbrace back down into it (aquarium silicopn, NOT bath and shower stuff.) Do not try to clean the excess silicon off while it is still wet. If it bothers you, let it dry first and then trim the excess off wiuth a rzor blade. __________________ You cannot use reason to change the opinion of a person that did not use reason to form their opinion in the first place. Current Tank Info: 65 G RR, w/ 50 G sump/refugium, DIY LED lighting, AquaMaxx CO-1 skimmer, Tunze 1073.050 return

12/22/2007, 06:03 AM	#6
blakeoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 370	since the tank is a little extra bowed out from the water pressure How do i know how far to "pull it back" so that it is the same distance apart as it was before? Thanks in advance or all the help guys! __________________ Somethings Fishy Around Here!! Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow front

12/22/2007, 12:11 PM	#10
Lo0seR Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: La Mesa, Ca. Posts: 443	My 150 did the samething, at 30" tall glass I was freaked!! I went to the metal scrapyard and got some foodgrade stainless and off to my neighbors house for a quick weld. I didn't drain the whole thing just lowered water level and all worked out fine. You will come up with something, brainstorm and show us what you come up with. __________________ Here's to the losers, bless them all... Mr.F.S Current Tank Info: 240 LeeMar Euro FlatPolished

12/21/2007, 08:14 AM	#2
Paulairduck I LOVE FREE FRAGS!!! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 2,909	Is the tank acrylic or glass ???

12/21/2007, 08:19 AM	#4
SuperAWE Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 245	You can get a scrap piece of acrylic and make your own brace to replace the broken one. Go from top edge rear to top edge front. Then you can remove the old one completely. Might want to do it sooner than later.

12/22/2007, 06:37 AM	#7
JHemdal Moved On Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,971	As I think you've already guessed, my understanding is that you need to drain the tank fully before repairing the brace in order to bring the sides back into their proper distances. Is this brace the thin black plastic one? If so, be careful about the advice above to use plex and/or silicone to make the repair! Now, if I understood SuperAwe correctly, he/she is suggesting fabricating a new brace that will hang over the front and the back, like a clip. I've repaired braces that way and it works o.k. If you use silicone, go with Dow 795 ONLY! It is hard to find, but it is the only silicone that I'll ever use for structural repairs. Otherwise, consider using a two part epoxy.... Jay Hemdal

12/22/2007, 07:09 AM	#8
bracebldrs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: illinios Posts: 90	i had an old 55g brace break before tried epoxy ect. the material was so brittle from uv and time it was impossable to fix. so i went to HD and bought an alluminum flat bar 3/16 by1in by 24in.cut to fit bent ends over 1in notched canopy has'nt moved since.

12/22/2007, 11:32 AM	#9
badazztealcobra Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Streamwood, IL Posts: 7,394	I would drop all the water out, take the old frame off and install a new frame for it.... I would think that a local AGA dealer can get a bowfront frame for you no problem, I think I walso found one at miracles.... its all the way down at the bottom of the page, I think the part number is YF27, but I would contact them to make sure its correct before ordering. I think alot of the people posting about homemade frames missed the bowfront part of your original post... Miracles Aquariums