Melted tank brace

akitty6552 · 12/04/2008, 05:32 PM

I have a 65 gallon reef tank with a melted tank brace and I would like some advice.

Has anyone ever had this happen to them and do you guys think it will weaken the tank and how can I fix it?

sassafrass · 12/04/2008, 06:34 PM

That looks like light diffuser , it should have no structural significance in your tank

akitty6552 · 12/04/2008, 06:57 PM

The black center brace?

Not the eggcrate, i can replace that.

dmilne85 · 12/04/2008, 07:42 PM

is the brace loose? does it flex more then normally would if you push down on it? if your really worried ive seen people drill holes on either end of the black brace, and get and acrylic sheet cut similar in size length. then throw a bolt through the acrylic and bolt it threw the two drilled holes in the original brace as extra support if that makes sense.

akitty6552 · 12/04/2008, 07:52 PM

It has always flexed a little, but seems to flex more now. Especially in the middle where its melted.

ltindle · 12/04/2008, 08:38 PM

How did it melt?

Toddrtrex · 12/04/2008, 08:42 PM

Looks like it melted from the heat of your lights. So, for right now I would raise of the the lights -- if you don't it is just going to get worse and the brace will snap.

I had that happen to me many many years ago. Thank god I was home at the time, was shocked at home much the tank bowed, and feel pretty confident that the glass would have broke if I wasn't at home.

ltindle · 12/04/2008, 08:54 PM

Sorry to hijack, but i'm supposed to buy an outer orbit MH fixture monday and i'm just wondering how to prevent this from happening???

akitty6552 · 12/04/2008, 09:03 PM

It happened with an MH light, i had gotten a single 250 watt setup and the MH was mounted right dab in the middle. Sad thing is, I only had the light on for about an hour when I realized it was melting the brace. I had the fixture mounted about 5 inches from the top of the tank. Took the light off and going to sell it and just go with T5s.

Bill Cobb · 12/04/2008, 09:04 PM

Mine cracked and snapped in half too. You can but the top tank rims at:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/index.web

You will have to use a knife to slip under the rim to break away the silicone. Remember to lower water level 30% to takee stress off walls.

Toddrtrex · 12/04/2008, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by akitty6552
It happened with an MH light, i had gotten a single 250 watt setup and the MH was mounted right dab in the middle. Sad thing is, I only had the light on for about an hour when I realized it was melting the brace. I had the fixture mounted about 5 inches from the top of the tank. Took the light off and going to sell it and just go with T5s.

Could have also gone with 2*250, with them being on each side of the brace it wouldn't have melted. Also, with the T5s, make sure they are a decent amount away from that brace, it is already weakened. When I snapped the brace on my 55, it was from normal florescent tubes, granted they sat right on the tank.

akitty6552 · 12/04/2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toddrtrex
Could have also gone with 2*250, with them being on each side of the brace it wouldn't have melted. Also, with the T5s, make sure they are a decent amount away from that brace, it is already weakened. When I snapped the brace on my 55, it was from normal florescent tubes, granted they sat right on the tank.

How far should the T5's sit? I was going to just go with the 4x39watt nova extreme and use the included legs.

The tank is, 36"x18"x24"

Toddrtrex · 12/04/2008, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by akitty6552
How far should the T5's sit? I was going to just go with the 4x39watt nova extreme and use the included legs.

The tank is, 36"x18"x24"

Normally I would say a couple of inches would be fine, but with the way your brace is, I would like it to be a bit higher up. I would really keep a close eye on that brace.

12/04/2008, 05:32 PM	#1
akitty6552 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: PA Posts: 63	Melted tank brace I have a 65 gallon reef tank with a melted tank brace and I would like some advice. Has anyone ever had this happen to them and do you guys think it will weaken the tank and how can I fix it? __________________ 125 gallon with 5 red belly piranhas 65 gallon SW tank with two clowns, royal gramma, yellow watchman goby and a lettuce nudibranch that is constantly trying to commit suicide. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon piranha tank, 65 gallon SW tank with two clowns, royal gramma, yellow watchman goby and a lettuce nudibranch that is always trying to kill itself.

12/04/2008, 06:57 PM	#3
akitty6552 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: PA Posts: 63	The black center brace? Not the eggcrate, i can replace that. __________________ 125 gallon with 5 red belly piranhas 65 gallon SW tank with two clowns, royal gramma, yellow watchman goby and a lettuce nudibranch that is constantly trying to commit suicide. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon piranha tank, 65 gallon SW tank with two clowns, royal gramma, yellow watchman goby and a lettuce nudibranch that is always trying to kill itself.

12/04/2008, 07:52 PM	#5
akitty6552 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: PA Posts: 63	It has always flexed a little, but seems to flex more now. Especially in the middle where its melted. __________________ 125 gallon with 5 red belly piranhas 65 gallon SW tank with two clowns, royal gramma, yellow watchman goby and a lettuce nudibranch that is constantly trying to commit suicide. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon piranha tank, 65 gallon SW tank with two clowns, royal gramma, yellow watchman goby and a lettuce nudibranch that is always trying to kill itself.

12/04/2008, 08:42 PM	#7
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Looks like it melted from the heat of your lights. So, for right now I would raise of the the lights -- if you don't it is just going to get worse and the brace will snap. I had that happen to me many many years ago. Thank god I was home at the time, was shocked at home much the tank bowed, and feel pretty confident that the glass would have broke if I wasn't at home. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

12/04/2008, 09:03 PM	#9
akitty6552 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: PA Posts: 63	It happened with an MH light, i had gotten a single 250 watt setup and the MH was mounted right dab in the middle. Sad thing is, I only had the light on for about an hour when I realized it was melting the brace. I had the fixture mounted about 5 inches from the top of the tank. Took the light off and going to sell it and just go with T5s. __________________ 125 gallon with 5 red belly piranhas 65 gallon SW tank with two clowns, royal gramma, yellow watchman goby and a lettuce nudibranch that is constantly trying to commit suicide. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon piranha tank, 65 gallon SW tank with two clowns, royal gramma, yellow watchman goby and a lettuce nudibranch that is always trying to kill itself.

12/04/2008, 06:34 PM	#2
sassafrass Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: capitola ca Posts: 1,729	That looks like light diffuser , it should have no structural significance in your tank

12/04/2008, 07:42 PM	#4
dmilne85 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Arizona, now in Pittsburgh :0( Posts: 602	is the brace loose? does it flex more then normally would if you push down on it? if your really worried ive seen people drill holes on either end of the black brace, and get and acrylic sheet cut similar in size length. then throw a bolt through the acrylic and bolt it threw the two drilled holes in the original brace as extra support if that makes sense.

12/04/2008, 08:38 PM	#6
ltindle Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 178	How did it melt?

12/04/2008, 08:54 PM	#8
ltindle Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 178	Sorry to hijack, but i'm supposed to buy an outer orbit MH fixture monday and i'm just wondering how to prevent this from happening???

12/04/2008, 09:04 PM	#10
Bill Cobb Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: White Plains, MD Posts: 136	Mine cracked and snapped in half too. You can but the top tank rims at: http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/index.web You will have to use a knife to slip under the rim to break away the silicone. Remember to lower water level 30% to takee stress off walls. __________________ Bill Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, 29g plumbed w/ 20g, 2 - 5g seahorse tanks, 2 micro algae reactors, 3 brine shrimp reactors, 4 - 1g rotifer tanks, 55g display plumbed w/55g refugium.