911 is my tank OK???

rackmsukr · 06/08/2010, 07:26 PM

I was cleaning my 150 gal tank and one of the cross braces on top snapped with a loud "crack", leaving about 3/8" of a gap where the tank appears to have "bowed out" from the released pressure. There was originally 2 cross braces and the other one was already broken so now I have no cross braces holding anything together. Everything looks to be OK but I am worried that I might wake up tomorrow morning with a flood. Anybody have any thoughts on this? Thanks in advance!

Flightpipe · 06/08/2010, 07:29 PM

Ummm no I dont think that is ok! Make a brace, lower your water level to reduce the bow. Do something!

Edit: You could get a peice of plastic or wood and screw it to the broken peices to join them again but I would still lower the water level.

James404 · 06/08/2010, 07:44 PM

I would be worried about that, those braces are there for a reason...I would reduce the water level and either get it fixed ASAP or get another tank.

BrokeColoReefer · 06/08/2010, 07:45 PM

not ok. not even close to ok. You can make a temp brace out of a 2x4 that spans across the top with blocks screwed to both ends to keep it together. Time for a new tank. Like the poster above said, remove as much water as you can.

jcato · 06/08/2010, 08:03 PM

get a couple rachet style tie downs and put them around the tank to keep it from blowing out.

john

BrokeColoReefer · 06/08/2010, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcato

get a couple rachet style tie downs and put them around the tank to keep it from blowing out.

john

now thats one hell of a good idea.

E.intheC · 06/08/2010, 09:17 PM

yeah you definitely need to empty this tank.

mthomp · 06/08/2010, 09:19 PM

I have purchased new rims for a 55 in the past, cost me like 10 bucks.

khaosinc · 06/09/2010, 12:31 AM

I had that problem on an old 180 gallon (freshwater) and I used a couple of wood clamps for quite a while until I epoxied in a couple pieces of acrylic. held for a few years after that until I gave it away.

Tie down straps are a good idea as well. Cheap, and available just about everywhere

jon1985 · 06/09/2010, 06:02 AM

be careful with tie down straps as they tend to put alot of pressure on corners so it might only pull the top edges of the tank it.

rackmsukr · 06/09/2010, 06:12 AM

Thanks to all for the quick replies! I emptied half the water out, superglued the brace back together where it was originally, then I epoxied 1/4" plexiglass along both sides to reinforce the cross brace. I also added an additional brace back where the other one was originally broken. Probably better now than what it was.

serpentman · 06/09/2010, 06:31 AM

Over the years I believe tank manufacturers have learned to thin down the glass to cut costs without risking structural integrity. However, in doing so, they rely a lot more structural bracing.

I remember cutting out the cross braces on my 150 while it was still full. In hindsight it was a stupid move. However, I used long wood clamps to keep the tank in place while I cut them out and riveted acrylic braces in their place. It worked well but one thing was evident, there is a lot of force being exerted and they are absolutely necessary.

James404 · 06/09/2010, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rackmsukr

Thanks to all for the quick replies! I emptied half the water out, superglued the brace back together where it was originally, then I epoxied 1/4" plexiglass along both sides to reinforce the cross brace. I also added an additional brace back where the other one was originally broken. Probably better now than what it was.

Good job on the fix, I'm sure you'll sleep better at night with that.

zeusfc · 06/09/2010, 08:04 AM

love that ratchet strap idea... if you put a plank front and back, + polystyrene first, that would definitely work... good "ghetto" fix!

Dave VG · 06/09/2010, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James404

Good job on the fix, I'm sure you'll sleep better at night with that.

x2

da1jewfish · 06/09/2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rackmsukr

Thanks to all for the quick replies! I emptied half the water out, superglued the brace back together where it was originally, then I epoxied 1/4" plexiglass along both sides to reinforce the cross brace. I also added an additional brace back where the other one was originally broken. Probably better now than what it was.

Don't meen to jack your thread, but what type of epoxy did you use? Not the kind that we hold our frags in the tank with is it?

HippieSmell · 06/09/2010, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jon1985

be careful with tie down straps as they tend to put alot of pressure on corners so it might only pull the top edges of the tank it.

This is what I was going to say. I wouldn't do it. In fact, the more I think about it, straps will make it worse. It will put almost all of the pressure on the corners and bow the glass even more.

rackmsukr · 06/09/2010, 11:01 AM

My tank is built into the wall so the ratchet straps weren't an option unless I wanted to tear up my woodwork trim around the tank. I used a strong 2 part epoxy to glue the supports. Everything is back to normal now but I about sh*t when that brace snapped.

steelhead77 · 06/09/2010, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rackmsukr

My tank is built into the wall so the ratchet straps weren't an option unless I wanted to tear up my woodwork trim around the tank. I used a strong 2 part epoxy to glue the supports. Everything is back to normal now but I about sh*t when that brace snapped.

Just to be safe, I would install a couple stainless steel screws, on both sides of the break, thru the supports and tank brace. I would not trust the epoxy alone. I did the exact same thing on a 55 and after a couple days the epoxy let go and scared the you-know-what outta me.

rackmsukr · 06/09/2010, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelhead77

Just to be safe, I would install a couple stainless steel screws, on both sides of the break, thru the supports and tank brace. I would not trust the epoxy alone. I did the exact same thing on a 55 and after a couple days the epoxy let go and scared the you-know-what outta me.

That idea had crossed my mind. I might give it a try. Better safe than sorry!

06/08/2010, 07:26 PM	#1
rackmsukr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 39	911 is my tank OK??? I was cleaning my 150 gal tank and one of the cross braces on top snapped with a loud "crack", leaving about 3/8" of a gap where the tank appears to have "bowed out" from the released pressure. There was originally 2 cross braces and the other one was already broken so now I have no cross braces holding anything together. Everything looks to be OK but I am worried that I might wake up tomorrow morning with a flood. Anybody have any thoughts on this? Thanks in advance!

06/08/2010, 07:29 PM	#2
Flightpipe Sea Turtles Love Me...... Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pensacola, FL. Posts: 745	Ummm no I dont think that is ok! Make a brace, lower your water level to reduce the bow. Do something! Edit: You could get a peice of plastic or wood and screw it to the broken peices to join them again but I would still lower the water level. __________________ "Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so." Current Tank Info: 29 BC Reef

06/08/2010, 08:03 PM	#5
jcato Reef Junkie Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Arkansas Posts: 693	get a couple rachet style tie downs and put them around the tank to keep it from blowing out. john __________________ "What is understood does'nt need to be discussed" Current Tank Info: 60g Cube Soft Coral Reef

06/08/2010, 09:17 PM	#7
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	yeah you definitely need to empty this tank. __________________ -Eric

06/09/2010, 12:31 AM	#9
khaosinc The cyborg reefer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NW Washington state Posts: 2,345	I had that problem on an old 180 gallon (freshwater) and I used a couple of wood clamps for quite a while until I epoxied in a couple pieces of acrylic. held for a few years after that until I gave it away. Tie down straps are a good idea as well. Cheap, and available just about everywhere __________________ Disclaimer: I have not yet figured out how to install a breathalizer on my computer. Current Tank Info: It's all torn down... someday I might rebuild.

06/08/2010, 07:44 PM	#3
James404 I <3 Acros Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,523	I would be worried about that, those braces are there for a reason...I would reduce the water level and either get it fixed ASAP or get another tank.

06/08/2010, 07:45 PM	#4
BrokeColoReefer Hermit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountains of Boulder County. Posts: 2,289	not ok. not even close to ok. You can make a temp brace out of a 2x4 that spans across the top with blocks screwed to both ends to keep it together. Time for a new tank. Like the poster above said, remove as much water as you can.

06/08/2010, 09:19 PM	#8
mthomp Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 766	I have purchased new rims for a 55 in the past, cost me like 10 bucks.

06/09/2010, 06:02 AM	#10
jon1985 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: West of Ottawa Posts: 617	be careful with tie down straps as they tend to put alot of pressure on corners so it might only pull the top edges of the tank it. __________________ Jon Lester

06/09/2010, 06:12 AM	#11
rackmsukr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 39	Thanks to all for the quick replies! I emptied half the water out, superglued the brace back together where it was originally, then I epoxied 1/4" plexiglass along both sides to reinforce the cross brace. I also added an additional brace back where the other one was originally broken. Probably better now than what it was.

06/09/2010, 06:31 AM	#12
serpentman part time superhero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO) Posts: 5,698	Over the years I believe tank manufacturers have learned to thin down the glass to cut costs without risking structural integrity. However, in doing so, they rely a lot more structural bracing. I remember cutting out the cross braces on my 150 while it was still full. In hindsight it was a stupid move. However, I used long wood clamps to keep the tank in place while I cut them out and riveted acrylic braces in their place. It worked well but one thing was evident, there is a lot of force being exerted and they are absolutely necessary. __________________ BS in Marine Bio ('96), First SW tank in 1992. Current Tank(s) 300g SPS with 90g frag tank and 40 anemone tank - decommissioned 46g LPS/Softy Cube 300g FOWLR under construction - decommissioned

06/09/2010, 08:04 AM	#14
zeusfc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cyprus Posts: 352	love that ratchet strap idea... if you put a plank front and back, + polystyrene first, that would definitely work... good "ghetto" fix! __________________ STOP TRYING TO READ THE INTERNET AND GO TO BED... Sleep is far more important! Current Tank Info: 16 months with a temporary tank... That Reefspace can't come soon enough!

06/09/2010, 11:01 AM	#18
rackmsukr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 39	My tank is built into the wall so the ratchet straps weren't an option unless I wanted to tear up my woodwork trim around the tank. I used a strong 2 part epoxy to glue the supports. Everything is back to normal now but I about sh*t when that brace snapped.

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