want to jump back in

bufu11 · 12/01/2009, 08:24 PM

hey guys, i have been out of reefing for a while due to school costs. i am trying to get back in with a cheap setup. i ahve a 40 long that i want to drill out and get going, problem is my puppy chewed the center brace off!!!! any suggestions on how to fix this? anything cheap? i really cannot afford a new tank right now! thanks,

donk228 · 12/01/2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bufu11

hey guys, i have been out of reefing for a while due to school costs. i am trying to get back in with a cheap setup. i ahve a 40 long that i want to drill out and get going, problem is my puppy chewed the center brace off!!!! any suggestions on how to fix this? anything cheap? i really cannot afford a new tank right now! thanks,

I've heard of repairing the center brace by drilling a couple of holes and using nylon nuts and bolts with some plastic or acrylic. I'd definitely do it with an empty tank, though. Try searching the forums for people that have replaced the brace with acrylic to run a single MH without a shadow.

ChadTheSpike · 12/01/2009, 08:50 PM

You should be able to get a new part from the tank manufacturer and replace it.

bufu11 · 12/01/2009, 08:55 PM

can't figure out the manufactuor, i saw the nylon nuts a year or two ago but the problem is mu pup chewed it right up to the glass on both sides!!!!

donk228 · 12/01/2009, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bufu11

can't figure out the manufactuor, i saw the nylon nuts a year or two ago but the problem is mu pup chewed it right up to the glass on both sides!!!!

Yikes! Sounds like the entire upper trim needs to be replaced. I'd check online for places that might make generic replacement trim & braces. A quick googling turned up this (go about 3/4 down the page to "REPLACEMENT FRAMES AND TRIM"):
http://www.miraclesaquariums.com/productlist.html

Names Brucey · 12/01/2009, 09:15 PM

What about cutting a piece of glass and siliconing it in place. May need to dremel out some misc. plastic.

bufu11 · 12/01/2009, 09:32 PM

any other ideas? maybe a wooden brace???

bufu11 · 12/01/2009, 09:39 PM

sorry, i responded before refreshing the page ahah thanks for the ideas, what about a wooden frame?

bufu11 · 12/01/2009, 09:42 PM

if i simply silicone a piece of glass in place that will hold? if soo im sold haha

ChadTheSpike · 12/01/2009, 09:43 PM

I dont think that wood would be a very good idea, as I think eventually water would infiltrate it and cause it to deteriorate and rot out. I like the glass or plexiglass idea.

bufu11 · 12/01/2009, 09:51 PM

ok thanks guys!!!! i will start a build thread soon!!!

bufu11 · 12/01/2009, 11:07 PM

ok so the damage was worse then i thought, i had to take the whole top trim off. will the glass brace still hold up?

bufu11 · 12/02/2009, 12:51 AM

bump...

yongpanda · 12/02/2009, 01:00 AM

i think this depends on the thickness of the glass and the quality of silicone. is it regular clear silicone or black silicone?

PRDubois · 12/02/2009, 01:12 AM

Go to craigs list and get a new tank. I would not use the damaged one.

12/01/2009, 08:24 PM	#1
bufu11 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: st.catharines Posts: 318	want to jump back in hey guys, i have been out of reefing for a while due to school costs. i am trying to get back in with a cheap setup. i ahve a 40 long that i want to drill out and get going, problem is my puppy chewed the center brace off!!!! any suggestions on how to fix this? anything cheap? i really cannot afford a new tank right now! thanks,

12/01/2009, 08:50 PM	#3
ChadTheSpike Reef Engineer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,526 Blog Entries: 1	You should be able to get a new part from the tank manufacturer and replace it. __________________ ~Chad "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." Current Tank Info: 195 gallons of fun

12/01/2009, 09:43 PM	#10
ChadTheSpike Reef Engineer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,526 Blog Entries: 1	I dont think that wood would be a very good idea, as I think eventually water would infiltrate it and cause it to deteriorate and rot out. I like the glass or plexiglass idea. __________________ ~Chad "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." Current Tank Info: 195 gallons of fun

12/02/2009, 01:00 AM	#14
yongpanda Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: United States Posts: 504	i think this depends on the thickness of the glass and the quality of silicone. is it regular clear silicone or black silicone? __________________ I'm not obssesed with aquariums, I just find them very interesting :D Current Tank Info: Elos Midi in the making

12/02/2009, 01:12 AM	#15
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	Go to craigs list and get a new tank. I would not use the damaged one. __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

12/01/2009, 08:55 PM	#4
bufu11 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: st.catharines Posts: 318	can't figure out the manufactuor, i saw the nylon nuts a year or two ago but the problem is mu pup chewed it right up to the glass on both sides!!!!

12/01/2009, 09:15 PM	#6
Names Brucey Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Middle River, MD Posts: 272	What about cutting a piece of glass and siliconing it in place. May need to dremel out some misc. plastic.

12/01/2009, 09:32 PM	#7
bufu11 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: st.catharines Posts: 318	any other ideas? maybe a wooden brace???

12/01/2009, 09:39 PM	#8
bufu11 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: st.catharines Posts: 318	sorry, i responded before refreshing the page ahah thanks for the ideas, what about a wooden frame?

12/01/2009, 09:42 PM	#9
bufu11 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: st.catharines Posts: 318	if i simply silicone a piece of glass in place that will hold? if soo im sold haha

12/01/2009, 09:51 PM	#11
bufu11 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: st.catharines Posts: 318	ok thanks guys!!!! i will start a build thread soon!!!

12/01/2009, 11:07 PM	#12
bufu11 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: st.catharines Posts: 318	ok so the damage was worse then i thought, i had to take the whole top trim off. will the glass brace still hold up?

12/02/2009, 12:51 AM	#13
bufu11 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: st.catharines Posts: 318	bump...