Glass support broke on my 210 gallon tank

bigtank2012 · 01/22/2012, 07:24 PM

Was doing a water change in my tank, and the glass support broke which is 23" by 23" and a half inch thick. I need suggestions on temporary brace ideas, or ideas on how to make a new support, until I can get another piece of glass made. Help?? The tank is 7' long, 2' wide and 2' deep.

Saltydrip · 01/22/2012, 07:30 PM

If the glass is bowing I would immediately go get some long clamps from lowes or home depot!!! In all honesty i can't believe it didn't burst when the support broke! That's a lot of pressure avaunt the walls. I had a 55 go that once. I'll NEVER set anything on that support again!

uncleof6 · 01/22/2012, 07:32 PM

WHOOOAAAA! If the tank is bowing, drain the tank down before doing anything else. Once you relieve the pressure, then go about a temporary solution.

You are going to have to relieve the pressure, anyway, to repair the support, and it will have to sit for a week at least, with no pressure if you silicone a new glass support in.

bigtank2012 · 01/22/2012, 07:35 PM

The walls are a half inch thick as well. Will post a pic of the support.

zigzag1 · 01/22/2012, 07:38 PM

Ugh. Yes, drain the tank as much as possible, then go about a temporary fix. How old is your tank, and who manufactured it? Hopefully your tank still has some warranty remaining.

And, welcome to Reef Central!

uncleof6 · 01/22/2012, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtank2012

The walls are a half inch thick as well. Will post a pic of the support.

1/2" is not thick enough to hold without the support, and the support is done. You have to relieve the pressure on the front and back to repair/replace/temp up a support.

Looks to me like the water level is down a bit, which may be why it did not go.

bigtank2012 · 01/22/2012, 07:42 PM

Any ideas on how to go about making up a support?

uncleof6 · 01/22/2012, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtank2012

Any ideas on how to go about making up a support?

Glass is about as good as it will get. The time frame will be inconvenient certainly, but really is the best option. For temping, bar clamps will point load the panels, not a good thing.Bar Clamp (front to back) lumber front and back, a few feet long, would probably serve temporarily. (Spread the load) Fortunately the pressure is the least at the top. Be very gentle, glass bows a small amount, then it breaks.

Fixing it will not be a huge issue, but you have to pull the top rim. have the glass cut an 1/8" shy (front to back dimension) for seam allowance. Use Momentive RTV108 silicone. You have to meticulously clean the old silicone off (Acetone and a great deal of elbow grease.) When the panel is in place, clamp, front to back and let it sit for at least a week. Basically, the tank will be out of service.

EDIT: If you want to put the tank back in service, I would recommend you use better clamps than that.

Magnetic Reaper · 01/22/2012, 09:29 PM

at 1/2' thick, you're safety factor without the brace is still 3.7 if it's full to the rim... that brace probably isn't as useful as you might think. however, is the tank is old and the glass has been bumped a few times and the silicone isn't in top shape, you might want to get it fixed before you go more then 20 inch high with the water (safety factor of 5.2 at 20")

id also remove that clamp thing. it's probably doing more harm then good.

uncleof6 · 01/22/2012, 09:54 PM

Evidently, the manufacturer was a bit more concerned about that 3.7 safety factor. Otherwise, the brace would not have been included. This tank will bow a bit more than is comfortable. Rimless tanks are built with a considerably higher safety factor than rimmed and braced tanks. Also, at 7' long, that safety factor has less meaning, in terms of just the height. Safety factor of 3.8 is the minimum, for a well supported, full rimmed tank. This tank is no longer well supported.

bigtank2012 · 01/22/2012, 10:28 PM

Thanks guys. Currently transferred fish into another tank until it is fixed. But do you guys suggest cutting the support out and get a new piece cut, or could I silicone the broken piece back in?

uncleof6 · 01/22/2012, 10:55 PM

Replace the broken glass. It will not any longer provide support to the tank--no matter how you try to repair it.

You will have to pull the top rim to do the job right.... read my post several back.

Magnetic Reaper · 01/22/2012, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncleof6

Evidently, the manufacturer was a bit more concerned about that 3.7 safety factor. Otherwise, the brace would not have been included. This tank will bow a bit more than is comfortable. Rimless tanks are built with a considerably higher safety factor than rimmed and braced tanks. Also, at 7' long, that safety factor has less meaning, in terms of just the height. Safety factor of 3.8 is the minimum, for a well supported, full rimmed tank. This tank is no longer well supported.

I'm not disagreeing, but the tank can handle 20 inches of water. obviously 3.7 isn't ideal for short term let alone long term, which is why i suggested 20 inches of water until repairs are done.

uncleof6 · 01/22/2012, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnetic Reaper

I'm not disagreeing, but the tank can handle 20 inches of water. obviously 3.7 isn't ideal for short term let alone long term, which is why i suggested 20 inches of water until repairs are done.

Understood. However the tank is now out of service, according to the OP, and that is perhaps the best course of action, till the repair is made. It would have to be out of service to make the repair anyway.

bigtank2012 · 01/22/2012, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncleof6

Replace the broken glass. It will not any longer provide support to the tank--no matter how you try to repair it.

You will have to pull the top rim to do the job right.... read my post several back.

What do you mean the top rim? I'm new to this so need details. lol

Magnetic Reaper · 01/22/2012, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncleof6

Understood. However the tank is now out of service, according to the OP, and that is perhaps the best course of action, till the repair is made. It would have to be out of service to make the repair anyway.

i hear fishes hate having acetone in their water

uncleof6 · 01/22/2012, 11:06 PM

Yeah, I heard that somewhere too probably a rumor......

uncleof6 · 01/22/2012, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtank2012

What do you mean the top rim? I'm new to this so need details. lol

That plastic stuff around the top edge of the tank.

The support is siliconed under it. You are not going to enjoy this, but with this size tank, i am not going to tell you to trash it or use it as a reptile tank......(which is all it is right now)..... you will probably destroy the top rim taking it off......

You may wish to consider, in lieu of replacing the top rim to go ahead and install a glass eurobrace on the top of the tank, but you may wish to inquire in the DIY section, and free up the New To the Hobby section, cause that will take a bit more explaining to cover.

Do be careful, however, as the top edge of the glass is not user friendly.

01/22/2012, 07:30 PM	#2
Saltydrip Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,826	If the glass is bowing I would immediately go get some long clamps from lowes or home depot!!! In all honesty i can't believe it didn't burst when the support broke! That's a lot of pressure avaunt the walls. I had a 55 go that once. I'll NEVER set anything on that support again! __________________ Current tank 48" 75g DT w/ 55g sump/fuge.

01/22/2012, 07:32 PM	#3
uncleof6 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: AWOL Posts: 12,013	WHOOOAAAA! If the tank is bowing, drain the tank down before doing anything else. Once you relieve the pressure, then go about a temporary solution. You are going to have to relieve the pressure, anyway, to repair the support, and it will have to sit for a week at least, with no pressure if you silicone a new glass support in. __________________ "Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." (oft attributed to Einstein; most likely paraphrasing by Roger Sessions; compactly articulates the principle of Occam's Razor) Current Tank Info: 325 6' wide Reef

01/22/2012, 07:38 PM	#5
zigzag1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Anderson, Indiana Posts: 1,276	Ugh. Yes, drain the tank as much as possible, then go about a temporary fix. How old is your tank, and who manufactured it? Hopefully your tank still has some warranty remaining. And, welcome to Reef Central! __________________ :beer: Mixed Reef, started 10/2004: 6' BB 125g DT, 100lbs LR, 40g sump, Dual Ehiem 1000 returns, Eshopps dual overflow, JBJ ATO, Vertex IN-180, PM Ca reactor, 250w MH w/VHO Actinic, AC3 w/Aquasurf, Tunze 6105 pair & 40B frag tank 8 Fish, 20+ corals, shrimp, snails, worms, bugs, etc.

01/22/2012, 09:54 PM	#10
uncleof6 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: AWOL Posts: 12,013	Evidently, the manufacturer was a bit more concerned about that 3.7 safety factor. Otherwise, the brace would not have been included. This tank will bow a bit more than is comfortable. Rimless tanks are built with a considerably higher safety factor than rimmed and braced tanks. Also, at 7' long, that safety factor has less meaning, in terms of just the height. Safety factor of 3.8 is the minimum, for a well supported, full rimmed tank. This tank is no longer well supported. __________________ "Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." (oft attributed to Einstein; most likely paraphrasing by Roger Sessions; compactly articulates the principle of Occam's Razor) Current Tank Info: 325 6' wide Reef

01/22/2012, 10:55 PM	#12
uncleof6 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: AWOL Posts: 12,013	Replace the broken glass. It will not any longer provide support to the tank--no matter how you try to repair it. You will have to pull the top rim to do the job right.... read my post several back. __________________ "Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." (oft attributed to Einstein; most likely paraphrasing by Roger Sessions; compactly articulates the principle of Occam's Razor) Current Tank Info: 325 6' wide Reef

01/22/2012, 07:35 PM	#4
bigtank2012 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 5	The walls are a half inch thick as well. Will post a pic of the support.

01/22/2012, 07:42 PM	#7
bigtank2012 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 5	Any ideas on how to go about making up a support?

01/22/2012, 09:29 PM	#9
Magnetic Reaper Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: canada Posts: 51	at 1/2' thick, you're safety factor without the brace is still 3.7 if it's full to the rim... that brace probably isn't as useful as you might think. however, is the tank is old and the glass has been bumped a few times and the silicone isn't in top shape, you might want to get it fixed before you go more then 20 inch high with the water (safety factor of 5.2 at 20") id also remove that clamp thing. it's probably doing more harm then good.

01/22/2012, 10:28 PM	#11
bigtank2012 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 5	Thanks guys. Currently transferred fish into another tank until it is fixed. But do you guys suggest cutting the support out and get a new piece cut, or could I silicone the broken piece back in?

01/22/2012, 11:06 PM	#17
uncleof6 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: AWOL Posts: 12,013	Yeah, I heard that somewhere too probably a rumor...... __________________ "Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." (oft attributed to Einstein; most likely paraphrasing by Roger Sessions; compactly articulates the principle of Occam's Razor) Current Tank Info: 325 6' wide Reef