| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
05-24-2006, 01:50 AM
|
#1
|
|
Plankton
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Perth Australia
Posts: 11
|
How essential are the tank top support bars?!?
I have a 5'x2'x2' tank and last night i left a halogen light resting on one of the two glass supports that run across the top of the tank joining the top of the front panel to the top of the back panel.
The heat cracked the glass support and although the whole tank didnt fall apart at the time Im wondering whether im going to go home and find a flood!
Does anyone know how essential to the tanks engineering these things are? Anyone broken one before and survived?
Any comments appreaciated!
|
|
|
|
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
|
|
|
|
|
05-24-2006, 07:28 AM
|
#2
|
|
Admin/ Super mod
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: New Castle, Delaware
Posts: 20,290
|
hehehe .. oh yeah they do break.. and yes you do need it.. you have the common support brace in the midle or two off center or the "euro" bracing that is sorta just around the whole outside..
you can make a new brace to make sure there is no bowingof the tank. either use glass and reattach it or make one out of acrylic and slip it over the sides..
__________________
Tim
need something to read? just ask me.
|
|
|
|
|
05-24-2006, 09:55 AM
|
#3
|
|
The Ninja MOD
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Planet P.....Why Me?
Posts: 12,560
|
Thats 150 gallons of water at about 8 pounds a gallon. Lots of pressure on those sides. Id get it fixed fast!
Robert
__________________
If you feel so empty, so used up, so let down,
If you feel so angry, so ripped off, so stepped on,
You're not the only one refusing to back down
You're not the only one
So get up
|
|
|
|
|
05-24-2006, 10:05 AM
|
#4
|
|
Big Fishy
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: new jersey
Posts: 696
|
a VERY long time ago I cut my support brace out of a 55G and the tank bowed like crazy! it never broke but it wasnt a 150 though. get it fixed as fast as you can
|
|
|
|
|
05-24-2006, 10:10 AM
|
#5
|
|
BIG SMELLY MOD
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Livingston Parish, Denham Springs, Louisiana
Posts: 16,908
|
I would repkace it. You may be able to make a support or add to the support while the tank is up and running
__________________
Vince aka VINNIE
|
|
|
|
|
05-24-2006, 10:20 AM
|
#6
|
|
Stinky Slimey FEESH
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 1,900
|
That support is very important - when I worked at several LFS we had customers bringing in tanks without the support braces. They were bowed and some were even broken. The water pressure is too much for them and sometimes the glass breaks! I'd definitely fix it or get another tank with the supports intact. Someone could use that tank without the supports for a reptile terrarium!!
HHC
__________________
You can't kill a fish born to hang.....
135-gal Oceanic reef, MH, PC, Lunar
12-gal Nanocube
|
|
|
|
|
05-24-2006, 09:45 PM
|
#7
|
|
Plankton
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Perth Australia
Posts: 11
|
Im getting the idea id better get this fixed!!
it is one of two so hopefully it will last till tonight, i have it taped up with super duct tape at the moment...
thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
05-24-2006, 10:18 PM
|
#8
|
|
Look deeply into my eyes
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: NW Indiana
Posts: 11,140
|
Yup, Attempt some sort of temp fix to re create the bracing, something to take to place of the brace,,,it's there for a reason, i would not hesitate on this,,,,, 
__________________
Jeff
ieSpell-Use it/learn it/live it.If you think you don't need it, you do!
http://www.iespell.com/
|
|
|
|
|
05-24-2006, 10:21 PM
|
#9
|
|
I loves me a water change
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: WI
Posts: 7,743
|
We are all sending good thoughts your way that the tank stays intact until you get it fixed, MisterK! 
__________________
Chris
|
|
|
|
|
05-24-2006, 10:49 PM
|
#10
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: vegas
Posts: 391
|
i have a 50 gallon bowfront that has a piece of plastic running across the top. does this piece of plastic act as a brace as well? i want to take it off because it obstructs the light.
__________________
Reefer since 01/05
20 G Nano
|
|
|
|
|
05-24-2006, 11:05 PM
|
#11
|
|
I loves me a water change
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: WI
Posts: 7,743
|
I think it does act as a brace, yes.
__________________
Chris
|
|
|
|
|
05-24-2006, 11:17 PM
|
#12
|
|
Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West of Dimples
Posts: 18,414
|
Ya it's a brace.
As far as the 150 goes use a bar clamp to hold the 2 cracked peices of glass together and silicone a new peice of glass on top. If you don't have the supplies at the moment, just use the bar clamp as a support for now so it doesn't crack in the night.
HTH,
Whiskey
__________________
Mr. Jive/Dr. Heckyll
Life is never more fun, then when your the Underdog
Competing against the Giants.
|
|
|
|
|
05-24-2006, 11:25 PM
|
#13
|
|
Plankton
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Perth Australia
Posts: 11
|
Thanks for the advice, bar clamp sounds a good idea, its midday here but ill be heading to the glass shop tonight to get a new piece tonight and will clamp and duct tape to hold in place while the silicone dries.
It didnt seem to bow too much, the two sides of the broken glass only had around a 2milimeter gap between them when it broke so hopefully it should hold up till i can fix it.
|
|
|
|
|
05-25-2006, 09:40 AM
|
#14
|
|
Stinky Slimey FEESH
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 1,900
|
Good luck MisterK, let us know - -
Menelaus22 - yes, that's the brace, even if it obstructs the light somewhat it's acting as a support for the weight of the water pushing against the tank's walls.....
HHC
__________________
You can't kill a fish born to hang.....
135-gal Oceanic reef, MH, PC, Lunar
12-gal Nanocube
|
|
|
|
|
05-25-2006, 05:46 PM
|
#15
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: vegas
Posts: 391
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Hardhead Cat
Good luck MisterK, let us know - -
Menelaus22 - yes, that's the brace, even if it obstructs the light somewhat it's acting as a support for the weight of the water pushing against the tank's walls.....
HHC
|
ohhhhhh boy... 
This was kind of a loaded question because I couldn't take the huge vertical shadow that the "brace" was causing. I cut the piece of black plastic so everything would look better.
What the heck can I do to fix this since the tank is full? It's been holding fine for about a month now.
__________________
Reefer since 01/05
20 G Nano
|
|
|
|
|
