Safe To Restore And Use?

Hey everyone,

Just looking for other opinions here... I bought this 125 gallon tank used for $50. The glass is 3/8 in by my measure and the thing is heavy. It's not in great shape. The plastic trim is broken and it will need to be resealed.

My primary concern and main question is that the center brace is broken. From my research some old tanks don't require a center brace but I think that glass was 1/2in...

If I took a center brace from a broken 125 I have and silicone it in place... would you trust this $50 tank?

Any thoughts or opinions are appreciated. Thank you

 

I don't know- it should be okay as long as the glass is not cracked. Keep us posted on how it turns out.

 

You absolutely need a center brace!

 

Are those braces plastic? If so, they are basically for ornamental use.
I would silicone in a piece of glass around the middle ( about 5 cm wide, the same thickness as the tank) attached directly onto the glass (front and back) at the top of the tank.
It will make you sleep better knowing that the front and rear glasses have some support. The plastic is just to look good and stop you from cutting yourself on sharp glass edges.

 

Are those braces plastic? If so, they are basically for ornamental use.
I would silicone in a piece of glass around the middle ( about 5 cm wide, the same thickness as the tank) attached directly onto the glass (front and back) at the top of the tank.
It will make you sleep better knowing that the front and rear glasses have some support. The plastic is just to look good and stop you from cutting yourself on sharp glass edges.

The closer I look at the tank I don't see any built up silicone around where any glass brace would have been. Just the plastic.

But I agree. The peace of mind is a big deal. I have a spare 125 with 2 center braces and a split seam. Non repairable. Probably cut those off and attach them here!

Thank you!

 

You absolutely need a center brace!

The more I mess with it, the more I tend to agree! I don't think it had one to begin with, but I'm going to attach 2 just for peace of mind!

 

The more I mess with it, the more I tend to agree! I don't think it had one to begin with, but I'm going to attach 2 just for peace of mind!

My mermaid and I are at a festival right now but I'll get back to you in about an hour with a fix.

 

A couple of my bigger tanks bowed a little and I wasn't comfortable, I went to Lowes and got some flat aluminum 3/4" wide bent one end at a 90 dig. set it on the tank and mark it for the other side and bent another 90 dig., it needs to be snug but not tight, works great and a lot of peace of mind. You could paint it black to match the trim.

 

A couple of my bigger tanks bowed a little and I wasn't comfortable, I went to Lowes and got some flat aluminum 3/4" wide bent one end at a 90 dig. set it on the tank and mark it for the other side and bent another 90 dig., it needs to be snug but not tight, works great and a lot of peace of mind. You could paint it black to match the trim.

That's not a bad fix either! Easier than cutting a brace off my old tank and using silicone to attach it to this one... did you bend it around the trim? I'm thinking about taking all the broken trim off this one and using some cheap shelf edging for new trim... point being I could do your fix around the glass and put trim over it

 

Yes I bent over outside edge. And after filing edges smooth and painted it looks like it belongs there, if you cut the tail that bends over flush with the bottom edge of the blk. trim it will look even better.
Do you have a vice?

 

Yes I bent over outside edge. And after filing edges smooth and painted it looks like it belongs there, if you cut the tail that bends over flush with the bottom edge of the blk. trim it will look even better.
Do you have a vice?

Yessir! I imagine it would be relatively simple to get a 90 degree bend with a vice like that.

 

So you can make an angle iron tank trim and cut v's for the 90 degrees then bolt together or you can make a wood frame with a brace or some flat stock aluminum and brace the center and tap some holes and use stainless bolts/nuts to secure it.

 

Yessir! I imagine it would be relatively simple to get a 90 degree bend with a vice like that.

You could weld one up with some angle iron also

 

There is a couple of companies that sell replacement frames on the internet. try a google search for aquarium frames.

 

There is a couple of companies that sell replacement frames on the internet. try a google search for aquarium frames.

I'll check that out too! Thank you

 

I'll check that out too! Thank you

Forget that. Dont waste money. Do a build you can make a custom lip/hood. That's something a lot of people on here need to really learn. Build things don't buy them. If you don't know how I will tell you how. If you can't build I will build for you and it will still save money.

 

Forget that. Dont waste money. Do a build you can make a custom lip/hood. That's something a lot of people on here need to really learn. Build things don't buy them. If you don't know how I will tell you how. If you can't build I will build for you and it will still save money.

Oh I completely agree with you. Itd be rude not to at least check out the other suggestion though right? The bulk of my fish room and hobby features DIY or custom built.

I like the idea of a wooden top with a lip over the trim of the tank. Something low profile that I can drop the lids into and not see them. Almost like a small canopy with an open top.

 

Oh I completely agree with you. Itd be rude not to at least check out the other suggestion though right? The bulk of my fish room and hobby features DIY or custom built.

I like the idea of a wooden top with a lip over the trim of the tank. Something low profile that I can drop the lids into and not see them. Almost like a small canopy with an open top.

Yup exactly. All of mine are diy