Broken top/center brace help

gravel_digger

gravel_digger

Members
Does anyone here do any light welding? I currently have a 220 gallon tank that the 2 center braces are broken on. It's an older tank and no one seems to carry the top brace for it anymore. I was curious if someone could actually weld a top brace with the 2 center braces attached. I would need something thin enough that the AC 110s that I use would be able to fit over, so I am not looking for something that is large and bulky.

If anyone else has any better ideas I am also willing to entertain. I just don’t want to take any chances with this thing bowing out.

Thanks in advance.
 
Tony

Tony

Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
It was a bit ghetto, but a long time ago, I remember my dad used a metal Bar Clamp (or "F-Clamp") across the top of his old 55. He use a hacksaw to cut off the extra bar sticking out. It lasted for years and he never had any issues with it.

Effective, but a bit unsightly. :/
 
jonclark96

jonclark96

Past CCA President
I agree that you need to brace it. I wouldn't risk a 55 with out a top brace. I can't imagine dumping 210 gallons of water on the floor.

I remember a thread years ago with someone bolting together a piece of bar stock steel to an angle, then just sliding it over the existing broken trim. Again, like Tony's proposed fix, unsightly but effective.
 
Jeff721

Jeff721

Members
What about a tight fitting canopy?
Enamel coated hardwood would hold up. Just make sure that the canopy itself had a center brance or two.
 
gravel_digger

gravel_digger

Members
Yeah I have something currently like what Tony is speaking and I really don't like the look at all. Jon after watching a 55 gallon completely bow out and scare me to do I would not even take the chance on this thing. When I bought the tank I didn't figure it would be this difficult to find a new top brace.

Jeff my initial thought was some time of wood project but I just couldn't get it worked out in my head where I saw it working out well enough for me to be comfortable with that much water..... if you have more details in mind how you think this would work please let me know...

Thanks all....
 
xny89

xny89

CCA Members
Terell,

I have a mig welder that I've used for automotive sheet metal and exhaust. It requires a 20 amp 110v outlet. If you wish to go the metal route, I could see a couple of pieces of angle iron and flat steel to create the brace - all you'd have to do is give me dimensions and I could see what I could create as I've got a bunch of stuff in my garage,or could pick up at Home Depot. I live in Silver Spring which is a bit of a trip from you.
 
Becca

Becca

Members
jonclark96 said:
I agree that you need to brace it. I wouldn't risk a 55 with out a top brace. I can't imagine dumping 210 gallons of water on the floor.

I remember a thread years ago with someone bolting together a piece of bar stock steel to an angle, then just sliding it over the existing broken trim. Again, like Tony's proposed fix, unsightly but effective.
Click to expand...

My dad did something like this with a 55 we had many years ago. It still bowed a little because the fit was not quite snug when he was done making the new brace.

This is unsightly, but if you built a canopy it wouldn't necessarily be visible.
 
blkmjk

blkmjk

Members
That sux bro. I would get angle iron from home depot and just make my own top support. I do have a welder you could borrow if you really needed it but I have a fab shop at work that could fab it for you. That way it looks like the original but steel instead of plastic.

Drew
 
Localzoo

Localzoo

Board of Directors
Find someone who kayaks and get some fiberglass cloth and resin to patch it up....just put a rod or something there to reinforce it when you fiberglass it.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
JasonC

JasonC

Members
Thought about looking up a local company with a large format 3d printer? They could re-create the exact frame... No clue how much something like that would cost though...
 
CichlidAddict

CichlidAddict

Members
Don't fill the tank until you fix the center brace. My friend broke the center brace of a 200 gal Oceanic tank because he placed too much weight on top of it. He didn't empty the tank right away to fix it. Two weeks later, the tank started to leak due to bulging of the the glass. Now it's a mess for him as he resealed once and still leaks. Apparently, the primary seal between the glass has shifted due to loss of the center support and the repair is more complicated than just resealing.

I wouldn't use fiberglass replacement of the center brace because silicone does not adhere well between glass and fiberglass. Neither would angel iron be desirable because it can rust. Get a piece of 1/2" glass and seal with aquarium grade silicone.
 
Dana

Dana

Members
I had a 125 that broke. what I did was Quick easy and didn't cost much. What I did was went to local hardware and got 2 pieces of aluminum flat bar. one 1/2" and one 2" longer then tank is deep. 3' for your tank. With the 1/2" piece first bend one end on a 90 about 3/4" long. On one end of the tank lay the bar so as to get the length you need for the brace. now bend the other end on a 90 and cut off all but 3/4". with the 2" piece measure the distance between inside front and back of top frame and cut to length. using self tapping screws attach this to the under side of cross bars. this piece is to support glass or lights. Use at lest 1/8 thick bars. If you would like I would be happy to come help you do this It worked great for me for many years! Dana
 
red texas

red texas

Members
You can do eurobrace,use glass for center support just like the oceanic tanks,look up the king of diy joey he built a 500 gallon tank doing that
 
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