2013-01-20 Repairing top brace on 125 gallon aquarium

Yesterday, when I was changing the water, the front brace evidently had cracked/broke (probably due to the halogen light laying on it when I caught the fish) and the front half fell into the tank !!! This brace is there to keep the glass from bowing out and "exploding" the tank, but since the front part just fell in, my guess is the glue joint had gone bad and the brace wasn't working (scary). This video shows the end result of the 5-6 hour repair I did yesterday, using 1/4" thick plate glass. The big tips/learnings are; make sure the glass is very clean (and sanded, if possible), then clean the glued surface area with acetone. Also, make sure to use aquarium-safe 100% silicone. I still have the clamp holding the sides in ... I've heard you should let it dry for about 48 hours. Hopefully this will work !!! All the best.

[olliesshop]

I'm glad it helped, I was hoping it would help someone ... especially since the the downfall is disastrous.

[olliesshop]

Jack ... Yes, I already had a brace in the center, but it became separated from the front face of the tank over time. To me, it seems that one brace would work, as long as it's thick enough and the glue area is thoroughly cleaned before gluing in place. Also, as noted in the video, I left the top frame on just cut it away in the area where the brace was glued. I hope this helps.

[jackhavlin]

Did you already have a center brace or was that how you did the repair? I have a 125 gal with 2 center braces spaced equally (2' from each end). I noticed this evening that both were broken and there was a good 3/8" gap in each. I put clamps on it right away and pulled it back together. Now I'm in search of a repair. Removing the top frame and replacing isn't practical because it is a reef tank and I can't easily drain it. I'm wondering if I can get away with one glass in the center.

[olliesshop]

The Bessy clamps are expensive (about $70, if I remember correctly), they're kind of the Cadillac of Wood Clamps. But any type of "Bar Clamp" would work, which you could get for probably about $10-25 (one's that mount on cast iron pipe or Irwin Quick-Grip's, etc). I hope this helps. Good luck and all the best !!!

[olliesshop]

Sounds like a great project !!! I don't have direct experience in that area, but it seems relatively straightforward. Although, you might be better purchasing a 110 gallon tank. If I had to do it, I would cut the ends off each tank (assuming they're exactly the same size) and silicon them together. It's critical, though, to have the two tanks fully supported along the full length or it would probably come apart and the result would not be pretty. I would some more research, though.

[Fishkeeper]

Is the glass that you use just normal glass or is it tempered? Because bracing a tank is very new to me and my 20 gallon long tank has a slight bow in it so i emptied the tank *its new as in a few days old so there are no fish in there just water and rocks* and it would be helpful to know if a normal piece of glass would work for a 20 gallon tank as a brace. Thanks :)

[ninacarr]

how is the tank holding up now?, Im interested because my brace just broke and I bought another tank but id like to repair it if possible.

[olliesshop]

I bet you would be plenty safe with 3/16-1/4", but hey, it doesn't hurt to go bigger for piece of mind. It just makes that glass a little harder to find. Good luck !!!

[fishingandschool]

Do you have any experience turning two 55gallon fish tanks into one fish tank that would equal close to 110gallons? I want to do this and have watched some videos but havnt seen any videos that are doing exactly what I want to do. Nice video BTW

[Fishkeeper]

Thank you for all your help you a life saver/ gave me peace of mind haha :) but yes getting those types of glass is hard sometimes so im going to a glass store where they will have it and can cut it for me. Once again thanks :)

[derekjeter]

hello, first of all thanks for the video, im about to fix a tank that has the same problem ..did you mount the brace on top of the glass and siliconed it? my tank seems to have had the glass on the inside of the tank attached to the walls of the glass and not sitting on the top lip.

[olliesshop]

It seems like the key things to remember are; making sure you have a good glass fit (including cutting away the frame if necessary), cleaning the glass mating surfaces very well and ensuring good clamping pressure for as long as it takes for the silicon to dry (I think I left mine on for 24 hours to make sure). Hope this helps and All the Best !!!

[Cyber]

How is ur brace holding up on ur fish tank? I just took over a 100 gallon fish tank and I'm going to try what u did.

[iamthetrapp]

When u resiliconed the glass did u do it with water still in the tank?.my 210 glass just fell in my tank today knockin out one of my fishes eyes and killin him.but I dont have a second tank to take the fish out..the sides are still intact but the middle bowed out a lil should I take out half the water.or will it b ok till I can properly fix it

[Fishkeeper]

It does help! haha :) i almost did not expect a reply but seeing how you were awesome and answered other people's questions i figured you would give me a try. I know your tank in the video is 125 gallons and a cross brace is 100% needed but as i said in my other comment my tank is a 20 gallon and its a breeder style...more long then high like most 20 gallons and in the middle of the tank is bows and im paranoid about it...so if 3/8" glass can hold a 125 gallon tank im guessing it would REALLY

[AAAANNNDDDYYYY]

hey this happened to my tank too, thanks for the vid

[amarjyotibehera]

my aquarium size is 3ft×15"×15" and i am having 2 brace in both the sides, ,is it sufficient and safe for my aquarium

[olliesshop]

I'm almost positive it's plate/normal glass, since when I cut it, it did not break up into pieces. It was also very thick, about 3/8", since the tank is pretty big. I hope that helps, let me know if you have anymore questions. All the best !!!

[MrFunksoldier]

It's funny that 2 days ago someone asked how it's holding up. I'm about to attempt this and I was going to ask the same thing. :)

[K_V]

i just bought a 65 gal aquarium with the same probem m trying to figure out how to fix it ;( hope your method work bro pls keep us update