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ReefdUp 
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 Topic: Feeding...and CRACK
Posted: May 12 2011 at 9:23pm |
*Sigh...figured I'd play off the other thread.
I have a 2 year old Marineland 150g tall (31") with a center brace that just broke. It's full of SPS/LPS/fish...what in the world do I do now? I've heard you can trim the brace back and put new acrylic in...anyone done this (and have photos?)
I have a wood canopy that goes around the tank, but it doesn't have a center brace either. Maybe it'll help in the short term? Could we just nail a center brace to it? Ughhhh...Murphy was right...whatever can happen will happen at the worst possible time.
:headwalls:
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www.reefdup.com
Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987
200g, 75g, & 15g Systems
PADI Advanced Open Water
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jcoulter17
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Posted: May 12 2011 at 10:20pm |
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Edited by jcoulter17 - May 12 2011 at 10:53pm
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ReefdUp
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Posted: May 12 2011 at 10:30pm |
I know you can't know...but think it will hold for two weeks? That way we can drain it and do it properly on the way out there...rather than doing it not well right now.
Uggggh...I'm sick to my stomach. I know I'm going to have nightmares about 150g of saltwater on the floor.
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www.reefdup.com
Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987
200g, 75g, & 15g Systems
PADI Advanced Open Water
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jaschall
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Posted: May 12 2011 at 10:43pm |
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I would get some clamps on it at least that way you can sleep
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: May 12 2011 at 10:50pm |
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I too would put a board across the front and back and slowly add some clamps. If I were moving I'd probably plan to just replace the tank in a couple weeks.
Adam
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tileman
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Posted: May 12 2011 at 10:59pm |
I know there is never a good time for these things, but they do seem to happen at the worst time. Mine was on xmas eve, when my main pump went out. Best of luck. You can buy a couple of bar clamps at home depot or lowes and make do.
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: May 13 2011 at 2:43am |
Where did it break? It's actually quite easy to repair. Use a 1/4" flat acrylic piece that covers 4 or more inches on either side of the break. Get two long clamps from the hardware store that are for holding wood together. Clamp one on either side of the center brace to pull it back together. Get some Weld-on 16 or four nylon bolts/nuts or both. Drill holes (not too close to the break) and clamp the acrylic to the center brace using the Weld-on 16 and bolts and/or strong simgle clamps. In 24 hours the clamps may be removed and the repair will be stronger than the original. 
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fyrmn14
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Posted: May 13 2011 at 3:08am |
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Just a thought. but a ratcheting tie down for say four wheelers and moto's. Extend it around the top of your tank and possibly add some filler (4X4 or other wood material) on the lengthy front and back as most pressure will start at the sides. Wont look good, but could be a easy under $20 fix for a couple weeks. Know people do this to secure new tank builds cant see it being any different to hold your tank together for a couple weeks or indefinitely if needed.
Edited by fyrmn14 - May 13 2011 at 3:09am
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ReefdUp
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Posted: May 13 2011 at 5:55am |
Thanks everyone!!! I think the canopy is holding the top pretty well (kinda acts like some clamps) since we built a wood perimeter around it...custom to that tank. So far, absolutely 0 bowing.
After looking at the piece that broke, (a very teeny piece fell into the aquarium when it happened), I'm pretty convinced the brace hasn't done much for quite a while. It was cracked for quite a while...and was just holding on by about 1/4" plastic as of yesterday.
I think we'll make do until we move. At that point we're going to replace the entire top brace. I would consider replacing the tank, but we built the stand and canopy to take that exact tank (no tank is ever perfectly square), and I don't know how well the stand would take a new tank.
Thanks again everyone!
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www.reefdup.com
Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987
200g, 75g, & 15g Systems
PADI Advanced Open Water
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philhender
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Posted: May 13 2011 at 10:06am |
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Once you get to Utah, if you haven't repaired it yet, Tyler (tcfab/elite-aquatics) is an acrylic genius in the area. His work is top notch, I know I've seen posts of scratch repairs, polishing, custom builds that include sumps to skimmers. Maybe part of your move can include sending the tank for a 'spa treatment' too!
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I asked the Lord for the blessing of Patience... he gave me 6 kids!
125g Reef / 55g Sump-Fuge
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ReefdUp
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Posted: May 13 2011 at 3:34pm |
Ok, still looks like it's holding well. There's no sign of bowing, and the seams don't look stressed. We're going to put a black racheting strap around the top of it during the day and clamps w/wood on at night. (Really don't want to have the clamps on during the day while people are coming to look at our house...fish tanks are bad enough for resale value...not to mention a tank that looks like it's barely holding together.)
As soon as we get out there, we'll definitely do a little "spa treatment" on the tank. I'm looking into getting a whole new top brace for the aquarium - we may remove the whole thing and put on the new one rather than just fixing it. We'll see.
Thanks a million to all of you - really appreciate the help...and listening to me freak out a bit. :)
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www.reefdup.com
Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987
200g, 75g, & 15g Systems
PADI Advanced Open Water
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ReefdUp
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Posted: May 13 2011 at 3:36pm |
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Just thought I'd mention - 7 of you responded with help...not a single person on Reef Central bothered to help. That speaks a lot about you all!
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www.reefdup.com
Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987
200g, 75g, & 15g Systems
PADI Advanced Open Water
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: May 13 2011 at 5:00pm |
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