Tank Emergency

[iceskater]

The glass on my middle brace is coming down. It is still firmly glued to the back but lost all glue on the front.

What should I use. How do I fix it. And most important, can I do it without having to remove the fish.

Thanks

[GulfCoastDiscus]

The best thing to do is to remove the fish and water then resilicone the piece back on. Without removing the water and fish, get a piece of glass slightly larger and glue directly on top and the bracing of the tank. I have one like this and worked great. :)

dan

[DarkDiscus]

I gave Al my 45 gallon which had the middle brace split - he sort of welded it back together, but it broke again.

He ended up using a couple of pieces of wood and made something which looked like a clamp, like you might use for woodworking. That seemed to help.

John

[iceskater]

IS the silcone toxic to fish, seems I can take down the water level and reattach it.

Do I really need the medal brace ?

[DarkDiscus]

I think lacking the brace greatly enhances the stress on the tank. Depending on the size, age, glass thickness, etc. your chances of a blowout and flood would be from moderate to great.

As for the silicone, I don't think the issue is even toxicity, but trying to get a good seal you need the tank to be empty - even some water bows the sides out a bit and that would make the seal harder to make.

John

[GulfCoastDiscus]

Silicone a piece of glass directly on top of the old glass and your problem is solved.

Dan

[iceskater]

Any more idea's. I do not seem to have the talent for some of the above, I do not think. I am also kind of worried that this glass may fall down any minute. And of course, I can not leave, car stuck in driveway and repaving street stuck in, till the morning.

[Carol_Roberts]

It may be OK for a couple of days. If it looks like it is bowing out more remove half the water in the tank (this takes off the pressure) Run an airdriven filter in the tank and drop your aqua clear sponges in the tank or a bucket of water.

[iceskater]

I took the water down about 2 inches, Am checking it every few minutes, glass piece seems very firmly stuck to back of tank and it is not affixed to front of tank at all, it (middle glass) seems to only be about 1/8 of an inch lower in front than back where it is attached. I do not see any bowing in the tank at all. I just worry the middle brace will give and I will have broken glass in tank.

[iceskater]

Dan
I am having a problem picturing what you are saying, If I got a piece of glass on top of old glass, I would still need to silicone it to side of tank, what makes that any different, than just siliconing piece of glass already there.

Can I use silicone with fish still in tank???

[Carol_Roberts]

If the middle brace falls in tank it will not break. The worry is the front glass will bow out and crack ;D (In case you didn't have enough to worry about)

[iceskater]

Carol
The middle brace is glass, how can it not break?? And yes now I am even more panicked.

[Carol_Roberts]

I thought the front and back glass walls would bow out and seperate from the center brace which would gently float to the bottom

[iceskater]

I hope you are right. Right now, I am trying to figure out how such a small piece of glass seems to be holding the entire tank together. Stressing out......

[GulfCoastDiscus]

Karen,
Measure the piece of glass about 1" over the existing glass. Any store that sells glass will cut it to size. Approx. cost about 3 to 5 dollars. Silicone the new glass directly on top and the brace. Be careful not to get silicone in the water. You can reduce the water by 2" to prevent this.
I had one happened several ago and up to now I still have that tank and never removed the fish.

Dan

Ps. I'll take a pic of the tank and post it.

[GulfCoastDiscus]

Here's a pic.

Make sure to silicone the new glass to the plastic moulding of the tank. If you have a clamp, clamp the moulding together overnight while the silicone drys. Apply some silicone on the egde of the old brace to the plastic moulding. Make sure to reduce about 2" of the water.

Dan

[iceskater]

Dan the old glass is mounted under the rim of the plastic One side is not mounted to anything, so If I am understanding you, I would silicone new glass on top of old glass and now mount this new glass on top of rim of plastic??? That still leaves the issue of how to attach bottom glass to tank OR does it just stay glued to top piece??? Seems as if I glue top to bottom one on top of rim and one under rim, there will still be a gap.

ok, What does bowing look like? Now I am imagining I am seeing some. The glass still seems flat, it is the plastic trim that is now not even a small area about 3 inches or so where the brace is.

Hey Karen....

If ya want...post... or message me your phone# I might be able to help ya out...too many questions for my tired fingers to type em all out... ;D

Tony

[iceskater]

Thanks Tony
I just got home it is pretty late now. Things are holding in the tank. I am going to run by LFS in the morning and see if they can suggest something. I will holler if I need you...