Broken Tank Support

coydog429

I would put in a glass support if you are able. They seem to work better then the plastic ones, out of personal experience. Though I would suggest a 1/4th inch thick piece.

Jayy

Would plexiglass work? I could have someone cut it, maybe at hardware store? How should I go about putting it in?

coydog429

To tell you the truth I do not know if Plexigass would work.... maybe if it was thick enough it would, thick enugh being that the heat from the lights and pressure of the tank wouldn't cause it to bow. I would still use silicone (aquarium safe) to hold it in place. I will let someone who is more familiar with plexiglass tell you if it would work.
Reguardless if it is plexi or actual glass I would have it cut so that it fits snugly against the inside of the planes of glass.

Jayy

Thank you! Maybe I'll ask someone at lowes or home depot the next time I go.

coydog429

No problem, glad I could help. =)

eug

Stop! Plexiglass does not permanently bond with silicone. It will eventually release itself from the silicone's grip and you'll have a major problem.

Glass is best as coydog mentioned - and it should be attached to the glass panes under the plastic frame, not onto the plastic frame, because silicone will again possibly have issues bonding to the plastic. You're looking for a glass-on-glass joint with a bead of silicone in between. 1/4 inch glass should be ok as mentioned, and I would make it at least as wide as the original plastic brace.

The alternative would be to fashion some piece of metal like one of the previous poster has done.

coydog429

After going back and rereading my previouse post I noticed that I forgot to mentions putting it under where the brace had been. Thank you Eug for mentioning that. I am also glad to know that Plexi is not the way to go here!

Tazman

I would not use any metal for the bracing as over time it will corrode and potentially contaminate your tank.

Plexiglass unless it is very thick is useless as the bowing of the tank will only bow the plexiglass.

Glass is by far the best option..The silicone does not need to aquarium safe as it will unlikely be ever covered in water and therefore able to leech any chemicals into the tank. Curing it for 48 hours before filling with water will allow the harmful stuff to gas off.

The only silicone you CANNOT use is anything with fungicide or mildew resistors in it...this WILL leech stuff constantly.