Build ????

[Witchking330]

Hi everyone long time feshwater no time reefer. ...I got a 150 gallon 4 wide for free though the plastic brace at the top was destroyed my plan is to remove brace disassemble tank cut glass down to 24" tall and reseal with rtv 103 black does this sound like a good plan so far any guidance would be greatly appreciated. And should I try my hardest to keep the bottom brace intact????....glass is a true 12.5mm bottom is doubled up.and plastic braced.

 

[Hemmdog]

@dantimdad any idea?

 

[dantimdad]

Hi everyone long time feshwater no time reefer. ...I got a 150 gallon 4 wide for free though the plastic brace at the top was destroyed my plan is to remove brace disassemble tank cut glass down to 24" tall and reseal with rtv 103 black does this sound like a good plan so far any guidance would be greatly appreciated. And should I try my hardest to keep the bottom brace intact????....glass is a true 12.5mm bottom is doubled up.and plastic braced.

Cutting glass that thick at home is going to be tough and will require a bunch of grinding to get it straight. I would say leave it the asize I this and get some 3/8 strips and euro brace it or have someone weld an alumum rim and epoxy coat it.

Take a look at my 93 cube build at the aluminum rim.

 

[Witchking330]

Cutting glass that thick at home is going to be tough and will require a bunch of grinding to get it straight. I would say leave it the asize I this and get some 3/8 strips and euro brace it or have someone weld an alumum rim and epoxy coat it.

Take a look at my 93 cube build at the aluminum rim.

You think a euro would hold?

 

[dantimdad]

Sure. I am assuming the tank is 48x24x26 and it's half inch glass. honestly, it could probably hold on it's own but long term would do better with euro brace or aluminum trim.

 

[Witchking330]

No 48x24x30

 

[Witchking330]

I'm thinking too much pressure at 30"

 

[dantimdad]

Your call.

Just trying to help

 

[Witchking330]

Keep bottom brace???

 

[Witchking330]

Your call.

Just trying to help

So I pulled bottom brace off to disassemble the tank and bottom pane is cracked the inside pane is still good but outside is cracked.

 

[dantimdad]

So I pulled bottom brace off to disassemble the tank and bottom pane is cracked ☹ the inside pane is still good but outside is cracked.

Well, that stinks!

I am sorry that happened.

Do you have any experience rebuilding tanks?

 

[Witchking330]

Well, that stinks!

I am sorry that happened.

Do you have any experience rebuilding tanks?

No but I'm pretty handy with most utility type things.and have watched everything out there on YouTube...lol it's the very bottom pane it's not a lateral crack it's like a D shape....edge ...arches out about 4in then back to edge.

 

[Saveafish]

Hold my beer while I get the chainsaw on this.

 

[Witchking330]

So the seam from manufacturer was poor good size gap at bottom glass almost touching on top....had a thin exacto blade starting from bottom cutting up pop blew a chip put of the edge of the glass about 14" up ....... Pretty sure its gonna morph into a frag tank.

 

[Witchking330]

I guess in hindsight set up will be a little cheaper and I'll be able to develop the caring skills and grow stuff to go in my future display.

 

[Witchking330]

Ok... update whole bottom in unsalvageable.... Wasn't two half inch pieces like I thought was cracked half inch bottom ....1/4" glass that had a crack also....and 1/4" plexiglass.....lol ....SMH so its either frag tank or replace bottom and a side panel....do you think two pieces of 3/8 would be strong enough ???