Support brace emergency

[Void760]

I have a 100 gallon 48x18" tank that i bought second hand from someone. While bringing it home, the whole top shattered but the support brace in the middle just cracked badly. I removed the old glass and got a piece made the same size. Ive tried 100% silicone, gorilla glue, crazy glue, and this marine hold glue but nothing seems to be holding. Yes, i leave it on for at least 72 hours. Yes, i use a bar clamp to hold it in place, Yes, the surface is clean, yes the replacement glas is an exact fit. Nothing is working.

My tank is in its cycling phase now but it has 5 damsels and a starfish in it noe so i dont want to disturb it too much. Currently the bar clamp is what is holding it.

What can be done or is it someone in san diego area who can come and fix this???

 

[Reefer5640]

I assume you cleaned each adhesive off before trying next one, what do you have bonding it right now? Aside from the bar clamp.

 

[Void760]

I assume you cleaned each adhesive off before trying next one, what do you have bonding it right now? Aside from the bar clamp.

Yes i cleaned it and nothing just the bar clamp

 

[Sgolden]

What do you mean " the whole top". I'm assuming it's glass. Maybe a pic is needed to see. There are plastic braces that's not glass, is that what you are talking about ?

 

[Sgolden]

Are you talking about a black plastic brace that's cracked ? Maybe a picture would explain more.

 

[Void760]

Are you talking about a black plastic brace that's cracked ? Maybe a picture would explain more.

Its a glass piece not a black one. There is no glass now so i cant take a picture

 

[Void760]

Are you talking about a black plastic brace that's cracked ? Maybe a picture would explain more.

If you google glass aquarium support brace then you will see it

 

[Reefer5640]

I had a glass tank that had two glass support braces across the top from front to back and the previous owner cut them out trying to make it rimless. Being that they are very important I wanted to make sure they were installed the right way. Along my research I found a similar scenario where multiple adhesives had been attempted. Even after cleaning between attempts there were remanants of chemical left behind preventing the silicon from properly bonding to the glass. The silicon is the best option of the items you listed. Ive heard gorilla glue can be harmful to some reef inhabitants... I know you said the surface was clean but something to try if you haven’t already; use a razor blade to scrape away any remanants of any of the adhesives on any surfaces that silicon will touch, even if you’re pretty sure there isn’t any. Then use rubbing alcohol to prep all the same surfaces. I know that just the smallest amount of debris or film or whatever left behind can prevent the silicone from getting a proper bond... One other thing to consider is the silicone you’re using, I know you said it’s 100% but could it be old? I don’t even know if that’s a thing? Just throwing it out there.... Hope you get it figured out man.

 

[Void760]

I had a glass tank that had two glass support braces across the top from front to back and the previous owner cut them out trying to make it rimless. Being that they are very important I wanted to make sure they were installed the right way. Along my research I found a similar scenario where multiple adhesives had been attempted. Even after cleaning between attempts there were remanants of chemical left behind preventing the silicon from properly bonding to the glass. The silicon is the best option of the items you listed. Ive heard gorilla glue can be harmful to some reef inhabitants... I know you said the surface was clean but something to try if you haven’t already; use a razor blade to scrape away any remanants of any of the adhesives on any surfaces that silicon will touch, even if you’re pretty sure there isn’t any. Then use rubbing alcohol to prep all the same surfaces. I know that just the smallest amount of debris or film or whatever left behind can prevent the silicone from getting a proper bond... One other thing to consider is the silicone you’re using, I know you said it’s 100% but could it be old? I don’t even know if that’s a thing? Just throwing it out there.... Hope you get it figured out man.

Thank you. I dont know if home depot sells old silicone but it was new when i bought it...lol