Help Setting Up An Old Tank & Stand.

[rich05uk]

Hello All,

Firstly I would like to say thanks to everyone for all the advice I have read on here, it's perfect for a beginner like myself. This is my first post so be kind, I have a few questions about my tank and stand which I have been given for nothing which is fantastic.

The tank and stand are old (about 10-15 years I think) and have been stored in a shed for at least the last 5 years. The make is Clear-Seal and the tank measures 36” long X 15” wide X 18” high (about 159 Litres or 42 US Gallons). There are what I think are called brace bars (glass) around the top of the tank (all 4 sides) and 1 across the centre of the tank. The one across the centre is broken and offers no support to the tank whatsoever so wondered if it is still safe to use, I don't want the tank falling apart when it's full of water…

The next question is about my stand, it is a metal 2-teir stand for 2 tanks. I have found the following picture so you know what I mean.

I will be installing only 1 tank on the top (for now anyway) and wanted to know if I just put the tank on the stand with some foam tiles between the 2 or should there be a sheet of wood between the tank and the stand. I can't believe the bottom of the tank can hold the weight being only supported around the edges, can it?

As I am fairly handy with wood and have loads of it in the garage, I am thinking of building a wooden shell around the frame to make it look more pleasing to the eye and to hide the external filter etc under the tank. To do this I think I will have to put a wooden sheet between the frame and the tank anyway, but what type of wood should I use, would chip board be ok, putting the weight of the tank on top or would I need something a little stronger like MDF or something?

Finally, does anyone have any other suggestions with setting up this tank bearing in mind its 15 years old and been stored in a shed half it's life.

Any help is much appreciated, thanks all.

Richard.

 

[OldMan47]

You deifinitely want to replace any broken braces. Without them, its a matter of time until the tank bows out too far and a seam separates. The construction you are talking about is not one that I have ever seen. Take a hard look at what you think are braces and make sure that they really are. By your description it sounds like something someone might have added to support a top or something.
The stand will work just like it is. I have used stands just like that many years ago, 20 years ago not 10. All tanks are supported only around the outer edge although its not always obvious. If you think about it, even a tank with a solid flat top is only supporting on the edges because the trim that goes around the bottom of the tank holds the glass up a little above the flat surface. This is on purpose because if a slight flaw caused a minor raised area on a flat shelf it would put a pinpoint of pressure on just that one spot and crack the bottom.
The tank's age is not a problem. If it is in good condition and less than 50 years old, I wouldn't worry about it. I have several that I know are over 30 years old because I have owned them that long. They spent about half their life in my garage when I stopped having fish as my kids were growing up. Now that there is more room in the house, they have been put back to use and have been set up for over 3 years this time around with no problems.

 

[rich05uk]

Thanks for this info. As far as i'm aware they are all original braces, I have take a shot of the top of the tank so you can see the 4 braces around the sides and the broken brace at the centre of the tank...

What do you think? If I need to replace this centre brace, how do you do it?

 

[emma12321]

Hi,

The stand will be fine with just polystyrene sheet between it and the frame, i have my 2 2 foot tanks ton the same stand. This is a good topic on building stands if you decide to go that way http/www.fishforums.net/content/Aquarium...Stand-And-Hood/

The brace bar needs cutting out, the snap of type blades usually work best for this, have a glass place cut you some glass to the size you need and smooth the edges then just silicon the new bar into place using aquarium silicon or normal clear silicon so long as it doesn't contain mould inhibitors and the like.

Emma

 

[-SPB-]

Just to be on the safe side, because the tank has been standing empty for a while, it will probably be worth filling the tank up in your garden just to make sure there are no leaks or anything, better safe than sorry. (Sorry to pint out the obvious if you've already done it!!).

 

[rich05uk]

Thanks all for your help, some really good suggestions and I will certainly be using some of them to sort this out.

Just for info, I went down to my LPS today and they have advised me to go to a place they use themselves to get some suitable glass cut and also supplied me with the correct silicon. Just need to have ago now at cutting the old broken parts of the glass brace bar away now, fingers crossed it won't be too difficult.