Is this a problem?

[Sid]

I recently picked up a 55 gallon tank from a lawn sale ($10!!) but the center support across the top of the tank is broken. The center support is the little piece of plastic that runs across the center of the tank opening. I filled the tank and it holds water, but bows out a bit on either side. I'm wondering if this is because of the broken support and if this will affect the preformance of the tank. Does anyone know if this tank is safe to use or if it could become a possible tank disaster? I don't want to set it up in the house and have it break.

Please let me know what you think!

Thank You!

 

[Tolak]

It will be a disaster eventually. I know a top frame for an All-Glass 72 gallon bowfront is $40, looked into it for a guy I work with who has one that has a crack in the crossmember.

We have a guy that does machinist work for the shop, he is going to make a sort of shallow inverted U type of thing to fit over the crossbrace. Should cost around $10 for that, give it a few drops of epoxy, and better than new.

This tank is in the shop, in the owner's son's office, if it blows out, I'm bound to hear something about it for quite a while, just because I own a few tanks. I noticed it a week ago, told him to drain it half way immediately to releive some of the pressure. Does he listen? No. Just like he didn't listen when I told him to totally empty it when he moved it in, he left the gravel, a few inches of water, & the fish.

Most places that sell tanks will sell the replacement part, or you can talk to a local machinist, if you don't mind a piece of steel across the top. Replacing the top frame takes a couple hours of work.

Tolak

 

[trisha1972]

The support is there for a reason==support. It will bow out without the support bar. You CAN fix the support bar a couple of ways (1) use the epoxy that car bodyshops use (I've done it) or (2) buy a clamp and put on both sides of the tank (LARGE clamp).

 

[Tolak]

I told this guy to try epoxy, & sister it up with something underneath. The shop is run by a bunch of gearheads, this stuff is readily available. I told him to go down the street & pick up a pipe clamp immediately, just for temporary support. It's still sitting there (I hope!) with the crack.

I've spilled plenty of tank water in the basement, wipe it up with towels designated for the tanks. If they sit wet for a day they start to reek, after 2 days they are nasty. I would hate to smell 72 gallons of 2 day old water on wall to wall carpeting. If you rinse the towels with chlorinated water they are fine though. It has to be a nasty bacterial thing.

A large amount of water is a real mess, I once saw a 5 gallon drinking water bottle break on a loading dock. It was a 30 foot circle of water in seconds.

Tolak

 

[pseud]

A large amount of water is a real mess, I once saw a 5 gallon drinking water bottle break on a loading dock. It was a 30 foot circle of water in seconds.

Tolak

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My parents used to have a large aquarium. It must have been at least 55 gallons, maybe even 75. I say used to, because my younger brother came down stairs one day with a sleeping bag over his head. He walked through the sitting room... into the path of a large bean bag... stumbled... tripped... head hit the fish tank... smashed it... 55 gallons of water at least on the carpet.

Luckily the insurance covered the cost of replacing the carpet.