[fishes_wishes]

I have an account under if_fishes_were_wishes but can't sign in.....I just noticed my brace cracking on my 55. I am freaking out! We leave out of town for 4 days for the holiday...what can I do? can it be braced somehow temporarily? glued? thank you for any help!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[fishes_wishes]

It's starting to split...I'm terrified to leave! I hadn't noticed it til now. I have a 40 breeder on hand...I'm emptying water into it now to relieve the pressure some. I'm off to Petco to get a stand for it - I saw some 40 breeder stands online....I hope they have them in store too!!!!

 

[fishes_wishes]

emptying some water into the 40....the split is closing...i think this was a very close call!

 

[Bandit1200]

put one of these on there for now

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...-clamp;202214074-_-202688772-_-N#.UKwWGGf7CW0

 

[driftwoodhunter]

put one of these on there for now

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...-clamp;202214074-_-202688772-_-N#.UKwWGGf7CW0

Perfect solution, I am using a large steel clamp on my 125g tank right now because one of my rim braces broke. It works like a charm.

 

[mach_six]

Weird, the 55G tank brace at my office is cracked kind of like that.

I got the tank from someone in the office and it was already like that and it's been fine for months and would seem it was fine for him for the years before that.

I probably wouldn't really worry about but that's just me. Also is there lights close to it? That's the only reason I can think of why the back of the tank is cracked not the front on the tank I got.

 

[lbacha]

You don't want the brace on a 55 to break those tanks use thin glass and it will definitely bow out if it does break and possibly blow out if the silicone seals have been damaged at all (I worked at a couple pet stores and have seen it happen) not sure why they break but they do, the clamp from home depot is a great idea it doesn't take much pressure to keep from Bowing.

Len

 

[dhuffer]

Good idea

put one of these on there for now

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...-clamp;202214074-_-202688772-_-N#.UKwWGGf7CW0

I second this idea would work for you.....

 

[HD Blazingwolf]

if it'll make u feel beter, the brace plus wrapping the top of the tank a couple times with duck tape will help support all the corners
duck tape has a pretty high tensile strength

 

[fishes_wishes]

I was wondering if there was a clamp that big! We are leaving out of town for 4 days....so I bought a new 55. The split happened so suddenly and the glass was bowing so noticeably, I figured that'd be the best thing to do....What price peace of mind? $110. Yeah, I wish Petco had their $1/gallon sale, but I can rest easy now, so it was worth every penny.

Now I have a nice, new tank...so relieved. We had the old one for 5 years and it went through 5 moves! I guess it was tired and needed replacing anyways.

It took 4 hours to net fish, move plants into the 40, move old 55 off stand, place new 55 on stand, scoop gravel into new tank, transfer water from 40 to new tank, net fish, plant plants....just a nightmare!

Plus, I had left the heater plugged in - the tank was near empty. Ran back home after striking out at Petsmart (no 55s) to a burning smell and a toasted heater! So, now I have a nice, new heater too. Ugh.

Thank you for the suggestions - I was frantic!!!

 

[driftwoodhunter]

I'm so happy you resolved the problem to your satisfaction so you won't be worrying - I know how nerve-wracking it is!

 

[fishes_wishes]

Thank you! I am so relieved I didn't come back from the holiday break to a broken tank, 55 gallons of water on the apartment floor, 40 dead fish...ugh, maybe even a fire from the heater? omg. I dodged a bullet!