diver21 Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 well ive broken the cross bracing in the center for my tank and when its full it creates a appoxx 5mm gap in the break. question is, how to fix it. i tried to dodgy it up useing some cut up metal coathanger and 5 min araldite, useing the coathanger as reinforcing but that only held for a week or two. was thinking that i could get some plastic glue and try that, or can you replace the whole top plastic bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 i had the same prob on my 4 ft, only fixed it when i finally took it all apart and used a thicker brace. you could try siliconing in place, using a big f clamp and couple peices of wood to spread the pressure of the clamp over a wider area? just a quick thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 Have you got a photo of the break? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted September 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 ill get one tomorrow, its just a snap going across the brace in the middle of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 Is the brace plastic or glass? And is it flat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 Weld it with a plastic welder. You can get special plastic strips that can be melted to existing plastic to fix the crack. plastic strips are melted to the outside of the crack and everything pretty much sticks together when hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted September 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 thats the break, that plastic thing sounds alot like a glue gun. theres some plastic type epoxy glue thats used for holding teflon to aluminum (think feeder horn cover) that i could use. i dont really want there to be a bump on the top surface3 otherwise it might interfere with sliding the light to feed the fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 use araldite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted September 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 i tried to dodgy it up useing some cut up metal coathanger and 5 min araldite, useing the coathanger as reinforcing but that only held for a week or two. i did, it broke after a while Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 what is 5 minute araldite? the normal stuff forms a permanent bond after 24 - 36 hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted September 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 its the same stuff just takes 5 mins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 how about a metal strip along the top, and a couple SS screws to hold in place? would only add 1-3 mm on top of the brace, and stronger than trying to fix the break Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted September 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 that dosent sound too bad, now to find somewhere thats got a scrap of stainless sheet laying around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted September 5, 2009 Report Share Posted September 5, 2009 that dosent sound too bad, now to find somewhere thats got a scrap of stainless sheet laying around lol just goto the skin bay it will be no worries.. I would suggest just lying something flat and strong strong on top of it and gluing it to it then you would have the glue bonding to a large surface area and it would be alot harder for it to pull apart.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishybiz Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Make sure you drop the water level down for a few days while the glue cures. Had a brace go on a tank the other day and we dropped the water level, made a wooden frame (tight fitting) around the whole tank and re-siliconed brace into place. Will go back tomorrow and get water level back up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted September 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 this tank is empty at the moment, yea i noticed that a gap was made in the break, left about a 5mm gap, i didnt like that at all as it ment the glass was flexing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishybiz Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Using timber frame around the tank if it is a tight fit will bring the glass back in and hold it there till the glue cures. we have repaired several like this with the fish still in the tank. We went back today and topped the tank up and it is now stronger than ever. You might be better to put a wider glass brace through the centre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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