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jbruse 
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 Topic: Cracked glass HELP
Posted: March 20 2004 at 8:40am |
Hey guys and girls I was rearranging my rock to put a SCWD in my tank and did one of the stupidest things thinkable. I sat one of the MH retros on the glass at the top of my tank and while getting everything in my tank BOOM I left the light turned on and the heat must have broke the glass support. Do you think if I just have a new piece of glass cut to replace the old one I can cut the old one out and replace it without needing to drain the tank? I have attached some photos so you can see what I am talking about.
Edited by jbruse
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jbruse
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Posted: March 20 2004 at 8:42am |
And one more picture
Edited by jbruse
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Keither
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Posted: March 20 2004 at 9:07am |
I have some extra 3/8" glass, pretty large pieces that I could trade and you could have them cut to spec, it would be cheaper. I just priced some 3/8 glass for a 20x 12 piece, 20 bucks, i don't even want to know what you're is going to cost. I think this is is replaceable, it's on the top right?
PM me if you are interested in some glass, I have some nice pieces from a 55 long I busted a small panel on.
Keither
Edited by Keither
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My bubbles....
He likes Bubbles.
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ewaldsreef
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Posted: March 20 2004 at 9:20am |
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I would also think that you could just drain some of the water and be able to reinstall a new support.
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Contact me for professional aquarium maintenance and localy grown coral frags. [URL=http://www.aquatitranquility.com][/URL]
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jbruse
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Posted: March 20 2004 at 9:27am |
 Keither wrote:
I have some extra 3/8" glass, pretty large pieces that I could trade and you could have them cut to spec, it would be cheaper. I just priced some 3/8 glass for a 20x 12 piece, 20 bucks, i don't even want to know what you're is going to cost. |
Yea that’s about how big this piece is it is 24x14 so probably about $30.00
Keither wrote:
I think this is is replaceable, it's on the top right? |
Yes it is on the top right side. Do you think I should drain about ½ the water before I try this? I am so worried about having 120 gal of water on my living room floor.
Also if anyone is willing to help me I would be willing to pay you a bit for your time.
-=J=-
Edited by jbruse
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Adam Haycock
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Posted: March 20 2004 at 9:44am |
Maybe this is the perfect exuse to do that upgrade youv'e been wanting
Edited by BananaTropics
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jbruse
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Posted: March 20 2004 at 9:48am |
BananaTropics wrote:
Maybe this is the perfect exuse to do that upgrade youv'e been wanting |
Unfortunatly I just did upgrade the lighting, pump and protien skimmer so money is all tapped out right now otherwise I would start building the plywood tank I have been wanting to.
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Skyetone
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Posted: March 20 2004 at 1:43pm |
ufortunatly I see that the old sylicone wouldn't mate to the new sylicone on the new top. So you would have to keep your water level lower in the future. GOOD LUCK. Thats a TALL tank to be pulling the top off. Maybee build a jig so it won't spread before you pull the glass.
Central glass usually will cut glass to whatever you want.... HTH
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I will just give my warning that your system will flood, bulbs will burn out, and things will take continuous maintenance... get over it.
Magna
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Keither
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Posted: March 21 2004 at 6:29pm |
I think if you cleaned off that top silicone really well and just replaced that small side. Or, just silicone a piece of glass right to it on top to reinforce it, it's not cute, but it would help. PM me if you interested in some glass of mine. I owuldn't mind helping you just to check out your tank! I have a couple belt clamps we could throw around the top of the tank while the top corner was being replaced. I agree with S too, you may need to lawer the water a bit.
-Keither
Edited by Keither
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My bubbles....
He likes Bubbles.
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jbruse
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Posted: March 21 2004 at 9:00pm |
Keither wrote:
I think if you cleaned off that top silicone really well and just replaced that small side. Or, just silicone a piece of glass right to it on top to reinforce it, it's not cute, but it would help. |
Keither you have a pm. Anyone see a problem with just siliconing a piece on top?? (That was my original idea but didn't know if it would hold.) I am going attempt to fix it tomorrow / Monday. I got a few cable’s and adjustment thingies <- “technical term”. Hopefully this will go ok! If not you will see hear on the board in tears looking for a new “cheap” 100 and something gal tank. Well everyone wish me luck.
-=J=-
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Skyetone
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Posted: March 22 2004 at 10:01pm |
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I didn't think of adding a second toper. Thas a GOOD idea. Sylicone the snot out of it do it is as close to having no bubbles as possible. sealed up terariums this way.
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I will just give my warning that your system will flood, bulbs will burn out, and things will take continuous maintenance... get over it.
Magna
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: March 23 2004 at 7:00am |
Those are better pics than the first ones you sent to me.
Since it is holding currently, I have to ask whether the piece is even necessary in the first place. Most glass aquariums do not have those kind of top supports. Only acrylic needs that kind of support to keep it from bowing out into a round plastic bubble. 
If you have ever removed the plastic frames from a commercially manufactured glass aquarium you will see what I mean. And the plastic frame is not to hold it together, but rather to protect the edges from bumps which could compromise the glass.
My opinion is to remove the broken glass and enjoy the more open top access.
Also, please update your phone number with me for my records. I called and started talking about sand, rock, and cracked glass with someone that thought I was crazy! j/k  , but I do need your correct phone number.
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Carl
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Posted: March 23 2004 at 8:31am |
I agree that the "added support" of that piece is probably unnecessary. A piece laid on the top and secured with silicone offers zero structural value. But, if you want it just to have it there go for it.
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In Syracuse
"I believe that forgiving them is God's function. Our job is simply to arrange the meeting." - Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf
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jbruse
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Posted: March 23 2004 at 10:32am |
Mark Peterson wrote:
I have to ask whether the piece is even necessary in the first place. Most glass aquariums do not have those kind of top supports. Only acrylic needs that kind of support to keep it from bowing out into a round plastic bubble. |
Ok guys I got a piece of glass cut yesterday and was planning to start doing this all today. I have also wondered how much that glass around the top is really for support and how much is just to hold lights up. Any one else think I would be safe just removing the broken and not silicone the new piece on?
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kd7hfw
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Posted: March 23 2004 at 1:07pm |
I couldn't hurt to have the extra "just-in-case" support. But I don't think that it is needed for the integrity of the tank. (If it was, I think you would already know by now  )
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You shouldn't be afraid of noises in the dark.
Anything that wants to cause you harm will stalk you silently.
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Jake Pehrson
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Posted: March 23 2004 at 1:08pm |
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I disagree. I think you will want to replace the top support. They don't put them there for fun.
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jbruse
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Posted: March 23 2004 at 1:43pm |
Jake Pehrson wrote:
I disagree. I think you will want to replace the top support. They don't put them there for fun. |
I am just going to replace it to be safe. However I have never seen glass tanks before with these top "supports". Who knows. But better safe than sorry.
Edited by jbruse
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: March 23 2004 at 9:28pm |
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Of course, that's the safe way to go, especially since it is a homemade tank.
But looking at the pic of the top and how it's just siliconed to the top edge makes it less structurally supportive than if it was siliconed inside. The way it is currently the silicone can curl and allow the vertical pieces to move. Curling could more easily allow the bond to break. If installed inside it would have to pull more directly and from my experience, that's a movement not so easily allowed by silicone.
Sorry to add questions and technical mumbo jumbo to the mix.
Just my two cents worth, that I couldn't resist throwing in.
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Marcus
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Posted: March 23 2004 at 9:57pm |
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Glass aquariums have either a plastic or a glass perimeter to keep from breaking. Obviously height has a lot to do with whether the brace is needed. I have taken the bracing off of All-Glass and Island tanks only to replace it with acrylic bracing. I built Arjen's sump that is under his 225 gallon in which I did this. Maybe it is needed, maybe its not, but its not worth the gamble to me. I would either fix it or replace it with something else. I would not leave it open without a brace.
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: March 23 2004 at 10:35pm |
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Of course, Marcus and everyone is right, better to be too strong than not strong enough.
I was looking again at the amazing cracks. Did it crack all at once and make a terrible sound? You said "boom"? And did the pieces fall into the tank? That must have been scary, and if it were me, I would have stood there wondering if the side would pop and water would come gushing out, like in those movies.
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