Center brace failed on 100

[LizStreithorst]

Heard a breaker trip and went to the fish room to find a fluorescent light had fallen down into the 100 gallon along with the center brace.  the tank still held about 25 gallons of water and only one of the baby fish died.  Moved the babies to a 60 wide.  I'm thinking that I should be able to repair this tank in place.  I sure hope so.  Otherwise I'll need a big strong guy to help me.

[GraphicGr8s]

What I would do is a glass center brace like Oceanic used on their tanks.

[Mugwump]

What I would do is a glass center brace like Oceanic used on their tanks.

Yep, any hardware store can cut you a piece to fit in there.....

[LizStreithorst]

It was a glass brace.  I'll be resiliconing the side that came apart when it turned loose (thank God it was a side in the front of the tank) and resiliconing the glass brace back in place.  I'm pretty sure I can get it done without taking the tank off the rack.

[Mugwump]

It was a glass brace.  I'll be resiliconing the side that came apart when it turned loose (thank God it was a side in the front of the tank) and resiliconing the glass brace back in place.  I'm pretty sure I can get it done without taking the tank off the rack.

Yep....that center brace is really in there because they built them for dual lamp systems, I believe..?...

[LizStreithorst]

The more I look at this tank the more I believe that I can do the job with the tank in place.  I can remove the side panel, clean everything, and put it back because it's in a corner with a couple square feet of space I can climb into to get the job done.  If I'm wrong, taking the tank out will be a bitch.  I'll have to drain the 100 next to it and the one next to that so I'll have clearance to take it out and try to find a strong helper.  I wouldn't mind hiring someone, but from past experience "handy men" do more damage that good.  Today I drained the remaining water then put in towels to absorb the water left. It will take one or two more batches of towels and then evaporation before I can get to work on it.

[GraphicGr8s]

A picture to understand what's what would help a lot.

[LizStreithorst]

I'm not sure what you need.  Here's a pic of the empty tank, the little space I can get into which is about 18x24"the seam that broke with is the side toward the front of the tank, and the big glass middle piece that fell into the tank.  I'm quite sure that I can do this job without removing the tank from the stand.  I'll just have a sore back for a day.  If you want a pic of why it will be difficult to take the tank off the rack I'll take one.  Even with that empty space I will not have enough clearance to just take it down.  I have two two 100's with fish that will have to be moved further to the other side.

[LizStreithorst]

the other two