55 gallon cracked frame

[85_Ranger4x4]

I drug my fish tank out of my storage unit and set it in its spot in my new house with big plans to set it up. Then I start noticing that the plastic frame is cracked on most of the ends is cracked and it is also cracked on the center brace top and bottom. I don't know if it got too hot in the storage unit over the summers or if moving it cold in winter was too much for it. It is the standard 55 gallon tank that is roughly 4' long and a foot wide.

How much does the frame really do?

My gut says to dump it craigslist as a reptile tank and put it towards a new one... for the sake of the new carpet and laminate floor.

 

[Mark_88]

The tank itself should be glued together and the frame is only for resting the top glass on...the bottom is probably just to balance it out...

You could probably pull the frame off and make a new one if you really wanted to, but I don't think the fish care one way or the other...

Only thing I'd suggest is to fill it up and let it sit somewhere that it won't leak on your floors and see if it is actually leaking...maybe put it outside overnight to test...with something under it to let you know if you have a slow leak...a big leak would be pretty obvious by the water level in the morning...

I've never owned an aquarium but have always wanted one so I could have fresh fish...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Its winter right now so if it isn't the house we have the risk of freezing (which will break it)

I am mainly worried about the crossmember, if it is to keep the 4' long glass panels from bowing. And then there isn't much left of the side pieces to hold anything together either. My big worry that it might hold for awhile and then with a mighty kaboosh a side blows out..

 

[adsm08]

That top brace does more than you think.

 

[bigbadford91]

you can purchase those pieces. i just bought the wife a new top for her 75 bowed front tank. hers was crack at the top center brace.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

That top brace is very important to control the flex and bow of the glass panels. The price of a 55g simple glass tank ain't worth the risk of it bursting.

 

[Mac]

I was really going to say, not worth the risk but then went down and looked at my 75 and 90 gals, neither one has the top front to back brace. Both of them are 4ft wide and 18" front to back. Called my buddy and his 125 gal has two top braces. The 125 before this one did spring a leak and caused a mess. Your call but might be nice to start out fresh and clean.
Dave

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

you can purchase those pieces. i just bought the wife a new top for her 75 bowed front tank. hers was crack at the top center brace.

That top brace is very important to control the flex and bow of the glass panels. The price of a 55g simple glass tank ain't worth the risk of it bursting.

New frames are about $15 a pop from what I have found, so for $30 I would either fix it or make it worse. A new one with my Petsmart card is $116. I am going to try to get $50 out of this one so a new one would only cost me $66... pretty stinkin cheap. Even $116 if I end up throwing this one way is far cheaper than redoing my new carpet and laminate floor...

I was really going to say, not worth the risk but then went down and looked at my 75 and 90 gals, neither one has the top front to back brace. Both of them are 4ft wide and 18" front to back. Called my buddy and his 125 gal has two top braces. The 125 before this one did spring a leak and caused a mess. Your call but might be nice to start out fresh and clean.
Dave

I have been reading on this, the tanks with thicker glass don't need the cross braces.

 

[Snoranger]

The pet shop my mother worked at cut the braces out of all of their display tanks. They had over 100 tanks without the brace... of coarse this was almost 20 years ago, when stuff was made better.