My 100L planted tank log

Yes. You have to drain the whole tank. You can't add the bracing if the glass is bending like that. You need to add the bracing while the glass is not under strain, and it's not bending.

 

I don't think aluminium is strong enough.

 

Damn this sucks. I think I made it look worse in the pics. Here's some more. Is it really that bad?

 

Is it a standard daro 3ft ? If it is i wouldnt worry to much, they have been building them like that for years.

 

No idea what brand - my dad used it for years. It's 90 cm X +/- 31cm X +/- 35cm

 

Sorry.. I wasn't meaning to be a "smartass" was just having a bit of fun.

To be 100% honest with you, if your dad has been using it for years, there's one of 2 thoughts that could follow:
1) He's used it for years, so why worry
2) It's a few years old, and I'd rather be safe than wet.

My suggestion... follow thought number 2!

 

You know what - I have thought about this very hard lol - I'm gonna leave it and if it breaks I have a excuse to get a 200l + tank I think the chance that it will break is so tiny... correct me if I'm wrong. I mean it must have been like this from the beginning?

 

Probably.

Glass does have a VERY small degree of flexability to it, however as it ages, it becomes more and more brittle. So eventually it will pop, and sadly, probably wet everything around it (you'll be surprized how much water comes outta there), and if you unluckly, you will loose all the lifestock if you are not here to catch them in time

 

Do you have to remove the sand and stones as well? Does that also place too much strain on the tank? If not, then you can just syphon the water into a container (or twelve) and leave the scape as it is. Put the braces in place, then refill. Your water has been cycling, I'm sure you don't want to start from scratch... I don't know if it's feasible, just an idea...

 

Man! You're making it hard for me!

The tank is in my bedroom so if it happens at night I'm there. However we go on holiday quite often and I have school the rest of the time. I guess if it happens I can buy me a nice 250 - 300l 10mm glass tank with a cabinet etc.

 

That's what I also thought. Would be much better.

 

Hahaha! Then why wait? Just go get the new tank now... Use this one as your quarantine tank, or do something where you only fill halfway and have the scape extending above the water level. That should put a lot less strain on the glass... And it's a good excuse.

 

It's very expensive I think I'll just drain the water and try to add braces. But the problem is, I'm going to buy my plants tomorrow... Maybe I can just drain 3/4 of the water and still have my scape and plants, and then silicone the braces on. Will have to buy glass then :evil:

 

It's going to be expensive, whether you buy it now or wait until you're forced to... So yes, I too would suggest fixing it before something goes very wrong.

 

i know im a bit late with the this....but. i had a 3ft a few months ago, got it 2nd hand from a dude on junkmail, and that had a massive bend when it was full, and he had it for a few years (3 or something)

as zoom said, one day it will pop or crack, but till then, start to save up for that big tank, so that the shock is not to bad for when you have to give out plenty of $$$$.

if you do go with bracing it, get a nice big plastic drum, drain most ( if you can all) the water in that, add the filter and heater to the drum and do the brace, when all is dry, add the water back in,

 

I can do that. I will the be able to keep the plants I will buy tomorrow in the water. I'm just not going to take out the sand and stuff.

Now, I need to know how I would go about making a brace. This time I'll google it myself @Zoom

If you got any tips/experience to share with me, pleeaaase do.

 

never had to do anything like that before.... but as you said, google it, should help you out!

 

So this it what I'll do. Just 2 long strips of (8mm?) glass running down the length of the tank at the top. This should be done with aquatic silicone? Would I be able to put another this glass panel on top of it? (as a lid)

 

thats almost how my tank is now. just one thing to think about.

the bracing on the bottom is fine, the top ones are fine, but then it needs to be the full length of the tank, if not, its not gonna help at all.

but you can do the following if you want to, brace the one side 100%, the other side brace it 90%, leaving a small gap on both sides ( this helps for heater cables, CO2 .....) but then you need to give it a support brace in the middle, see pic below.

 

I see what you mean and it makes sense, but won't the middle brace cut off some light, and throw a slight shadow in the middle of the tank?