Another aquarium question

[cootwarm]

Hi,

Please excuse me if this is a dumb question!

Does the plastic frame around the bottom and the top just for decoration to trim the tank or does it provide strength to the glass walls at all?

I was given a 30 gal aquarium that had a lizard in it for a while. At some point the light was pushed back too far and the plastic trim on the top of the tank was melted and distorted along a 6 inch length. This plastic is split apart a 1/4 inch gap.

I never thought of it as a problem until now. I think all the strength is in the glass. But I'm beginning to have second thoughts now that I'm preparing to fill it with water. I'd hate to get a 30 gallon lesson the hard way! 8O

Michael

 

[farm41]

You can get a new plastic trim at AGA if it is an AGA. I ordered a new 55g top trim and including shipping it was only $12, pretty cheap for I thought. My 38g center brace broke a while back, good excuse to buy a new tank, then I moved the 38g outside for a daphnia tank, 3 weeks later the glass broke. The wife and I were both real happy we replaced it when we did.

My suggestion is to replace the trim or don't fill it with water.

 

[tjudy]

The smaller tanks that have thin glass and one piece injection molded trim do use the trim to contain the bowing of the glass, which can pop a seam. Large tanks that do not have one piece trims have a center brace of glass siliconed in the top of the tank to control the bow.

 

[cootwarm]

Hi,

Thanks guy's. I'm glad I paid attention to that little voice in the back of my head and asked first!

I'll check around to see if I can get a new trim piece. What is AGA? The brand name? I have no idea what brand the aquarium is, but the hood was a Perfecto and I was told it came with the tank when they bought it.

Isn't a 30 gal Long a standard size? Would the brand name make a difference in this case?

The 30 long is my favorite size tank. It's roomy for most fish and I can still carry it myself when I need to move it.

Michael

 

[farm41]

AGA = All-Glass Aquarium, the brand name. You just need to email or call AGA with the dimensions, and they will tell you if their trim will fit your tank.

HTH

 

[cootwarm]

Thanks again Farm. I went to one of my LFS today and measured an AGA 30 gal long. It was the exact same size as my Perfecto, so the LFS ordered me a piece of AGA trim for $11.99 plus tax.

By the way, he had 3 'mystery' agassizi's that I brought home. All he could tell me about them is that his wholesaler got them from a breeder in New Jersey. We'll see what they grow up to be.

Michael