Aquarium Trim Question

[sher]

So, I just picked up a tank a girl from work gave me. It is a 90 gal. No scratches that I can see, everything looks good, however, it is missing the trim from the top and bottom of the tank. I have been trying to look it up online and get conflicting information. I am wondering, if that trim is purely decorative, or does it supply support. The tank has been empty for some time, I am going to fill it and let it sit for a few weeks to see if I am going to have any leaks, but I don't want to do this until I know for sure about the trim.
Thank you in advance to anyone who might be able to help me with this question.

[hc8719]

welcome to aa

the trim is just missing? did the woman say what happened to it? or if she had it filled while the trim was gone?

[RogerMcAllen]

The trim is definately a structural part of the tank. Replacement trim shouldn't be too expensive or hard to find.

Edit:
Try this

[sher]

Never thought to ask what happened to the trim. I already looked into new trim here (in Canada) will cost $80 for the top and bottom trim, plus $14 for silicon at Big Als. A new tank will cost $125.

[Lonewolfblue]

The trim is decorative. As long as the joints are sealed and the plastic frame under the trim isn't cracked or damaged, it should be fine.

[jsoong]

The trim is decorative, but the top trim on a tank this size will have a cross brace & that is structural.

You can however, make a cross brace out of glass. Look at the DIY forum for the DIY glass tank sticky & see how they make a glass brace. Basically, you get a 6" or so wide 1/4" glass that will fit exactly front to back & silicone that to the front & back glass in the middle at the top. This will prevent the tank from bowing out when fill & stressing the seams.

BTW, if you go to RONA or Canadian tires, you will find the store brand 100% clear silicone (for windows & doors - without mildrewcide or other additives - don't use the bathroom/kitchen ones) that will say "ideal for aquarium" on the tube. I got mine for less than $3.... much less than at a lfs. This is FAIK identical to GE silicone I in the US.

Going the DIY route, you should be able to repair the tank at well under $10.

If you have a really old tank, it might not have a center brace (like mine). These tanks have much thicker glass than the new ones (my 70 gal has 3/8" glass vs 1/4" in a new tank ... you would see 1/2" in a 90). If you have one of these, you can fill it out & check for bowing. If the tank bows out less than 1/4" or so at the center when full, you won't need to add a brace. Warning, you do this outside ... check the glass as you are filling & stop as soon as any bowing is evident ... it is possible to bust a seam or crack the glass doing this test!!!

[JRagg]

Silly question here, is the tank glass or acrylic?

Acrylic tanks don't always have/need trim, whereas glass ones do.

[sher]

The tank is glass.
Thanks for the suggestion about getting a piece of glass cut and putting that in. I had read it online when I did a google search but wanted to know if it was really something I could do.
It is out on my back deck right now, was not going to bring something that size into the house until I knew if it was going to be ok. All the testing will be done out there, once I am ready I am going to fill it and let it sit for a few weeks. make sure everything is solid before I bring it inside.