NOOO. Cracked center brace! Help!

[Ab1990]

cracked center brace on a 55g tank during a tank swap!!!! I was swapping a nicely used 55 from a super scratched 55. Then I cracked the center brace!



I took off the old upper trim of my old 55g tank....and was going to start removing the trim from the new 55g tank to swap them...but then I figured out, the "old" trim fits right over the [now] bad trim, so I saved myself the hassle from removing the other trim as well.*



So I should be good, right? Yeah, the original center brace is split, but now there's the old trim over it so the tank can't bow???



Pictures of the broken brace by itself, and the replacement brace placed right over it As well as when the tank is filled....it looks like the original brace has seperated just a few MM with a full tank of water, but not going any further.*Here's the link for the pics:

https://imgur.com/a/nTaWAXT

Is this sufficient or should I just go get some flat bar and some angle bars and so it that way? Some YT videos for reference:

https://youtu.be/w708Qu5Ag-k

https://youtu.be/o38Z8jOBam

If the other trim on top of the broken one isn't good enough, I'm going the metal bar route instead of the glass and silicone route. Metal won't flex. Or break. Or anything. I just don't trust a piece of glass essentially glued on to be as strong as a metal bar lol.

 

[Colin_T]

The plastic bracers tend to crack a lot. Most people glue and bolt a metal strip to the plastic. Do this while the tank is empty and the plastic bits are together at the break.

The metal strip should cover the entire plastic strip that is broken.

Make sure the metal is smooth so you don't cut yourself when working in the tank.

Make sure you use a metal that won't rust. Aluminium is regularly used or stainless steel.

 

[m.j.gomez]

Hello, I had a brace break. I glued a piece of pvc flat stock to repair. Cut flat stock to fit underneath original brace touching inside tank walls, cleaned everything then ruffed up sides to be glued. Been holding 4+yrs. I used gorilla glue but super glue will work. Both aquarium safe when cured. I believe pvc flat stock can be purchased by foot.