Plastic rims on the Hagen tanks ...

Leafy · 09-06-2001, 09:46 AM

I recently purchased a second-hand 88gal. Hagen aquarium. The plastic rim at the top and bottom are cracked. The top rim is completely separated and detached from the aquarium. Are the plastic rims more show or do the serve a structural purpose? Will the tank be strong enough to hold the water without the plastic rims?

Thanks!

organicreefer · 09-06-2001, 07:28 PM

yes plastic trim is for "looks"

MarkS · 09-06-2001, 07:43 PM

Sorry to disagree with you, organicreefer, but the rim is not just for looks. It keeps the glass from bowing.

There have been several discussions on how to fix this on this board and several others (I can think of ReefCentral to name one). Try doing a search. I cannot think of how to fix it other than replacing the whole piece and that could be a problem (they are amlost impossible to find).

You can make it "stay" in place by running a bead of aquarium grade silicone around the inside of the rim. However, you will want ot wait until you fix the crack or replace the rim before doing this.

Mark

organicreefer · 09-06-2001, 07:47 PM

hmmmm,i have seen plenty of glass tanks without plastic trim......perhaps if it was manufactured with it it COULD have something to do with it structurally...arent center braces used to prevent bowing?you can buy a tank without trim from oceanic...

organicreefer · 09-06-2001, 07:53 PM

just looked at aga website,it says :
One-Piece Molded Frame: To take advantage of the added strength and dimensional uniformity, all of our aquariums are made with one-piece injection molded frames.

so i gues if it IS ONE PEICE it adds strength.makes sense.the trimon my 110 IS NOT one peice ,so no structural help there. so i would say it depends,and probly wont matter anyway.

organicreefer · 09-06-2001, 08:09 PM

one thing id like to add though ,is that the tank sit on the trim and you should either fix it (maybe epoxy or something??)or remove it completely.if you remove it you have to be sure that what ever you place the tank on is perfectly level,or maybe on styrofoam or something.if you are concerned about losing strength(i wouldnt be),you could silicone in some "end braces" on the top.just a thought.

Leafy · 09-07-2001, 08:10 AM

Thanks for replyng guys!!! I e-mailed Hagen directly and was told the plastic rim is for looks only. Their newer tanks have the middle plastic brace that helps with bowing, but the older tanks (the one I have) shoul dbe fine without the plastic rims.

Thanks!
Leafy

09-06-2001, 09:46 AM	#1
Leafy Tenant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 88	Plastic rims on the Hagen tanks ... I recently purchased a second-hand 88gal. Hagen aquarium. The plastic rim at the top and bottom are cracked. The top rim is completely separated and detached from the aquarium. Are the plastic rims more show or do the serve a structural purpose? Will the tank be strong enough to hold the water without the plastic rims? Thanks!

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09-06-2001, 07:28 PM	#2
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	yes plastic trim is for "looks"

09-06-2001, 07:43 PM	#3
MarkS Governor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 1,799	Sorry to disagree with you, organicreefer, but the rim is not just for looks. It keeps the glass from bowing. There have been several discussions on how to fix this on this board and several others (I can think of ReefCentral to name one). Try doing a search. I cannot think of how to fix it other than replacing the whole piece and that could be a problem (they are amlost impossible to find). You can make it "stay" in place by running a bead of aquarium grade silicone around the inside of the rim. However, you will want ot wait until you fix the crack or replace the rim before doing this. Mark

09-06-2001, 07:47 PM	#4
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	hmmmm,i have seen plenty of glass tanks without plastic trim......perhaps if it was manufactured with it it COULD have something to do with it structurally...arent center braces used to prevent bowing?you can buy a tank without trim from oceanic...

09-06-2001, 07:53 PM	#5
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	just looked at aga website,it says : One-Piece Molded Frame: To take advantage of the added strength and dimensional uniformity, all of our aquariums are made with one-piece injection molded frames. so i gues if it IS ONE PEICE it adds strength.makes sense.the trimon my 110 IS NOT one peice ,so no structural help there. so i would say it depends,and probly wont matter anyway.

09-06-2001, 08:09 PM	#6
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	one thing id like to add though ,is that the tank sit on the trim and you should either fix it (maybe epoxy or something??)or remove it completely.if you remove it you have to be sure that what ever you place the tank on is perfectly level,or maybe on styrofoam or something.if you are concerned about losing strength(i wouldnt be),you could silicone in some "end braces" on the top.just a thought.

09-07-2001, 08:10 AM	#7
Leafy Tenant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 88	Thanks for replyng guys!!! I e-mailed Hagen directly and was told the plastic rim is for looks only. Their newer tanks have the middle plastic brace that helps with bowing, but the older tanks (the one I have) shoul dbe fine without the plastic rims. Thanks! Leafy

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