Building aluminum aquarium trim.

[Alberta]

The trim on my 120 gallon tank has a few cracks in it and I was wondering if there is any reason I couldn't take some aluminum flat bar and build a external frame to fit around the original plastic trim. I recently got a great deal on some 1" and 2" 1/4 thick aluminum flat bar and figured I could just pick up some steel corner braces and jb weld the works together.

The tank is In great shape and never leaked until I put it into storage.

 

[kendragon]

Aluminum is prone to corrosion with moisture. I see it everyday on aircraft parts even when anodized and painted. Perhaps you can seal it somehow. Do not mix steel with aluminum.

 

[Alberta]

Thanks for the advice, I guess I get to research sealing aluminium lol. is there still a risk with jb welding aluminum to stainless steel?, shouldn't be any real contact.

 

[kendragon]

Thanks for the advice, I guess I get to research sealing aluminium lol. is there still a risk with jb welding aluminum to stainless steel?, shouldn't be any real contact.

Fay surface sealing with JB Weld is an acceptable method of dissimilar metal protection.

 

[Alberta]

Thanks for the info, I will hopefully be putting everything together this weekend. So hopefully everything works out, I can't see how the aluminum and jb weld would be any weaker than the original plastic.

 

[Jez1992]

For such a small tank id buy a new one? Don't they do dollar per gallons sales over there frequently?

 

[Alberta]

Not that I've ever seen, Who would have them on sale for that cheap?. If I could pick up a new one for that price I definetely wouldn't bother with the repairs.

 

[TexasMFK31]

For such a small tank id buy a new one? Don't they do dollar per gallons sales over there frequently?

The 120s aren't included in those sales typically. Unless you live in a big city and it is a mega super store that will do like half off.

 

[Alberta]

Lol ya I'm in a small city in Alberta Canada, no such luck on big sales here.

 

[demler]

Made this one for a 125g that came with no top trim. Used aluminum angle but don't remember the size. I mitred the corners then got aluminum brazing rods and brazed the corners. Then made 2 flat cross braces that are brazed and screwed together. Then self etching primer on the aluminum and 2 coats of of Rust-Oleum gloss black. Going on a year and half and holding strong and no signs of corrosion. I just heavily siliconed it in place just like the original.