i just break my centre brace last night
because i'm setting up my 120gal reef tank
my tank is 48x24x24 with 10"wide center brace
i put one 400w metal halide at the center on top of the center brace
after few hours, the glass was heat up by the bulb (i didn't know that)
and when i feed the fish, one drop of water drop on the center brace
because the center brace is so hot but the water is cold
the center brace "pop" and break
i pump out half of the water to prevent the tank break

today i phone to a guy he is a pro tank maker
and told him my story
he said my tank will bow but won't break
because my glass is half inch thick
it can handle it

reply
 

You could take the center brace out if you replace it. Go to your local glass shop and get them to cut a 0.5x2 inch piece of glass to retrofit. Silcone the piece in place, but the tank has to be emptied unless you have a large clamp to hold it in.

how thick is the side glass and how tall is it? (48" x ?)

Steve

Its 1/4" glass and is 48x15wx18h

That seems pretty thin to me..

yes you need the center brace.

Steve

I would try Eurobracing the tank if you wanted to remove the centre brace.

Get some 2"-3" wide, 3/8" - 1/2" thick glass strips cut to size from a local glass shop and silicone them in to place, should be good to go (As Danny said, the tank would have to be empty). My 62g is eurobraced and I like the centre being completely open. Easier to move around and fiddle in the tank when you need to, as well as the lighting thing.

My only concern might be that 1/4" glass seems a little thin for a 56g tank. Esp. at 48" long. :eek:. Maybe I just feel safer with overkill!

My 62g is 3/8" with 1/2" eurobracing and is 40"l x 18"w x 20"h.

I have a 77g hagen tank that doesnt have any bracing at all and im pretty sure its half in glass and i only have a little bowing.