Eurobracing Help Please
 

I have yet another question for you Canreefers........

My 120-gallon tank is made from 9mm glass and has no top trim, currently, so I will definitely add a eurobrace. I am also considering a center brace to make the addition of tops easier.

Must I use 9mm bracing too? I have an old 50 gallon that I can tear down but I know that 9mm can be tricky to cut. The fact that it is "old" glass makes it that much more difficult.

Would I get away with 1/4" bracing? I have plenty of clean, 1/4" glass and could easily double up the braces to, in essence, have 1/2" supports.

Your thoughts?

If it were me I would go with 9mm for the euro-bracing. At the center of your span there will be significant pressure to bow and the thicker the brace the better you will sleep at night. You should be able to get a glass company to cut it for you and if you go with a 3" brace you are not looking at that much square footage.

6mm will not cut it Brad, go with the 10 mm just to be on the safe side of caution. You will not like the look of doubled up 6mm & if you go to 10mm you will not need a center brace.

Any suggestions on where to order glass from?

There are certain tank manufacturers in Alberta that I simply refuse to deal with.

You can got to any glass shop for the euro brace pieces, I got some cut for my 116 gal from Lydens Glass in Red Deer.

Alright, I took a closer look at the tank. The sides are 9mm glass while the front, back and bottom are 12mm.

Inside measurements are 47 5/16"L and 23 1/16" width.

For those that have done their own bracing, how big of a gap do you leave for your silicone bead?

I am thinking of running the length of the front and back level with the panes and then putting cross braces on top of the side panes and front/back euro.

Sound about right?