Euro brace question

danny zubot · #1 03-09-2005, 10:31 PM

Ok, the price difference between a regular 65g tank and a euro braced 65 gallon is too much. I have MH lighting so I can't have the center brace.
What I need to know is if the plastic center brace can be cut out and replaced by a thick piece of glass. Has anyone ever done this who can help me?

BCOrchidGuy · #2 03-09-2005, 10:34 PM

Sea Star only uses glass for the cross brace but it's bulky and it gets alot of algae and salt on it especially if a light is right over it. Why not contact some of the people who make or order custom tanks from the sounds of it you've got a couple of excellent choices out your way.

Doug

danny zubot · #3 03-09-2005, 10:53 PM

I have looked into ordering a eurobraced 65g from a couple of sources and the price is at least $100 to $140.00 more expensive! I'm trying to figure out if I can buy a regular tank, buy some scrap glass off of a supplier and brace it myself. Of course I want to sleep at night so I need to know if this can/has been done.

Richer · #4 03-09-2005, 10:59 PM

What is the thickness of your glass?

I know with the couple of 65gallon hagen tanks that I've owned, and none of them had a center brace, just a standard black trim. I believe the glass thickness on those tanks are about 3/8". The one remaining 65 I have was used for a few years before I bought it, and I've had it running for about 4 years now, so I don't think structural integrity is a problem. By the way, the dimensions are 48"x16"x20" (lwh).

-Rich

Aquattro · #5 03-09-2005, 11:01 PM

Yes, it can be done. Like Doug said, our local tank builder uses glass centre braces. Usually 1/2" thick, about 8" wide on my 5' tank. You could probably go 6 inches wide on a 4 foot tank.

BCOrchidGuy · #6 03-09-2005, 11:04 PM

Brad do you think he could go with a 3/8s thick glass strip that's the width of the plastic center brace? I can't see how the glass would be weaker. You'd sure want to make sure it was the right width though.

Doug

Aquattro · #7 03-09-2005, 11:17 PM

The width is important due to the amount of contact area for the silicone. The silicone holds the tank together, not the width of the glass.

BCOrchidGuy · #8 03-09-2005, 11:24 PM

I knew that, was just testing you... honest...

Okay yeah that makes sense I knew there had to be a reason for the size of those braces.

Doug

Willow · #9 03-09-2005, 11:33 PM

get hockey nut to snap a pick of his 120, he replaced his plastic one with a plexy one that screws in place so he can take it off if he needs to.

danny zubot · #10 03-10-2005, 02:28 PM

Thats not a bad idea if there is enough room left on the trim to drill a couple holes. The tank I'll be getting is 36x24x18 and I believe its made from 3/8 glass. So if I wanted to use a glass brace, would 6 inches wide be enough? Do you want to leave a millimeter or two on either end for the silicone or squeeze it in at the exact dimension?