Acrylic oddly bowing Upward on the top brace????

NSX22 · 04/21/2008, 08:14 PM

I have a 440 gallon acrylic tank 96"x48"x22"deep.. the top brace is bowing up like an arch slightly on the ends of each side of the tank. I do have a 400w metal halide above it on either end? is this bad, normal??? I just want to make sure the tank isnt going to explode...

serpentman · 04/21/2008, 08:18 PM

I would post this in the Large tank forum. You might get better results as most of those folks have more experience with a tank of that size.

BeesGoneWild · 04/21/2008, 08:35 PM

I had a metal halide above my centerbrace for a while, one day i came home and the center brace was all warped and almost melted through. I let it go for a month keeping a close eye on it. Finnaly the centerbrace plastic became so ridged (from being cooked i suppose) that it broke. Abut two week later i cut the centerbrace and replaced it with a diy plexi glass centerbrace. It lasted another month then the whole front brace started to leak, so i had to replace the tank.

Moral of the story, dont put metal halide lighting over centerbraces.

Hop · 04/21/2008, 09:15 PM

I would contact RC member acrylics and show him a pic. Since he is the owner of one of the best acrylic tank manufacturers he will give you a strait up answer backed by fact and experience

04/21/2008, 08:14 PM	#1
NSX22 Moved On Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 71	Acrylic oddly bowing Upward on the top brace???? I have a 440 gallon acrylic tank 96"x48"x22"deep.. the top brace is bowing up like an arch slightly on the ends of each side of the tank. I do have a 400w metal halide above it on either end? is this bad, normal??? I just want to make sure the tank isnt going to explode...

04/21/2008, 08:18 PM	#2
serpentman part time superhero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO) Posts: 5,698	I would post this in the Large tank forum. You might get better results as most of those folks have more experience with a tank of that size. __________________ BS in Marine Bio ('96), First SW tank in 1992. Current Tank(s) 300g SPS with 90g frag tank and 40 anemone tank - decommissioned 46g LPS/Softy Cube 300g FOWLR under construction - decommissioned

04/21/2008, 09:15 PM	#4
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	I would contact RC member acrylics and show him a pic. Since he is the owner of one of the best acrylic tank manufacturers he will give you a strait up answer backed by fact and experience __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

04/21/2008, 08:35 PM	#3
BeesGoneWild Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: North Eastern Pennsylvannia Posts: 1,064	I had a metal halide above my centerbrace for a while, one day i came home and the center brace was all warped and almost melted through. I let it go for a month keeping a close eye on it. Finnaly the centerbrace plastic became so ridged (from being cooked i suppose) that it broke. Abut two week later i cut the centerbrace and replaced it with a diy plexi glass centerbrace. It lasted another month then the whole front brace started to leak, so i had to replace the tank. Moral of the story, dont put metal halide lighting over centerbraces.