Can I remove the center brace on my tank?

Robert Patterso · 07/09/2011, 11:15 PM

Wasn't sure where to ask this so I'll start here. I have a 140g Oceanic tank. Same footprint as a 120 only taller. 29". It has a center brace and I hate the thing. So my question is can I remove it safely OR should I. I work in a lfs part time, saturday's only. There is an Oceanic 120 and it has no center brace. It has 1/2" glass on 4 sides and bottom. Same as mine, except mine has 3/4" bottom. Mine has dual overflows, the one in store has 1. Mine is drilled for a closed loop, new one isn't.
I guess my main concern would be deflection (panels bowing to much) in the glass front and back.
What are my options???

Thanks in advance

DanEnglish · 07/09/2011, 11:23 PM

I would be careful with that. I have an AGA 110 Xhigh which is 18" deep, 48" long and 30"high. It does not have a center brace, from the factory like this, and I believe it is at least 1/2 inch glass, but the front DOES bow out about 1/8 inch... always makes me nervous. I would leave the brace if the manufacturer put it in place.

InsaneClownFish · 07/09/2011, 11:35 PM

Short answer is no.

geaux xman · 07/09/2011, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InsaneClownFish

Short answer is no.

+1

29" is way too tall for rimless with no bracing. especially on 1/2" glass.

Robert Patterso · 07/09/2011, 11:47 PM

Kinda what I figured. Had to ask though. Guess I will have to have one built some time in the future. Oh well I can deal with it. Better safe than a huge mess.....
Thanks for the quick replies

jeff@zina.com · 07/10/2011, 07:16 AM

Think of it this way -- Manufacturers are cheap bast*rds. If it were possible to save .003 cents by not putting the center brace in, don't you think they'd have left it out?

Jeff

geaux xman · 07/10/2011, 07:36 AM

typically builders will try to stay on rimless tanks, no taller than 18-20" on 1/2" glass. 20-24" tall and they will build 3/4" glass. thats on 4ft long rimless.

lizie58 · 07/10/2011, 12:24 PM

i have the center brace out of my 36x18x24 but i wouldnt recomend it

snorvich · 07/10/2011, 01:11 PM

Can you take the center brace out of your house?

albano · 07/10/2011, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snorvich

Can you take the center brace out of your house?

I had my house euro-braced!

snorvich · 07/10/2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albano

I had my house euro-braced!

Great idea!

Robert Patterso · 07/10/2011, 08:24 PM

LMAO!!!!! I got the point. Center brace stays in. Being I work part time in a lfs I can have another one built later in the near future. 10% above cost

albano · 07/10/2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Patterso

LMAO!!!!! I got the point. Center brace stays in. Being I work part time in a lfs I can have another one built later in the near future. 10% above cost

Does it really bother you, that much, to make you buy a new tank?

graciesdad · 07/11/2011, 12:03 AM

I kinda hate center braces too. But you really can't take one out without compromising the tank.

frank2926 · 07/11/2011, 06:38 AM

You can change the center brace to glass or acrylic

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...t=center+brace

r6justin · 07/11/2011, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank2926

You can change the center brace to glass or acrylic

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...t=center+brace

Or you can use a metal rod for the center brace.

mcoomer · 07/11/2011, 08:07 AM

If you want to remove the brace for strictly aesthetic reasons then I'd say not to do it but if it's interfering with lighting placement you can certainly move it. For example, on my 72" 180 I am going to add a third lamp in the center of the tank but with the brace there the light will be blocked. I'm going to buy two pieces of glass cut to the size of the center brace, install them with Momentive RTV at 24" and 48", and remove the center brace after the new ones have cured. That will open up the center of the tank for the third lamp. I have no worries about moving the brace but I would never remove it.

Mike

Robert Patterso · 07/11/2011, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albano

Does it really bother you, that much, to make you buy a new tank?

Its just that it interferes with the lighting and constantly needing cleaned on the water side. Lazy I guess

albano · 07/11/2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Patterso

Its just that it interferes with the lighting and constantly needing cleaned on the water side.

I hear ya...I actually have an 'extra' magnet scraper that I leave attached to the top, so I can quickly clean top and bottom of the brace

Robert Patterso · 07/11/2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank2926

You can change the center brace to glass or acrylic

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...t=center+brace

The brace is glass, thought maybe I could replace it with a couple narrower metal, (powdercoated of course) braces that clip over the trim pieces

Lmart · 07/11/2011, 05:53 PM

Snorvich makes alot of sense in the funniest way!

+1

Robert Patterso · 07/11/2011, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lmart

Snorvich makes alot of sense in the funniest way!

+1

Ya he does

LaOtIn · 07/11/2011, 09:09 PM

you could always put the lights shining in from the sides and back of the tank

Caesra · 07/11/2011, 09:40 PM

Do it!! just take pictures =)

Robert Patterso · 07/11/2011, 10:47 PM

you guys are on fire!!!

07/09/2011, 11:15 PM	#1
Robert Patterso Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denton, Tx Posts: 711	Can I remove the center brace on my tank? Wasn't sure where to ask this so I'll start here. I have a 140g Oceanic tank. Same footprint as a 120 only taller. 29". It has a center brace and I hate the thing. So my question is can I remove it safely OR should I. I work in a lfs part time, saturday's only. There is an Oceanic 120 and it has no center brace. It has 1/2" glass on 4 sides and bottom. Same as mine, except mine has 3/4" bottom. Mine has dual overflows, the one in store has 1. Mine is drilled for a closed loop, new one isn't. I guess my main concern would be deflection (panels bowing to much) in the glass front and back. What are my options??? Thanks in advance __________________ Way to many projects, not enough money and even less time Current Tank Info: 140 ssb, 75g sump ect. xp2000 cone skimmer, 400w XM 20k's in sm. Lumenbrites, ATS over refugium

07/09/2011, 11:35 PM	#3
InsaneClownFish Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,069	Short answer is no. __________________ 7 Years Reefing and Many Fresh 8 Foot Envisions

07/09/2011, 11:47 PM	#5
Robert Patterso Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denton, Tx Posts: 711	Kinda what I figured. Had to ask though. Guess I will have to have one built some time in the future. Oh well I can deal with it. Better safe than a huge mess..... Thanks for the quick replies __________________ Way to many projects, not enough money and even less time Current Tank Info: 140 ssb, 75g sump ect. xp2000 cone skimmer, 400w XM 20k's in sm. Lumenbrites, ATS over refugium

07/10/2011, 07:36 AM	#7
geaux xman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 3,279	typically builders will try to stay on rimless tanks, no taller than 18-20" on 1/2" glass. 20-24" tall and they will build 3/4" glass. thats on 4ft long rimless. __________________ - Miracles 180g 60x30x23" rimless FOWLR - Youtube video: Miracles 180g March 2013

07/10/2011, 01:11 PM	#9
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Can you take the center brace out of your house? __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/09/2011, 11:23 PM	#2
DanEnglish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 360	I would be careful with that. I have an AGA 110 Xhigh which is 18" deep, 48" long and 30"high. It does not have a center brace, from the factory like this, and I believe it is at least 1/2 inch glass, but the front DOES bow out about 1/8 inch... always makes me nervous. I would leave the brace if the manufacturer put it in place.

07/10/2011, 07:16 AM	#6
jeff@zina.com Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3,345	Think of it this way -- Manufacturers are cheap bast*rds. If it were possible to save .003 cents by not putting the center brace in, don't you think they'd have left it out? Jeff

07/10/2011, 12:24 PM	#8
lizie58 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: clearfield, pa Posts: 82	i have the center brace out of my 36x18x24 but i wouldnt recomend it

07/10/2011, 08:24 PM	#12
Robert Patterso Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denton, Tx Posts: 711	LMAO!!!!! I got the point. Center brace stays in. Being I work part time in a lfs I can have another one built later in the near future. 10% above cost __________________ Way to many projects, not enough money and even less time Current Tank Info: 140 ssb, 75g sump ect. xp2000 cone skimmer, 400w XM 20k's in sm. Lumenbrites, ATS over refugium

07/11/2011, 12:03 AM	#14
graciesdad Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 53	I kinda hate center braces too. But you really can't take one out without compromising the tank.

07/11/2011, 06:38 AM	#15
frank2926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: phila Posts: 1,645	You can change the center brace to glass or acrylic http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...t=center+brace

07/11/2011, 08:07 AM	#17
mcoomer Rat Bastard! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 1,487	If you want to remove the brace for strictly aesthetic reasons then I'd say not to do it but if it's interfering with lighting placement you can certainly move it. For example, on my 72" 180 I am going to add a third lamp in the center of the tank but with the brace there the light will be blocked. I'm going to buy two pieces of glass cut to the size of the center brace, install them with Momentive RTV at 24" and 48", and remove the center brace after the new ones have cured. That will open up the center of the tank for the third lamp. I have no worries about moving the brace but I would never remove it. Mike __________________ Spending exorbitant amounts of money on this hobby since 1998! My wife thought the tank would be cheaper and easier to keep than a dog...no seriously! Current Tank Info: 180 gallon mixed reef; Reeflo Barracuda, Tunze 6105 (X3), 250W Radiums with dual HQI Blue Wave 7, Reefkeeper Elite controller, custom sump with ASM G4, carbon and GFO reactors

07/11/2011, 05:53 PM	#21
Lmart Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: AZ Posts: 256	Snorvich makes alot of sense in the funniest way! +1

07/11/2011, 09:09 PM	#23
LaOtIn Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 704	you could always put the lights shining in from the sides and back of the tank __________________ I am a water keeper that happens to like fish and coral Once a Marine, Always a Marine Semper Fidelis Devil Dog

07/11/2011, 09:40 PM	#24
Caesra Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 249	Do it!! just take pictures =)

07/11/2011, 10:47 PM	#25
Robert Patterso Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denton, Tx Posts: 711	you guys are on fire!!! __________________ Way to many projects, not enough money and even less time Current Tank Info: 140 ssb, 75g sump ect. xp2000 cone skimmer, 400w XM 20k's in sm. Lumenbrites, ATS over refugium

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