How to remove the center brace on a glass tank?

Elite · 05/27/2006, 05:47 PM

I need to move it to another spot. I can't seem to take it off. Any tip??

Already tried the hammer

..

crazzyreefer · 05/27/2006, 11:53 PM

Mine melted due to the 2 Mh bulbs I add and the heat started to crack the tank lip it fianaly melted the brace into the tank, so I cut it with a grinder, took all of 2 minuts and didnt pull any water or anything, so now a have a 72 bow without a euro brace, this has been ok since january, so it looks like it will hold. They dont call me crazzy for nothing...

Elite · 05/28/2006, 12:44 AM

I have a glass center brace not plastic. This is for a sump so the water level in there is not that high plus the baffle will help holding the tank together too.

So nobody know how to remove it???

pepe.king.prawn · 05/28/2006, 01:43 AM

Take a knife and cut the silicone... it's a huge pain, but that's how I removed it... well.. what was left from the broken center brace. It may not be possible to do it with a knife though if there's an entire brace there, might not be able to fit it in where you need to cut. Good luck.

Skorpinok · 05/28/2006, 08:12 AM

Phong,

Have you tried using a utility knife? I used a blade from my utility knife to cut away the silicone when I had to re-do the baffles on my DIY sump.

Not to rain down on pepe.king.prawn's parade

- knife won't really work - I know, I've tried it. The blade on the knife is a little thick. You'll need to have that thin blade to go all the way in between the two glasses.

Just adding 2 cents... and sorry Tristan for commenting about the knife.

Elite · 05/28/2006, 11:08 AM

I tried but the gap is really small. The utility knife is too thick to get inside the gap.

So what is the safe way to break the center brace without breaking the tank?? Any idea guys?? I got my hammer ready

..

pepe.king.prawn · 05/28/2006, 11:33 AM

put some ice packs one outside edges of the glass brace and take a blow torch and heat the center of the brace until it cracks. Personally, I would not hit it with a hammer. I'd be scared to break the front or back panel, the silicone is that strong.

fat walrus · 05/28/2006, 09:47 PM

i did it by just jamming away with a single edge razer blade(actually a whole box of blades). took forever, but it got there.

Elite · 05/28/2006, 09:58 PM

I got it.. After 2 hours trying to remove the silicone unsuccessful, I used the hammer and gave it a good wack and the piece broke

... It's pretty easy after that.
Thanks Guys

Ti · 05/29/2006, 02:24 PM

Good job!

Vincerama2 · 05/30/2006, 05:10 PM

Oh, you did it already! I was going to suggest scoring the glass with a glass cutter. You could just tap at the scored area until it broke along the line...

Elite...you've got some guts!

V

Elite · 05/30/2006, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vincerama2
Oh, you did it already! I was going to suggest scoring the glass with a glass cutter. You could just tap at the scored area until it broke along the line...

Elite...you've got some guts!

V

I wish I have a glass cutter. I shoulda bought one when they had it onsale on HSN

..

No, it's called p*** off

...

Vincerama2 · 05/31/2006, 11:07 AM

Just for future reference, I meant a glass cutter like this
http://www.artstuff.net/glass_cutter.htm

Generally $5 or less... no need to go to the HSN!
The scoring part is a sharp wheel, you just score the glass, flip it over and tap the ball part on the glass and it just magically breaks along the scoring. (Yes, I know you can't flip the brace over!)

Just as a point of interest, I've read that you can actually cut glass ... with scissor if the glass is underwater!!

http://www.spectrumglass.com/Library...FishStory.html

Glad you solved the problem already though!

V

Elite · 05/31/2006, 11:32 AM

The one on HSN was pretty cheap and it can cut up to 1/2" glass. You can make a prefect circle with it. It's really cool. I'm going to get it soon or later.

The glass cutting under water is really interest. Can I borrow you scissor??

05/27/2006, 05:47 PM	#1
Elite Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SJ Posts: 5,979	How to remove the center brace on a glass tank? I need to move it to another spot. I can't seem to take it off. Any tip?? Already tried the hammer ..

05/27/2006, 11:53 PM	#2
crazzyreefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Benicia, Ca. Posts: 1,455	Mine melted due to the 2 Mh bulbs I add and the heat started to crack the tank lip it fianaly melted the brace into the tank, so I cut it with a grinder, took all of 2 minuts and didnt pull any water or anything, so now a have a 72 bow without a euro brace, this has been ok since january, so it looks like it will hold. They dont call me crazzy for nothing... __________________ If I see one more Snail I hope its on my plate served as escargot !!!

05/28/2006, 01:43 AM	#4
pepe.king.prawn Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: east bay CA / UC Davis Posts: 778	Take a knife and cut the silicone... it's a huge pain, but that's how I removed it... well.. what was left from the broken center brace. It may not be possible to do it with a knife though if there's an entire brace there, might not be able to fit it in where you need to cut. Good luck. __________________ -Tristan Current Tank Info: 180gal live rock tank (no fish, no corals.. just live rock)

05/28/2006, 11:08 AM	#6
Elite Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SJ Posts: 5,979	I tried but the gap is really small. The utility knife is too thick to get inside the gap. So what is the safe way to break the center brace without breaking the tank?? Any idea guys?? I got my hammer ready .. Last edited by Elite; 05/28/2006 at 11:45 AM.

05/28/2006, 11:33 AM	#7
pepe.king.prawn Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: east bay CA / UC Davis Posts: 778	put some ice packs one outside edges of the glass brace and take a blow torch and heat the center of the brace until it cracks. Personally, I would not hit it with a hammer. I'd be scared to break the front or back panel, the silicone is that strong. __________________ -Tristan Current Tank Info: 180gal live rock tank (no fish, no corals.. just live rock)

05/28/2006, 12:44 AM	#3
Elite Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SJ Posts: 5,979	I have a glass center brace not plastic. This is for a sump so the water level in there is not that high plus the baffle will help holding the tank together too. So nobody know how to remove it???

05/28/2006, 08:12 AM	#5
Skorpinok Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,194	Phong, Have you tried using a utility knife? I used a blade from my utility knife to cut away the silicone when I had to re-do the baffles on my DIY sump. Not to rain down on pepe.king.prawn's parade - knife won't really work - I know, I've tried it. The blade on the knife is a little thick. You'll need to have that thin blade to go all the way in between the two glasses. Just adding 2 cents... and sorry Tristan for commenting about the knife.

05/28/2006, 09:47 PM	#8
fat walrus Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 68	i did it by just jamming away with a single edge razer blade(actually a whole box of blades). took forever, but it got there.

05/28/2006, 09:58 PM	#9
Elite Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SJ Posts: 5,979	I got it.. After 2 hours trying to remove the silicone unsuccessful, I used the hammer and gave it a good wack and the piece broke ... It's pretty easy after that. Thanks Guys

05/29/2006, 02:24 PM	#10
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	Good job! __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

05/30/2006, 05:10 PM	#11
Vincerama2 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 4,684	Oh, you did it already! I was going to suggest scoring the glass with a glass cutter. You could just tap at the scored area until it broke along the line... Elite...you've got some guts! V __________________ Quality friendship ... at rock bottom prices! Current Tank Info: 10g nano reef, 58 Oceanic, 37 FW, toilet

05/31/2006, 11:07 AM	#13
Vincerama2 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 4,684	Just for future reference, I meant a glass cutter like this http://www.artstuff.net/glass_cutter.htm Generally $5 or less... no need to go to the HSN! The scoring part is a sharp wheel, you just score the glass, flip it over and tap the ball part on the glass and it just magically breaks along the scoring. (Yes, I know you can't flip the brace over!) Just as a point of interest, I've read that you can actually cut glass ... with scissor if the glass is underwater!! http://www.spectrumglass.com/Library...FishStory.html Glad you solved the problem already though! V __________________ Quality friendship ... at rock bottom prices! Current Tank Info: 10g nano reef, 58 Oceanic, 37 FW, toilet

05/31/2006, 11:32 AM	#14
Elite Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SJ Posts: 5,979	The one on HSN was pretty cheap and it can cut up to 1/2" glass. You can make a prefect circle with it. It's really cool. I'm going to get it soon or later. The glass cutting under water is really interest. Can I borrow you scissor??