Did you REMOVE your center Brace?

[Heabel7]

I have always know it to cast a shadow with my lights. However, I have a par meter on hand for the 1st time and the difference in the center of my tank is 30-60% less par directly under the support. I’ve had less growth from sps there in the past. I’d like to remove it BUT put a support in its place such as a piece of acrylic or a stainless cable.

Looking for ideas here

 

[WvAquatics]

I bought my 120g and it didn't have a center brace. I went to a glass shop and ordered 3inch strips the same size as the tank glass. Put 1 in each corner and one in the middle. Longevity I don't know but it's working for now. Would I remove it if it was intact when I got it probably not

 

[Southpaw240]

Lol funny you mentioned this. I had a 125g long with a plastic center brace. Asked the lfs about it and they said I should be able to remove it. So I cut the brace with a sawzall with the tank full. When I got through the tank popped so loud I just about **** myself. Thought for sure it was going to drain. Well fortunately it didn't. But you could see the bow in the glass. It was 3/4 inch difference in the middle. I quickly proceeded to make a new brace out of steel which went over the top to reinforce it. So in short no do not remove the center brace.

 

[Cell]

I would never risk such a thing unless I had guidance from someone who makes tanks and can assure me whatever replacement bracing I added would be suitable.

 

[Aardvark1134]

It's simple...the only tanks that come with a center brace are the ones that need one for long term safety. If you want one without a center brace buy one that as made to function without one.

 

[Dom]

I removed a center brace from a 55 gallon Aqueon. There was a slight bow once the brace was removed.

The larger the tank, the more water pressure you will have and the greater the bow.

Is the risk worth the extra PAR?

 

[X-37B]

It's simple...the only tanks that come with a center brace are the ones that need one for long term safety. If you want one without a center brace buy one that as made to function without one.

Well said lol.
My 120 has a center brace and one on each end like euro bracing.
The center brace is 10"'s wide and the sides are 3".
They are glass and thats why I went with this tank instead of the standard black brace.
My tank does have the black plastic rim which I prefer over rimless.

 

[andrewkw]

I don't recall if it was 2007 or 2008 but when I switched from MH to T5 I removed my center brace. It was scary to do with a full tank. I drained about half the tank maybe a little more in my various smaller tanks and buckets. Cut the brace and replaced it with acrylic. The acrylic still casts a shadow but no where near as bad. I used nylon screws and bolts to attach the acrylic. Tank has not bowed even slightly since. This was a very very easy modification to do. I still don't understand why they don't use clear plastic / acrylic for bracing?

 

[Aardvark1134]

Also if you use an even # of LED pucks none of them will be above the center brace.

 

[Heabel7]

I don't recall if it was 2007 or 2008 but when I switched from MH to T5 I removed my center brace. It was scary to do with a full tank. I drained about half the tank maybe a little more in my various smaller tanks and buckets. Cut the brace and replaced it with acrylic. The acrylic still casts a shadow but no where near as bad. I used nylon screws and bolts to attach the acrylic. Tank has not bowed even slightly since. This was a very very easy modification to do. I still don't understand why they don't use clear plastic / acrylic for bracing?

This is exactly what I was looking for and thinking. Feel like others did not read my entire post. Not just removing but replacing with a material more suited to even light distribution. Worth it to me for sure. Dislike the shadow also.

SO ONE NYLON (1/4”?) screw held everything together?

 

[jda]

A 1/4 or 3/8 stainless rod, bent at 90 on each end to lip over the top is the least obtrusive that I have ever used. I would not removed a brace from a tank that has one without replacing it with something.

 

[andrewkw]

Yes one on each side. You can see from the picture there is enough of the old brace still there to hold everything in. It's been at least 12 years and no bowing so I think it's safe to say this works. If anything using acrylic instead of the thin black plastic is safer. It's next to impossible for this to crack, where as the standard black stuff does tend to fail on a lot of tanks over many years.

 

[Erick Armanii]

I remember swapping out the air filter on my car and never Clipped the support screw in place and the shop teacher said “if Honda or Toyota or anyone really, could save 1 penny by not adding a screw there think of the millions they would save/generate.”

That advise stuck with me for over 15years.

If the bracket is there, it needs to be there lol.

With that said I have a 125Long with those same brackets..