Help with bracing a 48*24*24

[Aussie paul]

So I have a 48*24*24 with the centre brace. The brace is going to be in the way and was wondering if I remove the brace and do euro braced would 2" wide 3/8 braces be enough to stop it bowing.

Any help is appreciated thanks

 

[Aussie paul]

Anyone any ideas?????

 

[rayn]

Not sure, let's get the work out [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

 

[kschweer]

I'm not too familiar with doing this. It's going to depend on a lot of things. I know @Floyd R Turbo is good when it comes to acrylic bracing hopefully he will know about Glass as well.

 

[Shep]

I don't know if I would risk it

 

[Aussie paul]

I have no worries with doing the bracing. I'm just thinking if the centre brace is 3/8 would it be strong enough not to flex if I use the same to brace all round instead of the centre

 

[Turbo's Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

Acrylic or glass tank?

 

[jsker]

What is the brace going to be in the way of? Is the tank setup? If not use acrylic rod for your brace.

 

[Aussie paul]

Glass tank not set up yet centre brace going to be in the way of getting rocks in

 

[Turbo's Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

Wow how big are the rocks?? The opening it only an inch in from the tank edge. You can't rotate the rocks to get them in the opening?

 

[BlacknBlue2]

I know that I want glass eurobracing on the bottom and top, but I was thinking about not having them place it till I get it to my home and I do the rockscape, because once I get it in their I am not moving it again because to aquascape a 350 gallon tank will be murder bordering on suicide once I start introducing fish, inverts and corals. Once I have what I want then I can silicone the top braces.

FYI, my tank will be a glass aquarium with 3/4 inch tempered starphire glass on the front.

 

[Aussie paul]

My centre brace is almost 12" wide it would just make it easier without it in the way to do anything in the tank

 

[BlacknBlue2]

Then thats what I would do, play with the rocks till you like what you see, also you could pickup a woodworking brace big enough to put across the top till you get what you want. They are easily put on and come off with 1 squeeze of its trigger

 

[Aussie paul]

I appreciate all the advice. I might just remove the centre brace do all my aqua scape and then just silicone the brace back in place. I do prefer the open look but I suppose once the hood is shut I'm not going to see if anyway
Thanks to everyone who posted for the advice and opinions

 

[Turbo's Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

So I take it this is not a standard ABS plastic trim that comes on an AGA/Aqueon/Marineland tank? Do you have a picture?

I've seen some really old tanks built this way, with a thick piece of glass about a foot wide siliconed in. The issue is that this is very much a structural brace and due to that, when you remove it and add is back in, you have to make sure it's done right (I believe you would want to force the front/back panels apart so that you can get silicone in the gap, which could be tricky) and then clamp it after siliconing it back in, and you would want to let it fully cure before completely filling the tank (that means, 2 weeks minimum).

You might want to call Miracles or Glass Cages or another glass tank manufacturer and see if they are willing to give you some basics procedural pointers. Don't take my advice as the way to go, that's just a logical guess on my part.