AGA stand question

[kimoy]

hello everyone. i have a questions for all you experts out there, i have a 120 AGA with AGA pine stand, .http://www.all-glass.com/products/stands/index.html, with a vertical brace in the middle which separates the door. my question is can i take it off(like saw it out)? if i can, what is the long term effect on the structural strenght of my stand? the reason is i want to change my sump to a bigger one and it won't fit in there without taking the thing off. if i can't, what are my options?
thank you.

 

[Jeff]

I have a similar Oceanic stand with the center brace. I do not think that that is there for looks. I am almost sure it is there to help support the weight of the tank and water.


If you hear a loud crash then a long splash, you know it needed to be there. Go get a wetvac...

Hope this helped.

Jeff

 

[badazztealcobra]

You might be fine to take it out and brace the stand in another way temporarily until you get the sump in, and then put the center piece back in for rigidity...

 

[rickyb]

I believe there is screws holding the brace, 2 up and 2 down and if I remember correctly you will need a special bit (square).

I agree with the above statements

 

[Lucas9]

I would just not take it out.

 

[Lucas9]

Not sure if you already have a tank sitting on top. If not then you could try getting your sump in through the top (taking out one of the two horizontal pieces. Thats what i had to do.

 

[kimoy]

sory forgot about it. the tank is already setup and runnig for a few months and is stacked.

Ricky,
which statements did you agree upon?

 

[rickyb]

both above mine
If you decide to remove and don't replace... it will be a nightmare in Elm Street again. There is ways to support the stand BEFORE you remove the brace.

 

[revenge53142]

that brace IS there for a reason

i've taken them off and put'em back on
but i wouldn't just take it off

especially with a larger tank like a 120

 

[earlnewt]

If it is under warranty you will void it by removing it.

 

[HighlandReef]

you are asking for trouble removing that brace!
i wouldnt do it!

 

[PSam]

Look around on Melev's Reef... (not sure about mods and linking, so I'll let you do the work :smokin: )

There's 2 different options he's done, with pics of both. One involves the center brace and shows how he braced it before removing. The other is cutting a hole on the side of the stand and inserting it lengthwise, instead of from the front.

Hope it helps... good luck!

 

[MadTownMax]

I removed the brace on my 120 (AGA stand) and then put it back when I was finished - the brace was held in place with staples - pictures in my gallery. I removed about 1/2 of the water just to be careful - there's no going back if you dump 120-gallons of water in a rented apartment :eek1:

I agree that the brace is there for a reason, you might get away with removing it for a little while, but constant stress will probably make the front support piece bow until it breaks, that small piece of wood offers a small bit of support that keeps the stand from bowing and then breaking...

$0.02

 

[Kmiec123]

you can use some angle iron as support and brace up the ends if you want the middle open for access. JAT