Center brace structural question

[danieljames]

I have a 24"x12" bowfront. It does have a center brace. The entire plastic frame on top is one piece. If i were to cut out the center brace, would it not still be braced by the rest of the frame from the back and sides? I am really wanting this center brace gone.

 

[coral_reefer_25]

Personally, I think a 24" bowfront would be okay without the center brace. If you had a 90g bowfront, that would be a different story.

Like I said though...just my theory...I have no evidence to back that up.

 

[rsteagall]

if you cut the brace and there is all of a sudden a 1" gap... this would be bad. heh

seriously...it all depends on the height of the aquarium as to how much pressure the water exerts.

 

[danieljames]

The aquarium is right at 17" high. Wouldn't the plastic brace literally have to stretch itself for the aquarium to bow if the brace is one solid piece of plastic? How could it bow in the front, and not pull from the back?

 

[foggy54]

You know how cheep manufactures are these days, If it could be reliably made with out that piece do you honestly think they would have gone to the expense of putting that .05 cents worth of plastic on all those tanks??????????????

 

[danieljames]

I suppose not John. Only thing is that i've seen it both ways. I have two 30 longs here at the house....one has a center brace, one doesn't.

 

[DMBillies]

Danieljames... I feel your pain on the center brace issue. I have a 46 bowfront that I wanted to put a halide over. One halide probably would have done the job just fine if the center brace wasn't there. Unfortunately, it is and so I had a big shadow in the center of the tank. I was too chicken to just cut it out, so I went out, spent some more money, and bought another pendant for the tank (which now has more than enough light).

I have a 29 of similar length and height to my bow that doesn't have a brace. You probably could hack it off of there, but it is a risk... and I'd hate to see what that much water on the floor would look like.

 

[gflat65]

I cut mine on a 40H about eight years ago. It immediately gapped out to almost an inch. It was like that for the week and a half it took to get the replacement trim in. I saw some chipping along the edges of the glass, but nothing worse than that (but it was only a little over a week). It was enough to scare me, though...

 

[Angela Short]

I personally wouldn't do it on a bowfront. All the weight is pushing in to the apex of the bow. A total different deal than a flat front tank. If gary's flat front gapped I would be afraid your bow would pop. Even though the plastic brace may feel lax, it is doing something in the design or they wouldn't bother.

 

[danieljames]

What were the dims of the 40 gary? Was the brace one solid piece, or just mitered in like on larger tanks?

I hear ya angela. That makes sense to me to, but all glass does not use a center brace on their 26 bowfront. I'm not sure who manufactured this aquarium, but i would like to know how all glass can make it without, and still mass produce them and be comfortable with their structural integrity. Going with John's way of thinking, if someone else can do it with less parts, why not do it? I've seen an all glass 26, and i don't see any difference between the tanks other than that piece (dimensions, glass thickness, bracing, etc). I'm assuming this is a perfecto tank. It's not an oceanic, and looks to be mass produced. I dunno. Thanks for the replies.

 

[SRT80]

weird how the bowfront is different. I have a 46 bow and when it wasnt full of water, the center brace kind of sagged. But once full of water, it straightend out, so I guess the brace is needed. I have the 58 oceanic without brace, you'd think it would have one. Doesnt all the 75 gal. have a center brace? Theres only a foot difference in the 58 oceanic and 75.

Steve

 

[gflat65]

The 40H was 36 x 12 x 18(I think).

 

[TitansFan]

All I know is, its there for a reason. If the manufacture could have saved money and time not putting it there, then they wouldnt have. IMO