Center brace

[JayB1224]

Hello all. Does a AGA 40gal breeder have a center brace?

 

[Blown 346]

No, it doesnt have a center brace.

 

[nemo g]

niether does the 50g, the 65g does though. but the 70g oceanic, same dimensions, does not. wierd.

 

[fishbaiter]

Yeah, i think the reason the Oceanic 70 doesn't is because they use thicker tempered glass even though AGA owns Oceanic now...

 

[nemo g]

there is actually a parent company that owns both.

i do think the glass may be thicker, never measured, but if it is its not by much. silly for aga to skimp, but then again its 50% the price of the oceanic.

 

[fishbaiter]

I agree about the cost. I have an older Oceanic 58RR 36" by 18 by 20 or 22. And it has 1/2" all the way around and no bracing TG! Yet my Oceanic 110 (which I'm trying to sell hint hint) is 1/2" and has a center brace but than it's a bigger tank.
My buddy has a AGA 65G same dimension but 24 tall and an ugly plastic brace through the middle, no single halide for him!

 

[nemo g]

ive seen some mods of that plastic replaced with glass or acrylic. and its a mod im definitely considering. just need the right tools and materials.

 

[fishbaiter]

I mentioned the same thing to my buddy but I don't think he trusts himself to do it.

 

[nemo g]

not sure if i trust myself either

dman, id hate to shell out the extra dough for the oce, even though its bar far the better tank aesthetically.

 

[fishbaiter]

Cut the center brace out but leave about an inch and a half sticking out and use some Weldon 16 and glue a 1/4 or 3/8 inch thickness of cast acrylic to it. Maybe even drill the ends and add aluminum light grade rivets as an extra measure. I have an AGA 55 for my frash water tank and that's the way I'd do it.

 

[fishbaiter]

Of course this is all in theory.... ;-)

 

[nemo g]

two problems with the "theory", unfortunately

1. acrylic can bow/bend/warp, either on its own or due to the heat of a hailde (which is why you want to remove the center brace in the first place). so, some high tech and tested acrylic would need to be used to avoid any future issue. check rc, youll find a few that learned the hard way.

2. the new brace must be installed Before removal of the old one. its more difficult, but doable. if not, the tank will "give" a little, like tanking off your belt after dinner, and the resulting new brace will not be properly in place. even a fraction of an inch will almost definitely cause issues in the future.

makes the oceanic look more affordable now doesnt it, lol

 

[fishbaiter]

Yeah, but if you think about it, the acrylic tanks are all acrylic including the various styles of center braces whether euro or whatever. Of course youdon't lay a MH ficture on top of it anyway.

I say you be the one to test it... lol