Euro bracing?

[Kenmx10]

Does anyone have any experience on removing the glass center brace and installing Euro bracing?I would like to remove the big piece of glass to increase light in tank. .

 

[CHOMPERS MFK]

It really needs to be done while the tank is empty. From the sounds of it, that isn't the case. To do it with water in the tank is going to be like building a ship in a bottle (of sorts). You will need to use pipe clamps or the like while the braces are swapped. What will complicate things is that all of the work has to be done under the clamps and without removing them.

 

[Kenmx10]

Yes water would be removed. My questions are more of a structural concern. Will it work, what size glass, spacing. etc.

 

[spectrum82586]

I would not remove it. I drastically changes the stresses in the glass. The glass panel will probably bow out. what are tank dim. and glass thickness?

 

[Kenmx10]

I called Oceanic and ask if I could remove the brace and replace it with some metal angle iron running along the front and back of the tank the same length as the brace , and just weld a couple of braces in between to keep the glass from bowing out. Of coarse , he said he couldnt recommend that I remove the glass brace but said It sounds like Im on the right track and that it shouldnt be a problem.

 

[snorvich]

Well having metal angle iron around salt water does not sound wonderful to me.

 

[Kenmx10]

Yes, It will have to be dipped in a rubber coating to protect it from the salt water.