bstoner
Premium Member
I recently picked up a 210 gallon RR tank in need of a new center brace.
The tank is an Oceanic tank 84"x24"x24", looks like it originally had a 24" wide glass center brace siliconed in place but I dont like that for access reasons.
I called the big tank mfgs including Oceanic and the only company that had anything was Perfecto, they have a tank brace/trim with the same dims and glass thickness that I could buy and silicone in place for around $200.00.
I am curious to how well a steel brace would work. I can weld so I could use some right angle steel to trim the whole top with two or three 1" flat stock cross braces across the top. I am sure this would be strong enough but I am worried about it rusting.
If I did do this I would coat it in something like POR-15 but I am not sure if it would be enough to keep it from rusting over time.
Another thing I am worried about is all the steel right angle pieces I have seen are not a true right angle on the inside so it wouldnt sit perfectly flush against the tank but I am not sure if that matters.
So what are your opinions on which way to go?
The tank is an Oceanic tank 84"x24"x24", looks like it originally had a 24" wide glass center brace siliconed in place but I dont like that for access reasons.
I called the big tank mfgs including Oceanic and the only company that had anything was Perfecto, they have a tank brace/trim with the same dims and glass thickness that I could buy and silicone in place for around $200.00.
I am curious to how well a steel brace would work. I can weld so I could use some right angle steel to trim the whole top with two or three 1" flat stock cross braces across the top. I am sure this would be strong enough but I am worried about it rusting.
If I did do this I would coat it in something like POR-15 but I am not sure if it would be enough to keep it from rusting over time.
Another thing I am worried about is all the steel right angle pieces I have seen are not a true right angle on the inside so it wouldnt sit perfectly flush against the tank but I am not sure if that matters.
So what are your opinions on which way to go?