Adequate bracing?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
FSM

FSM

Blue Tier VIP
MFK Member
Jan 1, 2008
5,261
9
367
Georgia
I've got a 150 gallon tank, 72"x20"x25"

The center brace was originally 19" wide, 3/8" thick glass. The previous owners basically treated it like crap, so the tank has tons of scratches, the silicone looked awful, and the center brace was broken. I resealed the tank and got the remains of the brace cut, so it is now 10.5" wide. Is this going to be adequate? The front and back are 1/2" glass, the ends are 3/8"

I've got some 1/8" glass I'm going to put on the ends so I the lids I'm making will have something to sit on. Is 1/8" bracing at the ends going to do much structurally? I can double it up and have two layers.

I'd like to fill it up today but if it's going to explode I will do the bracing at the ends first.
 
I'm not sure how much the center brace being narrowed would affect strenght.

As for doubling up the 1/8" glass. It will still only be as strong as 1/8" glass. It is just less likely to fall apart when you sandwich 2 pieces of glass. 1 will break and the 2nd may hold. But if they are both under thickness for the job they will both break.
 
Shouldn't there be half as much force pulling on each piece of glass?
 
FSM;3755708; said:
Shouldn't there be half as much force pulling on each piece of glass?
Click to expand...

I can't explain it properly. Glass strength isn't compounded by layers. It is only as strong as the thickest layer. But much less likely to suffer catastrophic blow out since there are other layers in place.
 
It's fine. Center braces are made wide so that they fit standard lights. They don't have to be that wide to provide the necessary strength. If you went to 6", you'd still be good. I wouldn't go any smaller than that though.
 
Time to clean up all the silicone fragments and fill it up, I guess. I'd be excited if it wasn't such a POS
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom