Custom Brace Question

[310FISH]

If I was going to get a piece of 1/4" glass cut for a brace for my 48"L x 18"W x 21"H 75 gallon, what size should I get it cut. Does it have to be the same exact width as the inside of the glass or does it have to be a cm or two shorter?

Thanks in advance.

 

[shua]

why are you bracing? and i would always cut just a hair shorter so you dont have glass on glass.

 

[glassworks]

you dont have to get the glass the same dimension as the tank,in a 48" tank a 40" long by 1 1/2" wide brace would be sufficient.
open to contradiction of course.

 

[310FISH]

Ooo noo I was just trying to put a center brace because I noticed that it is starting to bow out. And knowing that this tank is over 20 years old I think that I should put a center brace, right?

 

[zennzzo]

Oder tanks were built with stronger, thicker glass...a bit of bowing isn't all bad, how much are we talking here?

 

[310FISH]

Hmm about 1/4". There's also a little bit of air bubbles in the silicon where the front and side panels meet.

 

[zennzzo]

1/4" is nothing, I personally wouldn't worry about it...as far as the bubbles in the silicone, can you post a pic of what we are talking here?

 

[310FISH]

It's pretty hard to get a pic of the bubbles. The other pic is a top view of my glass lid, shows how far the brace has bowed out.

 

[310FISH]

Also recently when one of my 100 gallon braces fell in the tank the sides got a whole bunch of air bubbles, similar to the ones on this 75 gallon. Once we fixed the brace the all the air bubbles went away. So that's why I'm thinkin it's a problem.

 

[zennzzo]

If silicone gets air bubbles in it, from stress, it has been compromised, and needs replacing, IMO