Damaged 40 breeder go or no?

[CaranxIgnobilis]

Ok, got this thing free after my LFS repaired a damaged shipped 40 breeder for me. I just noticed after filling it up that the center brace is missing on the top. So what do you guys think? I test filled it outside, going strong for three days so far with a slight deflection. This thing is going to be a hideous grow-out tank I already cut a piece of wood down so that I could throw on a glass canopy. I was actually considering setting it up inside the house, what do you guys think?

 

[pcfriedrich]

if its free, and it can serve a purpose for you, keep it. if its outstandingly ugly, or you fear it may break eventually, don't keep it in the house. weather there in the aloha state shouldn't make any difference.

 

[wannaarro]

??? My 40g breeder doesn't have a center brace . . . had no idea they came that way. This was purchased brand new, no flaws.

 

[tropheus]

i think it is quite common for 40gal breeders not to have/need centre brace

 

[53special]

I have a 60 breeder, that has no brace. It didn't come with one.

 

[Bud8Fan]

i think it is quite common for 40gal breeders not to have/need centre brace

I recently bought a brand new 40 gallon breeder for an aging tank. It has no center brace, I also found a glass top made just for a 40 gallon no brace breeder .

 

[DasArab]

If in doubt get a piece cut and silicone it in.

 

[Bud8Fan]

Silicon won't have the strengh to act as a center brace adhesive. You would need epoxy.

I wouldn't worry about the brace as I and others have stated, they are also made without them.

 

[DasArab]

Ive had a few glass tanks with glass centre bracing and theyve all been siliconed in, works fine for the rest of the tank cant see how it wont for the brace tbh.

 

[Bud8Fan]

The center brace needs to be "solidly" anchored to the side trim. If you use silicon you can easily pull the sides away from the bracing. Take some silicon and attach a piece of plastic to another piece of plastic and let it cure then see how easily you can pull them apart.

New tanks with center bracing have the center brace molded in with the side trim as one piece. And it's actually the trim that is holding the tank together with the silicon "sealing" the tank. A large tank with no bottom or top trim would fall apart in time.