Need some advise-tank brace

[mishelly111]

Hi Guys,

As I've mentioned in other threads. I baught a used 150G. Cleaning it was a big job. Hubby, sliced down the edges of the silicone (without touching the joint)because we could not get the algee off. We have re-siliconed the edges. We filled the tank to test before moving it in the house. It has been full for 4 days now. No leaks, nothing but we noticed that from the sides to the middle of the tank it bows about 1/2". Now, we know that this is normal to some extent. The question we have is, it does not seem to have a brace of any kind. For us to have a brace made would involve tanking the tank about 1-1/2 hr trip with the tank to the closest "Tank Specialist" to have one made. Is this necessary? Can we make something ourselves? Please help, we were planning on tanking the tank in this week-end and get it up and going. Please help.

 

[Wolf3101]

Not all tanks are "euro braced". Some of them depend on the thickness of the glass and the support of the rim. You can always add a center support of your own with a piece of plexiglass and two part epoxi.

Cut a piece of plexiglass 3/8" thick or so to fit inside the lip of the plastic rim and about 10" wide. (do this when the tank is empty) now epoxi it in place. Wait 48 hours and fill.

 

[Nic]

could just silicone a piece of glass in place for a brace too

 

[gomezladdams]

The older tanks had a glass center brace,siliconed in place

 

[Cross127]

Yeah my 125 has three glass braces along the top under the thick trim. There is one that is 12 inches wide in the center siliconed to the two long peices and two 6 inch pieces at each end of the tank siliconed to the two side walls and fron and back walls. My tank is solid as a rock.