do I need a center brace, & does anyone have any acrylic - Aquarium Advice

Erok7620 · 11-26-2007, 11:54 PM

I was thinking of adding a center brace to my older 90g that makes me nervous. I cant find anything localy so I thought someone here who works with acrylic may have a scrap laying around. I'm thinking a 1"x2" would do the job.
It all started when I was looking for a new top and I was telling a few people at the LFS my 90 didnt have a center brace and they looked at me like I was doomed and a catastrophy waiting to happen. (probably just want to sell me a new tank). Anyone think this is unnessessary? the tank was built this way, should I worry? let me know what you think

h8z2luze · 11-27-2007, 02:47 AM

I would think a 90g should have a center brace I had a 50 that started to bow but it was old and woodframed. I put a wood brace in and it fixed it.

animalparamedic · 11-27-2007, 06:21 AM

If you are still looking for acrylic i would recommend checking EBAY... i did a search for "acrylic sheet" and it came up with a bunch of varying size pieces from like $5.00 to $270 for a whole 4ft x 8ft sheet... I needed some for installing baffles in a sump im working on...

neilanh · 11-27-2007, 07:43 AM

There are several places online that you can order and they will cut it for you to your specific needs. glasscages.com I think does this.

Erok7620 · 11-27-2007, 10:09 AM

cool, I'll check those out.

neilanh · 11-27-2007, 11:07 AM

usplastics.com is another one.

h8z2luze · 11-28-2007, 11:23 PM

glasscages is a cool site glad I looked at this post! lol sorry dont mean to thread steal.

millionpit@hotmail.com · 01-04-2008, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h8z2luze

I would think a 90g should have a center brace I had a 50 that started to bow but it was old and woodframed. I put a wood brace in and it fixed it.

H8z--I was wondering if you have a pic of the brace you put in your 50 galllon. I have a 55 with a broken brace and want to build something to put on it, if you have the pic can you send it to me?? Thanks

JeffreyL · 01-05-2008, 08:47 AM

Erok7620, if this is an older 90 gal, it might not need a center brace. Older tanks were made with thicker glass. It wasn't till the manufacturers switched to a thinner glass that the center support became neccessary. If the top trim is intact and never had a brace, you are good. Also you can look at glass thickness. The tanks without a brace is thicker.

But, there is no reason you cannot add a center brace if you wish. It would make getting glass covers a lot easier!!!!!! If you want acrylic, try a local glass supplier. They will likely cut any size you want.

Good Luck with it, what are you planning to stock it with??

Jeff

BillD · 01-05-2008, 08:43 PM

You should use glass siliconed to the glass sides for a centre brace. Silicone will not stick to acyrlic well enough to do the job.

11-26-2007, 11:54 PM	#1
Erok7620 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 71 Images: 2	do I need a center brace, & does anyone have any acrylic I was thinking of adding a center brace to my older 90g that makes me nervous. I cant find anything localy so I thought someone here who works with acrylic may have a scrap laying around. I'm thinking a 1"x2" would do the job. It all started when I was looking for a new top and I was telling a few people at the LFS my 90 didnt have a center brace and they looked at me like I was doomed and a catastrophy waiting to happen. (probably just want to sell me a new tank). Anyone think this is unnessessary? the tank was built this way, should I worry? let me know what you think

11-27-2007, 02:47 AM	#2
h8z2luze Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 385 Images: 12	I would think a 90g should have a center brace I had a 50 that started to bow but it was old and woodframed. I put a wood brace in and it fixed it. __________________ Working on my 37G to be up soon i hope... The 50G Tank i used to have is in my gallery...

11-27-2007, 07:43 AM	#4
neilanh MTS Advocate Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 3,244 Images: 15	There are several places online that you can order and they will cut it for you to your specific needs. glasscages.com I think does this. __________________ ~Neilan In the DC Metro Area? Check out GWAPA and WAMAS Look, I have a My Info Page! Where's yours? Useful Links: Vote for AA, Nitrogen Cycle, Fishless Cycling, Articles, Acronym List

11-27-2007, 11:07 AM	#6
neilanh MTS Advocate Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 3,244 Images: 15	usplastics.com is another one. __________________ ~Neilan In the DC Metro Area? Check out GWAPA and WAMAS Look, I have a My Info Page! Where's yours? Useful Links: Vote for AA, Nitrogen Cycle, Fishless Cycling, Articles, Acronym List

11-28-2007, 11:23 PM	#7
h8z2luze Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 385 Images: 12	glasscages is a cool site glad I looked at this post! lol sorry dont mean to thread steal. __________________ Working on my 37G to be up soon i hope... The 50G Tank i used to have is in my gallery...

11-27-2007, 06:21 AM	#3
animalparamedic Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Plano, IL Posts: 61	If you are still looking for acrylic i would recommend checking EBAY... i did a search for "acrylic sheet" and it came up with a bunch of varying size pieces from like $5.00 to $270 for a whole 4ft x 8ft sheet... I needed some for installing baffles in a sump im working on...

11-27-2007, 10:09 AM	#5
Erok7620 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 71 Images: 2	cool, I'll check those out.

01-05-2008, 08:47 AM	#9
JeffreyL Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: May 2006 Location: Charlotte, nc Posts: 297	Erok7620, if this is an older 90 gal, it might not need a center brace. Older tanks were made with thicker glass. It wasn't till the manufacturers switched to a thinner glass that the center support became neccessary. If the top trim is intact and never had a brace, you are good. Also you can look at glass thickness. The tanks without a brace is thicker. But, there is no reason you cannot add a center brace if you wish. It would make getting glass covers a lot easier!!!!!! If you want acrylic, try a local glass supplier. They will likely cut any size you want. Good Luck with it, what are you planning to stock it with?? Jeff

01-05-2008, 08:43 PM	#10
BillD Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Whitby, Ont,Canada Posts: 900	You should use glass siliconed to the glass sides for a centre brace. Silicone will not stick to acyrlic well enough to do the job. __________________ Join a fish club. Don't have one in your area? Start one.

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