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

[Erok7620]

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]

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]

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]

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]

cool, I'll check those out.

 

[neilanh]

usplastics.com is another one.

 

[h8z2luze]

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

 

[millionpit@hotmail.com]

center brace

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]

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]

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.