Plastic brace on fish tank???

I got a new tank today for my corals. it is 48x18x12 but I hate the stupid plastic bracing on the top of it. if I cut off the bracing and just silicone a piece of acrylic across the whole back (to use to place the light on top of and for extra support for the tank) would that be ok, or would that not be enough support??

 

First off you can't silicone acrylic and to cut the center brace was not a good thing to do on a 48 inch tank.. There will be a bow in the panels.. What you should have done was just leave it it causes no problems But if you had to remove it then you needed to take some 316 S.S nuts and bolts to hold the acrylic onto the short tabs of the old black center brace,..

 

would it work if I used a glass strip??

 

Dont panic. Just call Central aquatics and tell them you need a new top frame. I just replaced 2 top frames on two 72 gallon bowfronts free of charge. they will send you the silicone, and frames for free. Call 1-800-526-0650, ask for either Jay Schmidt or John. You can Email him at [email protected]. Great people, easy to work with. The frame replace is really simple. A few putty knives and razers and about 15 minutes of work.

 

I didnt take the brace off yet.. I just was thinking about it because I like the look of my other tank that does not have the plastic braces better (it was custom made and just has the sides and them a 5 inch wide strip that runs across the whole tank for the lights).

 

If you want to do this best do it correctly.. Its a shearing force you will be dealing with thats wht those cenetr bands are so wimpy wand thin.. Leave about 1.5 inch tap on both ends . then takes the acrylic and drill its for 4 S.S screws and nuts then drill the holes through the little 1.5 in tabs you left then do the same thing one the other end and you'll have nothing to worry about glue or silicone is not the way to go here..The pressure will shear it off thats why when towing or pulling or lifting any objest its always a pin or hook that is used ..

 

I would leave the tank alone. There's a reason that brace is there and there's a reason the brace and top rim are ONE PIECE.

 

I agree with what he said.

 

There's a 56.89003000000% of FAILER! Messing with the structural integrity of a tank is baaad mmkay

 

ok, im gonna leave on the black plastic around the top, but im gonna snip off the chincy little center thingy and make it like a breeder tank, plus i want all the light possile to get into the tank and the 1 inch wide strip will cut into that....plus the tank is only 12"s deep.....and only 48g's....should be fine