Black Center Brace - Can I Cut it Out of the Aquarium or No?

[that Fish Guy]

I want to set up a Frag Tank.

If I buy a Tank with the Black Center Brace is it Safe to Cut it Out?

I ask because I do not want to block out any light for the Coral and I just do not like the way it looks.

Someone told me you can.

But then someone else told me you cannot because the Tank will Break / Leak.

Which Person is Right?

[ca1ore]

Assuming the tank was built by somebody who knows what they are doing, a cross brace is there to prevent bowing and allows the use of thinner glass. So, what do you think ......

[ChrisKirkland]

If it was manufactured with a brace then the brace must stay. Otherwise they would take it out for the same reasons.

[Clowny88]

How big of a tank? The reason the brace is there is to keep the tank from bowing outward under the water pressure.

Some will get on here and say "DONT REMOVE IT, YOUR TANKS GONNA EXPLODE ONE RANDOM DAY WHILE YOU'RE AT WORK!!!". But I will tell you I had a 35g years ago that I cut the brace on to fit equipment and it was fine for years.

So... You are definitely taking a risk by cutting the brace. But something else to think of, if you ever get rid of that tank or upgrade... You are hurting your resale value by cutting that.

I have T5's and my center brace doesn't keep any light from the middle of the tank. I'm not going to cut it out of my 75g for lighting, that's for sure.

[SLICKTOP]

I have a center brace that cracked in half from heat from MH many years ago, I have not removed it, but thought about it. Knock on wood, not issues with tank..

[Gandolfe]

I have 3 40 gallon breeder tanks and none of them have center braces, they were built that way. they are 3' by 1.6 ' so plenty big enough for a frag tank and I have never had a leak in over 3 years

[julie180]

I have 3 40 gallon breeder tanks and none of them have center braces, they were built that way. they are 3' by 1.6 ' so plenty big enough for a frag tank and I have never had a leak in over 3 years

If they were built that way, its totally different than removing one that was built into the tank!

[FishInABarrel]

I had a 75g without a brace. Let just say I was cleaning the carpets at 4 am. Don't know why that tank didn't have one as you could see the sides bow.

[dkeller_nc]

"Rimmed" tanks of today are built with considerably thinner glass than those built just 20 years ago. The center brace(s) are an integral part of the structure, and prevent the center of the long sides from bowing and blowing out the bottom seam. The only way you can safely remove the center brace is by replacing it with another one that's clear. A popular blog mentioned a company that sells a so-called "clear center brace cover"; it's advertised that way so that the company's not liable for someone cutting out the center brace, improperly installing theirs, and blowing out the tank. But that's what it's intended for (replacing the stock opaque center brace).

The only company that I know of that makes standard tanks but allows clear plastic as the top trim as an option is Great Lakes Aquarium Co. I've never seen one in person.

The other options are a rimless design that uses much thicker glass (and is therefore much heavier and much more expensive), or a custom tank that uses euro-bracing around the top. You can see an example of what this looks like on Advance Aqua's website (the line of tanks are called "Visio" tanks).

[tkeracer619]

I had one. Lasted a few years but failed 4 or so days before I installed my next tank.

Lost half my livestock and made a huge mess/damage.

[ca1ore]

I had a 75g without a brace. Let just say I was cleaning the carpets at 4 am. Don't know why that tank didn't have one as you could see the sides bow.

My current 75 sump has a center brace, but my last one did not. Latter had observably thicker glass though.

[that Fish Guy]

How big of a tank? The reason the brace is there is to keep the tank from bowing outward under the water pressure.

Some will get on here and say "DONT REMOVE IT, YOUR TANKS GONNA EXPLODE ONE RANDOM DAY WHILE YOU'RE AT WORK!!!". But I will tell you I had a 35g years ago that I cut the brace on to fit equipment and it was fine for years.

So... You are definitely taking a risk by cutting the brace. But something else to think of, if you ever get rid of that tank or upgrade... You are hurting your resale value by cutting that.

I have T5's and my center brace doesn't keep any light from the middle of the tank. I'm not going to cut it out of my 75g for lighting, that's for sure.

I was either going to do

48 Long
18 Deep
12 High

45 Gallons

36 Long
18 Deep
12 High

30 Gallons

Why does size Matter?

[that Fish Guy]

Also, my LFS cut out the Center Brace on their Reef Tanks and they have been up for years with no problems.

Also, how do people have Rimless Tanks?

Are Rimless Tanks too new to the Hobby to realize any problems yet?

Are they all going to Blow Out One Day?

[that Fish Guy]

Somebody else told me that the Middle Brace is only there for Glass Tops.

Therefore as long as you have an Open Tank with No Glass Tops you will be fine.

Is there any Truth to that?

[that Fish Guy]

How big of a tank? The reason the brace is there is to keep the tank from bowing outward under the water pressure.

Some will get on here and say "DONT REMOVE IT, YOUR TANKS GONNA EXPLODE ONE RANDOM DAY WHILE YOU'RE AT WORK!!!". But I will tell you I had a 35g years ago that I cut the brace on to fit equipment and it was fine for years.

So... You are definitely taking a risk by cutting the brace. But something else to think of, if you ever get rid of that tank or upgrade... You are hurting your resale value by cutting that.

I have T5's and my center brace doesn't keep any light from the middle of the tank. I'm not going to cut it out of my 75g for lighting, that's for sure.

What exactly do you mean "fine for years"

Did it start leaking one day after having it up for many years or something?

[that Fish Guy]

If they were built that way, its totally different than removing one that was built into the tank!

How is that totally different?

My LFS has both sizes I am looking for in stock (Both with Center Braces).

I said what if I wanted Rimless?

They said they would have it custom made and it would be exactly the same but with out the Black Tim on Top.

So if I got it custom no trim or brace and if I cut it out then no brace but still the trim.

I would think that the cutout way would be more durable since at least there is the top black trim on the top to support it.

If I ordered a Rimless Tank yes it would be made without a brace so I would not have to cut it out but it would still have no support on the top.

So I don't see how that gets around the theory "If they were built that way it is ok, but its totally different than removing one that was built into the tank!"

Right?

[Clowny88]

A lot to respond to there...

No, braces are not for glass tops. They are for tank support. Rimless tanks have a thicker, heavier, and more expensive design... Which is why they don't need a center brace.

I don't see why you would cut your center brace and compromise your tank support to improve lighting.

I had a tank with a cut brace that didn't give me problems, so have others. Many others have had the opposite...

You can address your concern by setting up your lighting properly, not by adding a time bomb to your tank.

[Clowny88]

By the way... Here's my 75g with a center brace. No impact to lighting caused by the brace being there.
http://i731.photobucket.com/albums/ww315/rjeffrey88/Mobile%20Uploads/20150412_191026.jpg

[Kenpo guy]

As mentioned by several others already the newer rimless tank designs use much thicker glass and most that I've seen are cubes. A longer tank with thinner glass has a brace for a reason. I've had a lot of tanks and have never had one with a center brace that got I the way of lighting. It sounds like it's more of an annoyance to you or maybe just a preference. It sounds like you're pretty intent on doing this. I can respect that just know the risks and proceed with caution. Make sure to post your results good or bad here in case anyone else considers this.

[CHizer]

I really don't think it effects light enough to make it worth the risk. A good portion of our tanks have braces and it's pretty rare to see shading from them.

[andrewkw]

Why is no one recommending replacing the black with acrylic? It's very easy to do you just need acrylic nylon screws and bolts. Easy cheap and safe. Just drain the tank at least half way when you replace it.

[Kenpo guy]

Why is no one recommending replacing the black with acrylic? It's very easy to do you just need acrylic nylon screws and bolts. Easy cheap and safe. Just drain the tank at least half way when you replace it.

I believe someone already did.

[cleverbs]

Also it sounds like you have a terrible LFS, I have seen a few other post by you where your LFS said you can do something that makes no sense at all like this. If you had a custom tank made it would not be the same just without the black trim...A rimless tank has thicker glass and thats why it costs more to buy a rimless tank.

I removed the trim from a 20g Long one time just for fun to have a rimless frag tank and it lasted about 2 weeks and one day I came home and it had lost about half the water from a leak.

[that Fish Guy]

As mentioned by several others already the newer rimless tank designs use much thicker glass and most that I've seen are cubes. A longer tank with thinner glass has a brace for a reason. I've had a lot of tanks and have never had one with a center brace that got I the way of lighting. It sounds like it's more of an annoyance to you or maybe just a preference. It sounds like you're pretty intent on doing this. I can respect that just know the risks and proceed with caution. Make sure to post your results good or bad here in case anyone else considers this.

I see (Thicker Glass) it makes sense now.

Does anybody know off hand how thick a regular 30 Breeder and 45 is and how thick the rimless version should be?

I ask because my LFS said they are the Exact Same Tank just no Top Black Support Trim on the Rimless Version.

I want to make sure they are the right thickness.

The Dimensions are

36 Long
18 Deep
12 High

or

48 Long
18 Deep
12 High

How thick should the glass be for Regular and Rimless?

[addictedreefer]

In addition to the thicker glass, I believe rimless tanks use more potent silicone and are allowed to cure longer.

[SLICKTOP]

Andrewkw, since my center brace is cracked and there is really no support there now, I would be interested in replacing with acrylic, do you know a company that sells them? My tank is 36 x 24 x18.. No signs of bowing yet but would feel better replacing it.

[andrewkw]

Andrewkw, since my center brace is cracked and there is really no support there now, I would be interested in replacing with acrylic, do you know a company that sells them? My tank is 36 x 24 x18.. No signs of bowing yet but would feel better replacing it.

Is it completely cracked in half? you need an inch or 2 of the original center brace for the super easy way I am suggesting :

Just go to an acrylic shop and get a scrap piece of acrylic and home depot 2 screws and 2 bolts for about 12 cents each.

I couldn't find a pic of mine (I did this on my old 112 reef tank) but here's a pic with 2 screws on each side

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b263/Hstreetprankers/IMG_0089.jpg

Otherwise there are a bunch of designs you can find in 3/4 of a second by googling replacing "center brace with acrylic" Some are fancy some are simple. I guess it depends if you have a canopy or care how it looks. Mine personally has been holding for somewhere along 7 or 8 years. I drained the tank halfway when I did it. I was super scared but it took a lot longer to drain and refill then to actually replace the brace.

[that Fish Guy]

So I got a quote from the LFS.

48 Long
18 Deep
12 High

45 Gallons

36 Long
18 Deep
12 High

30 Gallons

Whether I get Rimless or with Black Trim and a Brace both Tanks will be 1/4 Inch Thick.

Is that the Right Thickness?

Somebody said that Rimless should be Thicker than Regular but they said that it would be made the same Thickness.

What do you guys Think?

[that Fish Guy]

So I got a quote from the LFS.

48 Long
18 Deep
12 High

45 Gallons

36 Long
18 Deep
12 High

30 Gallons

Whether I get Rimless or with Black Trim and a Brace both Tanks will be 1/4 Inch Thick.

Is that the Right Thickness?

Somebody said that Rimless should be Thicker than Regular but they said that it would be made the same Thickness.

What do you guys Think?

Anybody have any thoughts on this?