Euro-bracing with or without center brace?

[adamwheel]

I see a lot of euro-braced tanks built with and without a center brace.

I have a 66"x26"x24" (178 gal) height that I've built with 12mm and euro-braced with the same using 3" strips on top and bottom. I have a 4" piece already cut for a top center brace but is it necessary?

Rtv 108 or SCS 1200 on everything I've done btw.

As always, thanks and cheers,

Adam

[karimwassef]

You're 26" deep and 12mm thick glass?

[adamwheel]

24" height and 26" front to back (depth) euro-bracing on top and bottom and c2c overflow 1.5" down from top.

Hope this clears up any confusion.

[zachts]

12mm seems really, really, thin! I'm not a tank builder so maybe one of them will chime in here but I would say absolutely install the center brace, you might even need two (leaving three tank openings) with 66" x 24" front and back panels and glass that thin.

[uncleof6]

I see a lot of euro-braced tanks built with and without a center brace.

I have a 66"x26"x24" (178 gal) height that I've built with 12mm and euro-braced with the same using 3" strips on top and bottom. I have a 4" piece already cut for a top center brace but is it necessary?

Rtv 108 or SCS 1200 on everything I've done btw.

As always, thanks and cheers,

Adam

I would strongly suggest a center brace. The tank you have there is not made from thick enough glass; having a safety factor of 3.41, it should have a full metal rim rather than euro-bracing. The minimum safety factor
for a full metal rimmed tank is 3.8. For euro-bracing you want a safety factor of ~ 4 - 5.

Using good silicone is a good idea, but depending on experience, it may or may not help much.

[805reef]

I would strongly suggest a center brace. The tank you have there is not made from thick enough glass; having a safety factor of 3.41, it should have a full metal rim rather than euro-bracing. The minimum safety factor
for a full metal rimmed tank is 3.8. For euro-bracing you want a safety factor of ~ 4 - 5.

Using good silicone is a good idea, but depending on experience, it may or may not help much.

How do you calculate a safety factor? Higher is better?
edit: nevermind, I read some of your other thread responses about engineering guides... I will keep researching.