Removing Braces

speedstar · #1 05/02/2007, 04:25 PM

I have a 6ft tank smaller 150g or so, I light it with only 2 lamps so I get a severe shading from the braces. Can I cut them out and just epoxy in some plexiglass ones. Are they really needed.

apayne · #2 05/02/2007, 05:36 PM

I am thinking about doing the same on my4' 75g aga tank. I tested weld on 16 w/ acrylic and was very strong. I think I will use weld on 16 and 2 nylon bolts on each side. Might as well have a back up incase one of them should fail.

Aaron

speedstar · #3 05/02/2007, 05:42 PM

In my case I could even leave and inch or so of the original brace on each side and drill through and bolt it instead of weldon or epoxy.

shyland83 · #4 05/02/2007, 06:50 PM

I have seen people do exactly that. leave an inch on each side and bold an acrylic brace on with nylon bolts. and YES they are necessary, do not just remove them. If the tank is already filled with water i would consider draining the water level down, bracing it temporarily until you get the new ones on, or attaching the new braces first then cutting out the old ones. i wouldn't leave it unbraced for any amount of time. good luck

speedstar · #5 05/02/2007, 07:26 PM

Im gonna put the new acrylic braces in place bolted and epoxy'd, then from the underside with a string saw cut out the existing ones. Should keep all tension that way.

Thanks for the input all.