Is this possible?

[BIGBIRD123]

Can you remove the center brace from a 135g glass tank and re-brace it with eurobacing in 1/2" acrylic?

Steve

[::pete::]

I wouldnt ... how thick is the glass on the tank?

[captexas]

I don't think it would be strong enough as siliconing acrylic to glass doesn't really form a strong bond.

[BIGBIRD123]

I believe it's 1/2" on the tank. The only reason I want to remove and replace it is because I can't keep it clean. Twenty minutes after I clean it, it's cloudy again.

Steve

[NaCl_H2O]

Can you remove the center brace from a 135g glass tank and re-brace it with eurobacing in 1/2" acrylic?

Sure, just take it out, wait for the tank to pop :o clean up the mess :angry and replace it with a brick aquarium :P

[C.Mydas]

Steve- You always have the best ideas... ;)

[::pete::]

Steve- You always have the best ideas... ;)

He sure does ... :lol

[NaCl_H2O]

Steve- You always have the best ideas... ;)

Just trying to help :D

[BIGBIRD123]

So all you brilliants :roll can't help me? Well, then what is the best way to keep the brace from clouding-up? And Steve, don't say windex!

Steve

[NaCl_H2O]

Steve, sorry for being a smart arse - honestly I wouldn't try a brace mod unless it was empty. I know what you mean, I had a 125g with a 12" glass centerbrace and it was rarely clean, even 30m after scraping it with a razor :angry

Now, back to being a ... Paint it Black :w00t

[BIGBIRD123]

I was gonna have the tank empty, you ninny! :P J/K. :) No, actually I was gonna have the tank drilled for a Calfo (to be made by U-KNOW-WHO) and a closed-loop. I just wanted to have better light in the center w/o having to put my other 400w back in the center. I have one now but used to have two. Also, I was wanting to move my tank across the room anyway. Just wanted to do all this at one time.

Well, then how hard is is to Euro-brace an empty tank?

Steve

[Henry]

I have calfo on my tank and have the water level just shy of touching the center brace and it now stays clean. used to have a hell of a time trying to keep it clean till i lowered the water level.

[GaryP]

I think part of the problem is that most people have to much agitation on the surface of the water and this results in calcium deposits forming on the center brace. I admit I have been guilty of this too. The idea behind a calfo is that you have little or no agitation on the surface. The organic waste should form a thin layer there that is then skimmed off. The advantage of a calfo is you are getting a higher percentage of organic waste and less water going to the skimmer in the sump. If the surface is being agitated (and splashing on the center brace) then this layer is never going to form. You need to take a look at your flow patterns and make sure they are directed to the middle and bottom portions of the reef. Except for gas exchange (which should already be taking place in your skimmer) flow at the surface isn't doing your tank a lof good in the first place. You may also want to make sure that your calfo is installed deep enough that the water level is a good ways below the center brace. A calfo is not as easy to adjust, or impossible, as an HOB overflow.

Next question: If this is happening on your current center brace, what's going to keep it from happening on the surfaces of the Euro-bracing?

[NaCl_H2O]

Sounds like a job for U-KNOW-WHO or U-KNOW-WHO-ELSE ;)

Seriously, I would PM Dan to see if he has had any experience doing this successfully?

[matt]

You might contact the tank manufacturer about this, unless it's an aquatrend, in which case contacting the manufacturer will only result in you being in a bad mood for the rest of the day. If you're worried about light placement, it's possible that someone who REALLY KNOWS glass tank construction could remove the centerbrace and replace it with two smaller braces that would let you put a light on the center. Having a light right over the brace increases heat and evaporation directly under the brace (actually, it's cause the brace is hot) and I guess that could add to it's getting encrusted quickly. Lowering the water level, as has been suggested, will help for sure.

Acrylic would not work at all in this case; it lacks the rigidity and it's extremely difficult to bond it to glass. You need glass braces attached with silicone. The aquatrends tanks also have a stiff plastic strap that attaches to the trim on the front and rear, supposedly adding to the strength, but mine broke on my tank after a few months. If it's an oceanic tank, be prepared for them to say "sorry Charlie, buy a new tank, and while you're at it, a stand if you want the warranty" They'll probably say that even if your name isn't Charlie.

Good luck!

[NaCl_H2O]

They'll probably say that even if your name isn't Charlie. :lol
He is right!