Internet searching has yielded mixed results. ..

[stephaniegarcia06]

Trim on an all glass tank. Bottom glass is a full .75" thick (if not more; Ace can attest as he just got done drilling it) and sides are .5"+. Center braced on top.

Does the trim do anything for the integrity of the tank? The bottom pieces fell off during the move. Its currently on the stand and the pieces were slid back in place but I didn't silicone (was done as the movers held it up so didn't have time to scrape and prep it.)

Looking for first hand experience in removing bottom trim on large (100+ gallo ) tanks; or knowledge as to whether or not I need to take the tank off the stand, scrape and silicone them back in place. Third option input needed is if I can leave as is and "tack" them in place with a bead around the top of the plastic for aesthetics. This is a 185 and the last thing I want to come home to is 185 gallons of water on the floor.

Thanks for any input you may have. If the consensus is I need to take it down and fix it for structural integrity, BOLO for my plea for help shortly.

[footballdude2k3]

That is what happened on the 120 I got this weekend, talked to my friend that owns a shop, it does help with support, and he suggested putting that back on with silicon or chalk, I can ask if he would scrap the old stuff off and I did not think of that, but I would definitely suggest keeping the brace on. I have seen people try to remove the braces on 40b's and the glass starts to bow and next thing you know, water everywhere. This has significantly more pressure, so I would keep as much bracing on there that it came with.

[Zack]

+1.

Anything over 15 gallons should have a trim on it (if it was manufactured to have a trim on it). I've read a lot of horror stories of 20 longs bowing out because someone wanted a DIY rimless.

[footballdude2k3]

Scrap the little bit off that held on the bracing, but make sure you do not touch the stuff that keeps the tank itself leakproof

[stephaniegarcia06]

Any idea how it helps? The corners butt up to each other but I can't imagine silicone having that much impact in holding it together.

Not asking because I am going to ditch the trim, just trying to figure out if its fine as is and I can tack the strips in place or if I need to pull the tank off the stand scrape and silicone all the trim back on.

Thoughts on that part of it?

[stephaniegarcia06]

Found info I needed. Been searching for days, post, try avfew kore keywords and got what i needed. R&D guy from aqueon replied in a thread asking about a multitude if things in regards to thr manufacture of tanks.

The injected molded frame on some tanks (one piece) does offer structural support. Trim that it cut to fit around the edge does not offer structural supoort. I can believe its good protection from sharp/rough edges etc though.

Based on that and footballdudes friends recommendation, I'm going to tack the trim on.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-203106.html