Bracing Help

[hink]

I got a tank for free a 230 tank only problem is one of the center braces is melted and broken so I cut it off cant patch it and from what I read it never works anyways. So what I am wondering is can I remove the entire top brace and euro brace this tank? glue or bolt a thick piece of plexi glass to replace the broken cross member or use a steel cable to wrap around the entire top and tight bolts (would have to do this every so often as I imagine it would slack after a while and would have to be careful not to be too tight as to break the tank or 4th and least favorite option figure out who made this tank and order a new brace

[WarDog]

Remove the plastic brace, clean up all the silicone and add a new euro brace with glass... not plexi or steel.

[hink]

That is my favorite option lol being a 6 foot tank I have seen some euro brace tanks with center braces would I need them as well?

[spit.fire]

Originally Posted by hink

That is my favorite option lol being a 6 foot tank I have seen some euro brace tanks with center braces would I need them as well?

No

[Myka]

The answer depends on the thickness of the glass and the height of the tank. Plastic trim cross braces do nothing for tank integrity, so GENERALLY it is safe to remove them. Adding your own euro racing is a nice option.

[hink]

Yeah i thought so too make it nicer looking and just piece of mind really lol. I have read both sides of this but it seems the brace matters more so in the smaller 50 - 75 gallon tanks most likely due to glass thickness i could measure but seems like 5/8 thick glass. thicker than the 1/2 inch 90 I have that for sure. Is that the principle rimless tanks are built on? Mind you I seem to see those being more square than rectangular.

[hink]

Its 1/2 inch glass its 72 long 27 wide and 30 tall. Safer to euro brace I think? Plus gives me a structural integrity for movement train tracks near my house can move stuff so safer than sorry route any idea how thick the bracing should be?