Tanks, Sumps & Refugiums Removing center brace? [Archive]

Sir Patrick

11-15-2012, 03:36 PM

You could always cut out the center brace and use plastic screws and replace the old one w/ clear acrylic to go in its place, just in case you wanted it replaced for lightings sake.

MizTanks

11-15-2012, 04:07 PM

I wouldn't especially on the 46g bowfront.... I know of a couple that have blown out with the brace fully intact ;)

If you want a tank without the center brace your best bet is to have one made.... properly.

Unfortunately I'm not in a position financially to have a tank made special just for me.

jimsflies

11-15-2012, 05:58 PM

Anything worth doing, is worth doing right.

Sir Patrick

11-15-2012, 06:21 PM

I would use a wider and flatter piece of acrylic, but heres a pic of how its commonly done-

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d87/sirpatrick1/SUC50742.jpg

jimsflies

11-15-2012, 07:03 PM

Are you thinking you don't want the center brace because of tank access or shadows?

I'm not sure how Sir Patrick's brace would help with either of those...seems like there would still be a shadow from the brace...maybe less of one? That looks like a decent solution to deal with a broken brace though.

I would never want to take the brace off once the tank is full for fear of it breaking...so the idea of a removable brace doesn't (in my mind) seem like a good idea.

(BTW- Moved thread to Basics in "Tanks, Sumps & Refugiums")

MizTanks

11-15-2012, 07:09 PM

At least 2 of you have forgotten where I live :angelsad: But if either of you know of anyone here in the Marquette area that could build me a custom tank, with stand for say $350 then by all means point me in their direction.....I'll be waiting but won't be holding my breath :tongue_out: Thanks for the suggestions though :)

@Jim: I am concerned that the center brace would hinder the light of a Pendant, if I were to use one :) I'm also wondering why my 26 doesn't have one. It is the same depth as the 46. I'm also curious as to what is meant by a *euro style brace*?

jimsflies

11-15-2012, 07:15 PM

MizTanks

11-15-2012, 07:26 PM

Too bad you weren't on this a month ago... I could have had it delivered most of the way with family going to the UP for da deer, eh?

Marineland makes a 40 cube that is pretty nice...I think they stock it at Preuss. Still could send it up tomorrow morning with my father in law. They're over by Manistique I think.

Wonderful offer Jim but I've got many obstacles. First and foremost the moneys won't be available to me til tax return. But if I did have the funds right now.....my Jeep is broke down and in need of repair first :tear: I have a gift card to PetSmart for $200 which is the beginning of my new build, hence my looking at the MarineLand Euro Style 46 bowfront or the 56 cube. :thumbsup:

jimsflies

11-15-2012, 07:32 PM

Petsmart may be able to get those marineland tanks too. They make a 40 and a 60 cube which are both nice.

Also with some advanced planning I'm sure you could get a little help with getting a tank hauled up there when you are ready.

jimsflies

11-15-2012, 07:34 PM

As near as I can tell, Jamie's vehicle situation isn't the most reliable. I can understand not wanting to venture too far.

Also, I would rate the LED fixture she won as a good one for a pico tank.

MizTanks

11-15-2012, 07:37 PM

As near as I can tell, Jamie's vehicle situation isn't the most reliable. I can understand not wanting to venture too far.

Also, I would rate the LED fixture she won as a good one for a pico tank.

I've got another Pendant in the works....one that will KICK ASSNESS!! lol

MizTanks

11-15-2012, 07:41 PM

if the marineland tank is a true eurobrace then the top rim should be made of glass and will not give the shadow effect....I've not seen one like this in any of the petsmarts around here tho, maybe something new?

Here's the one I'm looking at:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12282670

Sir Patrick

11-15-2012, 07:57 PM

Nice tank here....

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12264889&lmdn=Shape&f=PAD%2FpsNotAvailInUS%2FNo

binford4000

11-15-2012, 08:03 PM

Have you considered talking to a glass shop in your area ?? Just a thought,you can buy the rim stuff online and then you won't need a center brace. Mrs Binford had a 46 bow face that the center brace broke.that thing spread more then an inch before she called me and her son drain half the water tell I got home to repair it..

MizTanks

11-15-2012, 08:23 PM

Nice tank here....

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12264889&lmdn=Shape&f=PAD%2FpsNotAvailInUS%2FNo

Link takes me to dog supplies :) What tank is it? I pretty much know all the ones they have lol

MizTanks

11-15-2012, 09:16 PM

Actually the 56 was my first choice but the more I thought about how tall it is 24" the more I thought about what a PITA it would be. I'd need a step stool for sure lol

Sir Patrick

11-15-2012, 09:37 PM

You would love the 18" width.

MizTanks

11-16-2012, 12:56 AM

Jaime, is this the 56g you were consindering as well.... IMO its a much better buy then that 46g bowfront....

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3804456&lmdn=Fish+Sale&f=PAD%2FpsNotAvailInUS%2FNo

Just read its got the brace tho...

All this aside... don't you have a 75g in storage?

Nope. Sold it last year to buy my lights for the 26g :)

That is the 56 I was also considering. But it's 30x18x24" and I'm thinking about the light I would need to reach the SB. Plus the stand that comes with it has no room underneath for any kind of sump. I looked :) The price is better though! It would take some getting used to having a flat fronted tank-lol. The 56 is the one I first chose.

Looks like I'm going to PetSmart again tomorrow!! Got my Jeep running! Just have to disconnect the battery cables at night is all-LMAO! YOOPER Getto Jeep!!

MizTanks

11-16-2012, 03:07 PM

Here I am at pet smart and sadly they do not have the 46 bowfront at the price of $269. The one they do have is $353 which includes the MarineLand LED (useless IMO)

So it's back to my original like for the 56 Column. $277 with stand, hood and light. However the stand doesn't leave much room for a sump, as it has a permanent shelf inside, plus it has the glass door :( Anyways here's a pic of the 56 next to the 46.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/17/ypyneve8.jpg

Just the 56
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/17/temujyra.jpg

binford4000

11-16-2012, 03:40 PM

Just out of curiosity try talking to your local glass shop. I would dare say they could match that price with 3/8 glass and then you could euro brace it. A euro brace is glass strips siliconesd on each end then a strip siliconesd to the front and back panels secured to the strips on each end. Making sense ? Then you could doa cube to your dimensions. Just food for thought.or give Great Lakes a call ! They do great work and are use to shipping tanks even to god's country
Stands are easy to make,gotta have some friends or kin who could make ya one. Redneck engineering is alive and well in da UP ,just on hold tell January.

MizTanks

11-16-2012, 04:03 PM

Great ideas Chuck but theres no way I could afford what your suggesting, period. Espesially from Great Lakes! I'll work with what I can find locally :) But I can ask someone to build me a stand :)

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

binford4000

11-16-2012, 04:28 PM

jimsflies

11-16-2012, 05:35 PM

Maybe just keep your eyes open for a tank on craigslist up there and save a few bucks. How about 2FarNorth, seems like he might have a tank or two laying around.

But I think you should hold out and get what you want. This will be your 3rd upgrade in a few years....get a tank that you know you will be happy with for the long haul. As far as I know there isn't an emergency here...do your research (at places besides PetSmart)...leverage your contacts and something will come up. You can make the trip to Lansing for the swap in two months and prolly negotiate a deal/pickup at swap. BeakerBob is going to be selling his 75 gallon with custom stand since he is "downgrading". I bet he'd include some extras with it as well. I'm sure Chuck and others could help find something and have it waiting as well.

MyNemesis

11-16-2012, 06:23 PM

You AAAAARRRRREEEE coming down to the MCES swap the end of January, right, Jamie? I agree you need a 75 gallon tank. Perfect size for you, not 18 inches wide (which you will hate for trying to set up a reef with any kind of room for fish and moving around) and plenty of room in a stand for a nice sump. Preuss has nice used tanks all the time and we can get you into a super tank for well less than the ones you are less than satisfied with. Maybe you can snag Beaker Bob's tank - has a nice stand and canopy, as well.

MizTanks

11-16-2012, 06:43 PM

Every time someone comes up with a great idea/suggestion I come up with more and more obstacles :( and I'm sorry for real. I almost feel as if I shouldn't even talk about it.

Without getting to personal let me say that every gift I get from myself only comes once a year. Which is totally dependent upon what's most needed at that time. My needs come first. If my Jeep cost to much to fix then there's no upgrade. But the Jeep is a must have! Our house hold has recently lost more then half it's income by way of loss of employment, which means I'm paying more. Need I say more? There will be no swaps for me.

I'm a reefer who will always want a bigger tank, period! I had no idea I'd be like this when I first started. Bet many don't. In all actually I don't know how I've managed to stay in this hobby as long as I have. Aside from the fact I go nowhere, do nothing else and eat a lot of Ramen Noodles and my iPhone :)

I've chosen PetSmart because this is where my gift card is for.

dputt88

11-17-2012, 08:05 AM

Well if your dead set on upgrading and must go through petsmart, I would go with the cube (less likely to completely blow out) and don't drill it for a sump. Its big enough to upgrade, you can use your HOB fuge, AND you can still maintain it with water changes and not really need a skimmer IMO (yes a skimmer would be better but make due with what you have) and save the money for livestock.

Any upgrade will incur costs for more rock, sand, possibly lights, fish and of course coral, just don't over do it with fish and you will be ok.

That said.. you may be able to find someone willing to trade the giftcard for a better tank.

+1 on 56g cube and HOB fuge.can you get the tank and stand without the lights and save a few bucks? they gonna be single/double brights and like you said useless.

MizTanks

11-17-2012, 09:44 AM

I was thinking of the Octopus BH-1000 as a HOB skimmer for the 56, rated for tanks up to 100g. It has an external pump so nothing in-tank, also surface skims. I've reviewed good things about it.
I would initially keep the HOB fuge but only until I get an under tank fuge. I measured the stand and there would be room enough for a standard 15g.
I saw this guys video who made a DIY in-tank over flow. Pretty cool and looks like something I could do. Without drilling tank :)
Anyways those are just a few ideas. Most likely to change...who knows?