Glass tank modification

[SeaSydney]

Ok here is my current situation. I have a 56 gal cube tank -
30"L X 18"W X 24"H. It is constructed of 1/4" glass which is thinner than I would have wanted. It has a hard plastic moulded trim with center brace.

I would like to use this tank for a reef tank using a single 250 watt Mh bulb in the center mounted perpendicular to the front of the tank and 2 vho attinics. As you can tell by now that the problem is with the center brace.

My proposition is to remove the center brace by cutting it out and leave the rest of the brace intact. Secondly, I would get strips of 1/2" glass 2" wide and glue these all around the top of the tank so that the thin edge of each piece of glass is perpendicular to the side walls of the tank .

Would this compensate for the brace without compromising the structural integrity of the tank?

Sorry to be so lenghty but thought that as much details as I could give would be better.

thank you
Mark

 

[LFS42]

sounds like you have a good handle on it.
I had a 37 AGA with out a center brace, and it bowed.
If you notice alot of distortion with the glass trim around the tank,
30" isn't that wide, but AGA seems to brace every 24".
So you could also put a glass center brace, or 2 wider braces on the ends
so you only have 24" between them.

 

[SeaSydney]

thanks lfs42 I like the idea of using wider pieces of glass on the ends. Thank you for your help