Wow I dunno if I would trust a tank that large if it didnt have some type of bracing. Maybe its Euro braced?
Need Large Tank Lighting Fixture
- Thread starter LiamLiamLiam
- Start date
before you set up the tank silicone a 1/4 by 4 by whatever the tank depth is piece of glass between the fron and back just to support it
I have the same setup. Please see this thread: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161792
I had some glass cut to create braces exactly like the drawing towards the end of the thread. I will be installing them next week or so and will take some pics and post them. This is probably an older tank that has super thick glass and was not sold with braces. The tops that were sold for them had plastic clip on "shelves" that provided a way to rest a three piece glass top. Those shelf thingies no longer exist, but the glass braces/silicone works fine.They do not bow or have any other weird issues. They are built like tanks. Mine is about 20 years old LOL!
Yeah this tank does have very thick glass..
I want to install a brace for the AGA Versa 72" glass cover.. I have no idea where to get glass custom cut. Would another material suffice?
I want to install a brace for the AGA Versa 72" glass cover.. I have no idea where to get glass custom cut. Would another material suffice?
I looked at aluminum, but was concerned about the silicone sticking. Plexiglas will bow. Wood will rot. Glass seemed just right. Look up "Glass" in the yellow pages. My medium sized town has about 15 listings. The first place I went was able to fix me up. The exact listing in my phone book was "Glass-Plate, Window, etc." The whole thing should cost less than 10 dollars. I had 4 pieces cut: 2 were the exact width of the tank (to go under the tanks lip) and 2 were slightly shorter (to make the brace level with the lip) just like in the drawing. If your tank is just like mine - I am betting it is - you will need 1/4 inch thick glass. The measurements must be exact!
If I had a tank that big, I'd probably design my own canopy and build my own light fixture into it...with the glass top to help separate the moisture. If you're not good with electricity (you'll be wiring in a ballast and some endcaps), or carpentry (you gotta build the canopy) this isn't for you...Ballasts are $20ish, endcaps are a few bucks, you'd need to get some spare wiring, and then whatever wood you decided to use...Might be easier in the long run just to buy a fixture, but then you can never say you made it yourself.
I've decided to go with that Versa glass top, which comes in 3 22" sections. Would I need 3 20" lights to fit this nicely? Or 2 36" lights? I like the idea of a 72" light but they are pretty expensive, and I'm trying to cut costs to buy all the other things like filters and heaters and substrate and deco..
Totally your choice. As it is all glass, you could use any combination of lights without any light being blocked, etc. That is another benefit to glass braces. My tank originally came with 2 36" striplights, and this would work fine for your purposes. I have gotten rid of them and will replace with 1 72" T5HO fixture because it will be full of plants. I had considered using 1 48" light, which may work if you can raise the light up over the tank so the sides are illuminated. 3 24" would work too. 20" lights would leave big gaps across the tank and look funny, plus 20" lights use 18" bulbs, so that would leave dark areas... Since the type of fish you are getting will not allow plants, you are mainly using the light to see the tank's inhabitants... so it is all about what looks best to you.
FYI>..
I also have a 125 with no center brace.
You can buy a new top frame for about $50 from most LFS..(they'll have to order it)
then you can get a regular 3 piece glass lid for it.
the lid is about $70.
I also have a 125 with no center brace.
You can buy a new top frame for about $50 from most LFS..(they'll have to order it)
then you can get a regular 3 piece glass lid for it.
the lid is about $70.
