Glass Cover for a 55 Gallon Aquarium That Has No Center Brace

Anyone know where I can find one? I'd like to take out the hood portion, so I can fit more than one light fixture in there, unfortunately, my 55 gallon tank doesn't have a center brace, I guess it's one of the older tanks...?

Amazon isn't helping me at all, I can't seem to find any on google...maybe I'm just doing a wrong search?

Anyway, if anyone can point me into the right direction, or possibly find another way, where I can put some kind of lid that's similar to a glass cover, that would be great!

I'm not particularly fond of the Green House Siding/Perforated plastic sheets that you have to cut, because it gets a bit wobbly when the sheets get longer (no matter what orientation you cut them at). I s'pose that also knocks acrylic out of the suggestion list as well.

The only thing I can think of, is to just buy glass at lowes/home depot and have them cut it to size... but... I figured I'd ask here first, before going down that route.

My only concern is that the glass would end up bowing, because a 55 gallon tank is 48" in length... I guess that's why most 55 gallon tanks today have a center brace, so you can add two smaller glass tops (blech...)

Why do you put a piece of 1-3" metal in the middle and have a faux metal brace. Then you can go to lowe's and have them cut 4 pieces of glass to fit. They sell a 30x36 for $19. Then you can get either plastic hinges and mount them or buy an 8' piece of corner tile molding and cut that to put in the recesed edges. I made my own versa top and the adhesive for the plastic hinges keeps coming apart. I'm now switching to the slider version mentioned above. Just a thought to help you out.

Side bar thought...when you put the faux center brace in you may have a difficult time with the molding in the center. You might be able to use a hot glue gun and attach the molding to that prior to final install. It might not be wrong enough though. Let us know what you decide to do and how it works out for ya.

Denizaari: I wouldn't know where to get a metal brace in the first place. lol =P But yeah, if I DID have access to anyone that bended metal (there used to be a member on here that would bend metal, and even made me a metal brace for my 100 gallon tank, but I don't know if he's active on here anymore, his name is Addicted2CAs or something like that)

I read an old thread that he posted about a shim for his tank that had a slow leak on the back side. Not sure if he's still around because I'm pretty new to the BOX. I would imagine that you could get an "L" bracket used for hanging shelves and take a grinder or hacksaw and cut it down. Where do you live?

Oh I remember that thread too!! LOL!! I live in Bremerton
When Addicted2CAs made me the metal brace for my 100 gallon tank, I met up with him near here, because he usually visits his parents up north, so he passes through Bremerton pretty frequently.

Looks like his last log-in date was last year, Dec 2013... so, he still goes on here periodically, just not often. =D

I have a thought. I saw at lowes...they have material to make metal work. I think it's called angle iron. They sell them in various lengths. They may cut that if you ask nicely. Then you can make a faux brace.

Hmm.. I don't think I've ever seen that before. I'll have to check that out, next time I'm at Lowes. Thanks for the heads up!

No problem. I'm heading to lowes on Friday to redo my glass. If I see it i will see if I could think of a solution. Sorry I can't help more.

Thanks! And you don't have to be sorry at all!

:0)

When the center brace on one of my tanks broke, I siliconed in a piece of glass to replace it. Could you do that so you can use the two 24 inch tops?

Betty, wow I never thought of doing that, but I think that though totally work!

But then the glass on the sides wouldn't be even. You would have to place a piece of glass on the right and left side so the versa too can sit on them. Or is it too late and I'm not seeing it?

Never mind. I see it now!!! That should work!!!

If you want you can have my glass tops. They're 22" wide by 14" deep. They have the hinges in place you just need to make sure the glue stays. Do t know if you'll be in the Renton area but I'll give them to you for free.

 - thumbs up for both suggestions. Maybe a bit easier to find and mod metal yourself. The glass would have to be cut but I don't think it would be that expensive. Unless yOu know how to cUt thick glass?!

I siliconed mine in right under the top trim.  It's a tiny bit uneven, but it's not noticeable, especially with the light fixture going across the entire tank.

Wow that would be great, thanks! I'm not sure when I'm heading to Renton, but I will let you know when I do head over there! Thank you so much once again!

Betty, you rock so much! I think I will give that a try!

Which is never. Pokie will not drive that far. Jk. Renton is hella far from b-town but you could drive from co-op (Edmonds) to renton then seattle ferry to b-town. How is that commute gonna take?

Wes, you never know when I could pass by. I might be running an errand on my face these days, or I can stop by Renton if I'm going to a fire spinning gig. Just depends.

So, when I took off the hood, there was the center brace! It was HIDDEN!!! Ugh. I feel so stupid! LOL.. so now I can just order ones off of Dr. Foster & Smith, looks like the space is 23 inches so, the ones on that site would fit perfectly! I'm stoked!!

We would have never known.... LOL

Glad it worked out!

PokeSephiroth wrote:So, when I took off the hood, there was the center brace! It was HIDDEN!!! Ugh. I feel so stupid! LOL.. so now I can just order ones off of Dr. Foster & Smith, looks like the space is 23 inches so, the ones on that site would fit perfectly! I'm stoked!!

  .oO Nice, problem solved with ease. Can't beat that!

Insert finger in left eye...