Help with removing stand center brace? (1 Viewer)

[Guest]

I'm picking up a bigger sump/refugium for my tank tomorrow, and to get it inside my Oceanic oak stand, I will have to temporarily remove the center brace on the stand. I've read a little bit about how to do this, but if anyone here has some experience and could offer some tips - or better yet, could come over and help me do it - that would be great.

 

[Guest]

Where are you located?? I may be able to come help.... I would recommend lowering the water level as much as possible before removign the center brace... Also.. with the new refuge... what substrate will you be using?

 

[aqua-nut]

Check and see if the center brace is load bearing. On my old stand, it was not and I just sawed through the nails that held it in place and put it back in place when I got my sump inside.

I'd be real sure it's not load bearing before you remove it though!

 

[Guest]

At first I thought the center brace wasn't load bearing, but now I'm not so sure. I don't know how to tell for sure.

I didn't pick up the sump today because I'm getting really nervous about trying to do this. Maybe I should just see what the biggest size sump is I can fit in without removing the center brace and custom build one to that size, although it will be a lot more expensive.

 

[Guest]

Here is a site with some photos to show how to brace your tank before removing the center piece.

http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/tank/55sump.html