Adding (or replacing?) tank bracing

[booth2010]

Picked up a 36g bowfront and stand for a steal last holiday season when Petsmart was tryin to get rid of inventory. As all reviews said on the tank the lid suuuuucks. Has a little 1”x3” door to feed and the whole lid must be taken off for maintenance which spills water everywhere. The bottom of the tank has a plastic brace but the top does not. I do not know if the lid acts as a brace (hence the “replacing?” In title) or if it really is just a lid.

The tank is made of 5/16” glass. I am thinking of adding a euro brace to the sides and middle on the top. Probably just 2” wide pieces. I have plenty of glass from a tank breakdown that’s just under 1/4”. I know typically you should use glass the same thickness as the tank but based on the pics below do y’all think the glass that’s just shy 1/4” will be fine because what I’m adding is just to be cautious or should I get some 5/16” because it’s likely to be needed structurally?

Thanks for the help as usual.

PS tank obvi isn’t set up yet. That’s happening this week, it’s a grow out tank for little African Cichlids to join the big boys in my 125 freshwater.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

That's just a lid, you don't have to use it. You can cut it up if you want bigger openings though. As far as bracing goes I would just run it as it came

 

[booth2010]

Thanks, thats what I figured based off of how flimsy the lid is. Ive never had a bowfront and I dont 100% trust it lol. I think I will put the little bit of euro bracing on the top just for piece of mind. Since its just extra ill just use the glass I have on hand.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Sounds like a plan. I do have a similarly sized bowfront and it has a black rim but no bracing at all