[michael_cb_125]

Hello Kyle.

It is good to see that the few mishaps with the other tanks have not made you bitter towards the hobby. I know how discouraging it can be sometime.

As for rimless tanks. You do not need a brace, providing the glass is thick enough, and the joints are fused properly.

Looking through the specs of your tank, I noticed a few things that caught my eye.

First off, the skimmer. I have not personally used the BakPak, but I know many people who have used them, only to change to something different in a few months time. The ratings that they give these skimmers are VERY optimistic, so consider about 50% of what they actually say. Plus why only give a 1/2 year warranty. Another thing to consider is that almost all HOB skimmers have the capability of overflowing, and in turn spilling onto the floor.

Personally I would recommend one of the following skimmers. They are more expensive, but in the long run will save you money, as they will not need to be replaced.

Deltec MCE300 a very good skimmer, that is very efficient.
Deltic MCE600 an amazing skimmer that could be carried over to a larger tank, in the chance of an upgrade. Plus this is a HOB skimmer that CANNOT overflow. They collection cup is routed to the reaction chamber, so that if the skimmer cup becomes full, it will spill back into the chamber, not onto the floor.

Tunze DOC 9005. I have personally used this skimmer and other larger DOCs, and can say that they are an amazing skimmer, and produce ALOT of nasty tea colored skimmate. These skimmers sit directly in the tank which prevents the spilling of skimmate onto the floor. Also, these skimmers are very easy to adjust and maintain.

Lighting. Consider a single Actinic. Since true actinic bulbs have very low PAR levels, you will receive little growth from these tubes. They are primarily used for color enhancement.

Sorry for the rant, I just like to share my experience. I have made many costly mistakes, and like to help others prevent themselves from doing the same thing.

~Michael