Purpose of brace/bracing

[Kazuo]

I've did some research and it appears to be that braces/bracing is to hold the tank (glass) together.

All along I thought it was to hold the weight of overhead filter.

What about holding the weight of overhead filter?

[BFG]

Some tanks are made with overhead filter usage designed into the tank . But I believe bracing are made to hold the tank together using less material and keeping cost down . Sometimes , the design is adequate enough that it could hold an overhead filter with no problem . I know because my 1st planted tank was designed for overhead filter usage which I bought at C328 about a decade or so ago . When it leaked , I was glad to get rid of it as I was able to transition to the marine side then . There was so much bracing it was very hard to maintain the aquascaping . Noobie mistake back then .

[Kazuo]

So bracing is only to hold the tank together and does not contribute to strengthen the tank to withstand heavy weight?

[limz_777]

basically to prevent tank bowing , if you using single stack then should be safe

[Urban Aquaria]

So bracing is only to hold the tank together and does not contribute to strengthen the tank to withstand heavy weight?

Bracings are reinforcement supports that allow the tank to withstand larger water volumes and weight... without bracings, the glass used will have to be much thicker to compensate (ie. braceless tanks).