Butchering my tank

Drake · 11/01/2011, 08:34 AM

Hey peoples,

So I recently got the grand majority of my new 90 gallon set up. Question though...

As you can see, it's a pretty standard aquarium with the black plastic "separation piece" on the top of the tank in the middle. I PRESUME this piece exists exclusively to allow 2 glass canopies to sit snuggly? Do you think this is a significant structural component of my tank?

I'm thinking of just cutting it off so my AI's can hang nicely and bask the whole tank in light. I just don't want the glass to warp/shatter/ruin everything in time.

Anyone ever done this or have any insight?!

Thanks!!

Daniel Reef · 11/01/2011, 08:36 AM

You can search the Reef Discussion forum and there are plenty of threads where the center brace has cracked/broken etc., and the tank's integrity has failed. You may want to decide against this.

thegrun · 11/01/2011, 08:36 AM

Do not cut the brace, it prevents the front and back panels from bowing to the point that they break!

89Foxbody · 11/01/2011, 08:40 AM

Do not cut the brace. It's there for a reason.

Drake · 11/01/2011, 08:53 AM

Guess that answers that one. I appreciate the help guys, I'll just have to strategically position the lights then I suppose. Thanks for the fast responses!

gerryo · 11/01/2011, 08:58 AM

Believe me that the manufacturer would not put that there if it wasn't needed.

DO NOT CUT IT.

Dustin1300 · 11/01/2011, 10:36 AM

If you want to take it on I'd suggest going to the DIY forums and posing some questions about how to do so. I agree with all the others above that it needs to be there structurally but maybe someone would have a suggestion on replacing it with a piece of acrylic/plexi so the light can still pass through.

Honestly if you have the right optics and position the lights correctly you're not going to lose much of anything.

crabbyjoe · 11/02/2011, 07:21 AM

i'm in the same boat w my 56 column tank. i did cut the center brace out a long time ago for a single halide then broke the tank down and stored it. now that i want to move my 29 back into a bigger tank i filled it with water to leak test and i have 1/4" bowing right in the middle. doesnt sound like much but wishing i hadnt cut the whole brace out.

firebirdude · 11/02/2011, 10:02 AM

It's called a euro brace. It's there for strength. Don't mess with it.

11/01/2011, 08:36 AM	#2
Daniel Reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 1,430	You can search the Reef Discussion forum and there are plenty of threads where the center brace has cracked/broken etc., and the tank's integrity has failed. You may want to decide against this. __________________ Daniel Restarting my tank 90g 20g Life Reef sump 5ft Life Reef Skimmer See my album for pre-build tank pictures.

11/01/2011, 08:40 AM	#4
89Foxbody Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Norwich, CT Posts: 1,532	Do not cut the brace. It's there for a reason. __________________ Red Sea Max 130D Mixed Reef: ReefKeeper2, Rapid-LED retrofit, MiniMaxx Reactor, Tunze 9001 Skimmer, 2x Jebao RW-4, 2x Maxi-Jet 600 returns, 2x Koralia Nano 425

11/01/2011, 08:58 AM	#6
gerryo Just a Leprechaun Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada Posts: 37	Believe me that the manufacturer would not put that there if it wasn't needed. DO NOT CUT IT. __________________ gerryo Reef Central Corner Club Corner Tankaholic You know you're in trouble when your fat pants are too tight. Current Tank Info: 54g been running for a while. T5HO lighting with LED Actinics on the way

11/01/2011, 10:36 AM	#7
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	If you want to take it on I'd suggest going to the DIY forums and posing some questions about how to do so. I agree with all the others above that it needs to be there structurally but maybe someone would have a suggestion on replacing it with a piece of acrylic/plexi so the light can still pass through. Honestly if you have the right optics and position the lights correctly you're not going to lose much of anything. __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Help plan a 300 gallon scorpion tank ( no lion fish allowed )	smellzlikefish	Fish Only & Aggressive Tanks	2	06/21/2011 04:50 PM
Still in the market for a large tank	215reefone	Delaware Valley Reef Club (DVRC)	1	02/01/2010 06:39 AM
A new 60 gallon tank	opacheso	New to the Hobby	5	01/07/2010 04:43 PM
Looking to Purchase Tank/Set Up	215reefone	Delaware Valley Reef Club (DVRC)	2	12/27/2009 11:33 AM

11/01/2011, 08:36 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Do not cut the brace, it prevents the front and back panels from bowing to the point that they break!

11/01/2011, 08:53 AM	#5
Drake Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 11	Guess that answers that one. I appreciate the help guys, I'll just have to strategically position the lights then I suppose. Thanks for the fast responses!

11/02/2011, 07:21 AM	#8
crabbyjoe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: canton ohio Posts: 158	i'm in the same boat w my 56 column tank. i did cut the center brace out a long time ago for a single halide then broke the tank down and stored it. now that i want to move my 29 back into a bigger tank i filled it with water to leak test and i have 1/4" bowing right in the middle. doesnt sound like much but wishing i hadnt cut the whole brace out.

11/02/2011, 10:02 AM	#9
firebirdude User and Abuser Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,836	It's called a euro brace. It's there for strength. Don't mess with it.