first acrylic tank

[40gnano]

Hey All,
I was wondering , I have a 40G breeder, thats Acrylic.
And I don't like the fact that it has 2 openings on top.
Would this bea problem, if i cut out the centerbrace?
so i can have it all open?
Pretty much make it "rimless" so to speak.

[Tswifty]

Depends on how thick the acrylic is. Regardless, I probably wouldn't do it... even though if the tank is acrylic and could probably handle it... I would keep the extra support to help prevent bowing.

Why don't you like the 2 holes? Since it's acrylic, it really shouldn't cast shadows?

[EverettReef]

I won't do it. A rimless tank would be made of thicker material. The center brace is likely integral to the structural integrity of the tank.

[40gnano]

Only reason why i wanna doit, is if i have a fixture over top, that center brace blocks some light, and i was thinking of getting a mh/t5 fixture, and the Mh is in the middle...Thats the only reason why I thought of doing that. But, I was looking at the sunpod's 2x150's.

[Tswifty]

Depending on what you intend on keeping, I would definitely try and advise you away from 150's. I have a 1- 250w DE fixture over my current 40g tank which is only 16" deep (probably more like 14" considering the ID and water line), and have been unimpressed with the corresponding PAR values I get out of it.

[RealFish]

I'd skip cutting out the brace on an acrylic tank. They need to be pretty thick to not need a brace. Doubt the manufacturer put it on there for vanity reasons.

[40gnano]

tswifty, could you post pictures, please?

[DEERE G]

I would not cut the brace. The person who built the tank put it in the for a reason. I also would use caution if you intend on running one MH over the center brace. It could get very hot and effect the integrity of the brace. Keep the brace and use two MH lights. Just my $.02

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14971538#post14971538 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 40gnano
tswifty, could you post pictures, please?
Here is a FTS from about a week ago.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/New%20Rimless/FTS_050209b.jpg

The tank:

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/New%20Rimless/NTank2.jpg

The light rack I constructed to hold the 250w pendant. I lowered it since this picture the bottom of the pendant now sits about 8" off the water.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/New%20Rimless/LightRackFinal1.jpg

[40gnano]

I'm Not going to cut the brace. X_X. Nice tank btw, wish my tank didnt have the center brace, so i can run a light like yours.