can i cut the center brace on my tank?

[shaneh]

I have the 55 bowfront right now and I have a 250 MH light fixture. The corals are doing ok but I want more light in the tank and the brace is right under the light so it blocks like 15-20% of the light. My idea is to cut the brace and glue on that is clear from acrylic. Is this ok to do? Or will the tank fall apart soon after?
I don't plan to sell the tank after just donate to someone so I am not responsible for a potential 55 gal puddle.

PS. it dose not feel like there is any tension on it.

 

[Reef Bass]

My idea is to cut the brace and glue on that is clear from acrylic.

It feels as though there is an important word or two missing from that sentence which could have a great impact on its meaning.

Geez, my initial reaction is "hell no!". But I suppose if you were to replace center the brace with something of equal supportiveness (and it stays there!), then why not?

I have a similar brace in my 100g which I have learned to live with. It makes an awesome place to put things when working in the tank. When it gets opaque from too much salt or whatever I wipe it down.

 

[coralfarmer]

Have you ever seen 55 gallons of water on the floor? How about two bulbs on either side of the brace that way you get more coverage.

 

[Reef Bass]

How about two bulbs on either side of the brace that way you get more coverage

That's what I've got going on with my center brace "situation". Works well for my 60" long tank.

A 55g is 48" long, right, so +1 for two bulbs for better coverage.

 

[shaneh]

Yeah I didn't read that over after I typed it up.....So the light hangs center over the tank and the brace is in the center of the tank so the brace blocks some of the light. My idea is to cut the brace and replace it with a clear acrylic brace I made and glue it in the same place as the old brace. The brace has small or no tension on it but i wanted to knwo if anyone has done this in the past?

 

[shaneh]

2 bulbs would be the best idea but that would require a diffrent fixture and ballast something i didn't really wanna do right now as i would rather put the money into my 180 bow.

my tank is 36 inch long with the bow.

 

[jkreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15477022#post15477022 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coralfarmer
Have you ever seen 55 gallons of water on the floor?

Yup, and on fire.....not pretty.

 

[northbay-reefer]

Shaned, the amount of light that you are loosing is no big deal so I don't think you should cut that brace. Have you ever though about getting some mirror acrylic and have it bent into a ^ with the mirror side facing upward and mount it along the top of the brace to reflect the lights back in an angle into the reflector to get more light below the brace?

 

[coralfarmer]

I've actually done that before and it worked pretty well. I bent a piece of an old reflector.

 

[shaneh]

Tom thanks for the idea i will do that!