removing center brace from 65gal?

[reel soon]

I would like to remove the center brace from the top of my 65 gal reef tank. Any suggestions or reasons not to do this? The reason is that I have the current outer orbit lighting with the MH in the middle and the brace blocks light in the middle of the tank. Thanks for any input.

 

[cmondo]

The brace is there to stop the forces created by the water from "blowing" out the tank from the inside. So i would suggest leaving it there.

If you could brace it in another spot before you remoce the center brace that might work. How you would do that well I am not sure.

 

[reel soon]

Thanks, That's what I thought, but it doesn't seem to have that much pressure on it. But you are probably right. I thought I had seen someone on this forum that had replaced there brace with acrylic.

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7646937#post7646937 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reel soon
Thanks, That's what I thought, but it doesn't seem to have that much pressure on it. But you are probably right. I thought I had seen someone on this forum that had replaced there brace with acrylic.

he had to replace it. MTM got the tank used and it already had the brace removed. i think he filled it and it bowed too much for his liking so he replaced it, how im not sure.

 

[reel soon]

Thanks for the info! I'm glad Delaware has a reef club, even for those of us that live downstate. If it wasn't for this forum I would not even know about Dr. Mac's, (only 30 min's from my house!)