Tank Modification

[Lcattin]

I have what appears to be and older All Glass 180 gallon tank with a single overflow in one corner. There is also a glass panel on top of the tank in the center. Does anyone know if I could remove that panel, was it part of the original manufacture or was it added later? I would like to take it out as it makes tank maintainence difficult and over the years has etched and is rather frosty which I am sure filters out some of the color spectrum of my MH lights.

Can anyone help?

Thanks
Les

 

[iCam]

It sounds like bracing. I would leave it there. If it's scratched, you could probably get a kit to buffer the less deep ones out.

 

[windsor-aquatic]

If the glass you refer to is a bracing strap, then it's an essential part of the tank, and its removal would seriously weaken the tank.

 

[Lcattin]

It could be bracing. I am not sure it in the center of the tank and it is 24" wide. It is resting on what appears to be 2 pieces of either glass or plastic which you can see from the outside of the tank. It sure does restrict access though.

 

[windsor-aquatic]

It certainly sounds like a bracing strap. If it is, it is an integral part of thr tank, and should be left in place.

 

[Uel]

It is defiantly bracing. I had an All Glass 55 that it came off of and you could see a visible bowing out of the front glass. You would break the glass on a 180 in no time without the brace.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

I have heard of people removing the extra wide brace and replacing it with some sort of metal strapping to keep the tank from bowing out. You still have a cross brace, but atleast its very thin.

I will look around to see if I can find the thread where I saw it, but I am not hopefull, haha.

 

[Lcattin]

I had a feeling that is what it is. I will think about the strapping idea. Definate possibility. Thanks