Cutting my tank

I have a 65 Gallon glass tank, 36" Long, 18" Wide, 24" Deep

in the center it has a plastic bar, which i do believe is for cover. Does anyone see a problem of cutting it off. it block 4 moon lamps. I really can not picture this being a support beam of any kind.

 

I am trying to decide between a AGA 26 bowfront or the 36 for my new mini reef. The 36 has the plastic thing that will block the MH lamp on all the 24 inch fixtures I am looking at.

I called AGA and asked if I could cut the platic support as it seems to be a suport for the glass top and they told me it was structual and to leave it in place. I remain skeptical though as it is so flimsey and the 26 does not have one and the dimensions are very close. But 36gal of water in the living room would be no bueno.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

 

I say leave it. You may have to get 2 mh lights of a different type of fixture.
I'm not sure on the width of the glass between the 2 sizes but there is a reason for it. The only way i would ever cut the center brace is if i had a canopy that fit sung across the top to help control the out word pressure.

 

I have read that it is definitly structual the bigger the tank the bigger the risk

 

i'd leave it, it's better to be safe than sorry. i'm sure that it's there for a reason and not to make the tank more aesthetically pleasing. also, if you structurally change the tank and if something unforseen were to happen to it down the road....it definitely wouldn't be covered under any sort of warranty.

 

I'd leave it too, It's a brace to stop the window from bowing out.
Pressure being aplyed by the water outword, you may wake up with the fish on the floor.

 

i talked to my LFS where i got it and he said one of his customers did it. it started to bow. Not sure if it burst or not. one customer drilled a hole and it worked.

 

Cut it and let use know how far out it bows once its been removed. I know it will. At 36 inches 2 M/H would be better anyways. But with just one fixture that 1.5 wide strip will make so little difference you'll hardly notice the shadow if at all. I'm tell you for what it's worth it will BOW! But thats free advice and to many thats all its worth. Good luck.

 

yeah, it was worth a shot, at least i asked first :0)

i do have two MH, its the middle 6 moon LEDs that are blocked.

 

So on a 36 gal bowfront with a single MH mounted in the center would the 1.5inch wide plastic brace down the middle block to much light to be worth it.