Stand questions?

I have a 53g tank (48x15x17) I wanna set up as a reef after christmas. The stand that I have was home-made (not by me) and under it there is not enough width for a sump, it only has 10 in of width, I need 12in. There is a 2x4 going across the back of the tank, which to me looks like it does not have much to do with the support of the tank. Could i simply cut out a section of it in the back to fit a 20g long?

Here are some pictures, and I know it doesn't look that sturdy but I have used it before and it supported the tank for easily 10 months. It is very sturdy.

The back of the stand
http://s636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BrennanLG/?action=view&current=downsized_1122101250.jpg

Inside
http://s636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BrennanLG/?action=view&current=downsized_1122101251.jpg

another pic
http://s636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BrennanLG/?action=view&current=downsized_1122101251a.jpg

 

Images are not viewable for me, sorry.

 

bump

 

Are you talking about the lower 2X4 running horizontal in the front of this pic?

 

Its hard to tell how much that 2 x 4 is supporting, Imo if you want to keep that stand you can remove that 2 x 4 and relocate lower to keep support, If you have any question of the support you can build a new stand for cheap

 

I think the horizontal board can be removed.

 

Okay, I will remove it. the stand is ugly anyway and I might as well. If anything I would put the 2x4 higher to fit my sump in.

 

the middle one

 

I would remove the 2X4 in question & build a frame to fit in the bottom, inside the 4 legs to add strength. The one that is there now does not serve much of a purpose.

 

The best way to add support to this stand would be a 2X4 in the middle of the front going vertical. With a better look at it, I would add a 2X4 in the middle, up top, right underneath the tank, front to back.