[doctor T]

I have just purchased a very large (235G) acrylic tank. After bringing it home and getting it cleaned up, I have discoverd I can't reach the bottom of it. It is 3 feet deep. I am toying with the idea of cutting it down to 2 or 2.5 feet deep. It is 3/4 inch thick so I am a bit undecided on the top and what is needed to brace it up in place of the 3/4 thick plate that is there now. I wouldn't consider this except that the access holes are so small it would take a hobbit to get through them. I know how often I have to stick my hands into my 75Gal reef so my worry is maintenance on this big guy. Has anyone ever cut down an acrylic tank this size before? If so was it sucessful and what type of structure do you think I need to cap off the top?

[pogodzib]

I have a 30" tall tank and think that it is a nice height when balancing the easiness to take care of it with the issues with trying to reach the bottom. A 36" tank is tall and would be tough to light the bottom to house certain types of corals and tough to maintain, but it would make a beautiful height for viewing. Before cutting the tank down, you'll want to think about what you plan on keeping in the tank and how it will be set up. If the bottom 6" of the tank will be out of view, you wouldn't need to worry about scraping the coraline off of it and you can minimize detrius if you have enough flow. Another option, if you are going with a non-SPS dominated tank is that you may want to consider going with a 6"-9" DSB.

[Cruelact]

Originally Posted by doctor T

I have just purchased a very large (235G) acrylic tank. After bringing it home and getting it cleaned up, I have discoverd I can't reach the bottom of it. It is 3 feet deep. I am toying with the idea of cutting it down to 2 or 2.5 feet deep. It is 3/4 inch thick so I am a bit undecided on the top and what is needed to brace it up in place of the 3/4 thick plate that is there now. I wouldn't consider this except that the access holes are so small it would take a hobbit to get through them. I know how often I have to stick my hands into my 75Gal reef so my worry is maintenance on this big guy. Has anyone ever cut down an acrylic tank this size before? If so was it sucessful and what type of structure do you think I need to cap off the top?

Why not sell the aquarium, and buy something else? It is a shame to ruin an aquarium someone else can use.

[doctor T]

Wow you are a BIG help!!!!

[wesleycharlessmith]

I have to agree with Cruelact on this one, with the dollar value of the acrylic that will go to waste it seems like you could sell the tank and buy a more suitable one, unless of course you got an incredable deal on this one.

[map95003]

Where would the tank be located, if in-wall build it so the botton 4-6" is hidden and as Brian said, run a DSB.

If you're building a stand, build it so the bottom 6" is hidden and run a DSB...seems like a lot less work than cutting the tank ...you gain the benifits of a DSB and it's hidden.

[Scorpa]

Go with map's plan