[mattpenn]

i only have a 75 gallon tank but was wondering i just upgraded lights purchased the 48" current with the 2 150 watt metal halides and 2 130 watt power compacts with 6 moon lights but my tank has a divider in the middle where you can put 2 seperate glass covers but i dont use them my question is can i cut this plastic cause it stops 2 of my moon lights from shining through without my tank breaking?

[SweeTang22]

no. you should never break those. those bracing members prevent your tank from unfolding. glass fractures very easily and it would most deff. split. i had a 37 gallon tall about 7 years ago and the brace had a small cut on one end. i filled it up and it broke from corner to corner. drained 37 gallons in less then a minute.

[SweeTang22]

to add to that, i have a book that tells you to inspect those for fractures. i didnt know mine had a cut because it was so small and that was all it took

[mattpenn]

thanks nick i guess ill have to buy a new tank then it dont look right with moon lights on both sides and not the middle i could just get a 90 gallon why do some tanks have them and some dont oh well thanks again

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Geeeeeez Matt if you want a new tank just go buy it lol or are you that much in love with those moon lights?

[mattpenn]

i just think it would look perfect no flaws i will just have to buy a new tank and change everything over to it

[map95003]

I had a 55g regular rectangular freshwater tank, one afternoon while feeding I noticed the top of the tank looked like a "bow-front", after a closer look I noticed the brace was broken....I ran for the garden hose to drain the tank...but I wasn't fast enough, all 55g's ended up on the ground and my fish jumping around....don't cut the brace!

[mattpenn]

im upgrading to 90 or 125 thanks for input

[robe25m]

I have a 120g with that center brace, while i would never cut it, I have noticed its starting to BOW, the center brace is now bending to form a arch, is this normal? or am I doomed?

this was a brand new tank built in 2007 so the stamp says.

[map95003]

It all depends on where your tank is located and how much you have to loose...if I were you I would start thinking about draining the tank and either replacing the top part (the plastic edge around the top, I don't know what it's called but I heard you could replace them) or the entire tank it's that's cheaper....120g is a lot of water to mop-up, could also damage your flooring.