Question about acrylic tank construction?

[stephencraig]

On the tank I recently acquired, the top has a lip around it as all acrylic tanks I have seen has. The front and sides are about 4" wide, with the back 6" wide, and a portion in the center that is 6" wide. My question is if acrylic tank sides, bottom, and top are basically "welded" together, does the top lip have to be that wide? It leaves very little to be able to access the tank, and I was wondering if the top could be cut back so that there was about 2" or 3" lip with no section in the center.

Stephen

[matt]

That's a tough one; it depends on the construction of the tank, thickness and quality of plastic used, quality of solvent welds, etc. The top brace really does hold things together, and if you cut some of it away, you could be compromising the rigidity that it needs.

There's no hard and fast rule for the minimum size of the top brace on a given size tank, at least not one I know about. Maybe a real expert could look at your tank and advise you. Probably, though, what someone would say is "well i didn't build it so I couldn't tell you"

[MattK]

If you think that it will not harm the integrity of the tank you could use a router to cut the excess out.

*I have never seen your tank and I don't know the construction of it so it's your call if you want to do it or not.

[prof]

Acrylic bows much more than glass. Because of this it take much thicker acrylic to get rid of the bracing.

You might be able to cut it back but you might cause a structural failure.

[brieman]

My acrylic bowed a lot when filled, you can even see the braces bowed, I believe you would take away a lot of support.