Have a question about my new acrylic tank.

bdubbya

bdubbya

Member
I have a 150 gallon custom acrylic tank that I have a small problem with. Instead of cutting three holes in the top of the tank I've only got two. I didn't think of telling the guy to cut three cause I thought that was a standard thing. The dimensions of the tank are 72x24x20. I have eleven holes drilled in the back 8-1 1/2", 2-2", and 1-1". I'm curious if I can cut a hole in the brace for my MH pendant or maybe just cut the brace in half and relocate it to what I thought was the standard position for a six foot tank.
Thanks
Bdubbya
 
dogstar

dogstar

Active Member

I have a 180g acrylic with center brace like yours and I have 3 MHs . the one in the center over the brace shines just fine thru the brace, I can not tell any difference when I look at the tank. Just keep it clean.
IMO the brace must not be cut and moved because it will weaken over time and if you cut a hole in the brace you loose support and will cause the front and back to bow out and the top panel to wrarp.
 
bdubbya

bdubbya

Member
How high above the brace do you have your MH? I will be running 400watt hqi. I was planning on having the lights like 8 inches or so above the waterline. I just don't like wasting any light passing through the acrylic. Does anyone know the reflective property of acrylic? Something like how much light actually passes through?
Thanks
Bdubbya
 
dogstar

dogstar

Active Member
Mine are 250w mogals bout 13in above the brace and the brace gets slightly warm. I have two fans in the hood and run a chiller. Im not sure if 400w hqi gets as hot as mogals but you should think about the heat more than the light and keep the center one higher than 8 in IMO. My tank is 30in deep and under the center I have no problems keeping softies and LPS even at the bottom right under the brace.
 
bdubbya

bdubbya

Member
Thanks for your help dogstar. My tank is going to be an SPS and maybe some ricordea on the bottom, but mostly just SPS. I was originally going to go topless with this tank and just use pendents, but if I have to keep it to high off the water that will be a lot of light polution in the room. Guess I'm going to have to rethink my original plan and maybe incorporate a canopy after all.:thinking:
Thanks
 
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