Middle Plastic piece.

[dorgan]

Is it safe to remove the middle plastic piece on a 30 gallon tank?? I would assume its just there for when you have two separate cover pieces. I probably should have asked this before doing so, but I guess I should aks now before I get the tank up and running.

 

[drpaul84]

its for support so the tank doesnt bow out do not remove it

 

[scsinet]

On a 30g it may not cause any issues, but it's a craps shoot and does affect the structural integrity of the tank.
Generally if you remove them, you need to replace them with something else like a euro brace or a canopy designed to straddle the tank and keep it from bowing.