modifying a tank
 

i will be putting dividers in a 3foot tank that i have but i have to remove the middle support and the lid supports, so my question is, whats the easiest way to remove these? stanley knife? maybe a hot stanley knife?

I woudn't remove the middle support. I have modifed tanks like this before and all I had to do was take a really sharp exacto saw and cut slots into the rim support. This leaves it pretty much in tact and allows for a place to slide your dividers in. You could remove the middle support brace this way but I still don't know if it is a good idea.

I would do some research about removing the middle support first. At my LFS, they really preach against it because the tank is just not nearly stable enough without it.

i will be siliconing the dividers in as it will be permanent. wouldnt doing this give me enough support to remove the centre brace?

It should. You are using glass dividers, right. I just wanted to ask because silcone won't hold onto plexi, at least I never got a bond even close to that of glass and silicone.

Out of curiosity, why divide the larger tank instead of getting 3 smaller ones? Nothing wrong with it, just curious.

yep ill be using glass dividers, the main reason why im dividing the 3 foot is im setting up a rack system for my africans, i will have a 4 foot display tank, then above that will b3 a 3 foot set up for breeding, they will all be running thru the same sump... and i already have a spare 3 foot tank... might aswell do something with it

Your set up sounds interesting. I asked my LFS and they said the main reason that they caution against removing the center brace is for light/hood fixtures, or anything else you use on top of the tank. However if you had a light that was attached on either side length-wise of the tank, and was raised a few inches so it wasn't resting against the trim, the tank might be okay without a center brace.

As for removing it.. I'd say go with whatever you have the most control over. It would be a disaster for the tool to slip and the side of the tank to crack or break.