Plastic bar need on aquarium?

[The guy of fish]

Hi, I have a 38 gallon bowfront tank with a blue acara a convict and some tetras and i was wondering if I need the plastic bar that connects the plastic rim on the top.it would increase the lighting in there as the rim covers around 12 leds. If I can remove just the bar without removing the whole top rim how would I do so without draining all the water?

 

[Backfromthedead]

The center brace? I would say leave it for sure. If its the standard 38 bow, it isnt made sturdy enough to go rimless. I had a 46 bowfront with a broken center brace, i nudged the rim during a water change accidentally and that was enough to blow out the back panel. Thankfully the tank was in my garage.