Hi Graeme,
Yes, I ripped it out - do you want it as a spare? I've also a spare motor and a fair bit of spare media too which is quite pricey isn't it? You're more than welcome to the lot for a little more than the cost of postage. Let me know if you want it.
The lighting is very good, works off bog standard starters too. Probably a very good tank/filter for a planted set up especially if the fish aren't too dirty. I think I've a pair of AquaGlo tubes. The previous owner reckoned he hadn't changed the tubes in 6 years!!....and wondered why he had algae problems!!
I'm using it for cichlids so it's rocks and plastic plants only, there are now 2 Eheim internals which are a lot less obvious than the huge black box and turn the tank over more than twice as often. The electric junction box means the tank still runs from a single power point.