Is my tank going to burst?

Pens · Jul 28, 2018

I recently bought this Aqueon 29 Gallon Tank from Petco and when I had initially set it up, it was bowing just a tiny bit. Now I just noticed this warping...I think. I have never seen it before but it might’ve been there the whole time. I’m not too sure. Should I be worried? I’ve attached a picture of what I’m worried about.

Also, I’m new to the hobby and this forum. I’m very eager to start a successful reef aquarium. Right now, it’s a fish only tank but eventually I want to add corals. Thank you for the help in advance!

siggy · Jul 28, 2018

take a pic from the end of the tank and show the front edge that will show any distortion. Did that just show up?
#ReefSquad

jsker · Jul 28, 2018

A full picture of the tank and stand also please

Diesel · Jul 28, 2018

Take a long level and hold it against the glass.
If it bows more than 1/8” I would be worried.

chipmunkofdoom2 · Jul 28, 2018

I'd be very surprised if the tank glass was bowing and causing those marks. It's probably an imperfection in the plastic rim. The plastic rim on your tank may have just come out of the mold in a strange way. Or maybe the tank was transported in such a way that the plastic got pinched and deformed.

MTBake · Jul 28, 2018

Not sure on what caused those marks on your tank. I can say my 40 breeder glass bows out 1/4 in the middle at top of the tank on the front and back panels. Worries me some.

Pens · Jul 29, 2018

Okay, so it turns out the “warping” was there for a while. Here’s a pic of the tank I took a couple of days ago of the bowing and a picture of it that I took about 3-4 days ago (before I noticed the warping). When I walk up to the tank, I don’t even notice the warping and it feels flat, so it’s not bulging out or anything. I also looked at a picture of the tank when I first got it and saw the warping. Now I don’t think it’s a big issue because you can only see the warping at a certain angle. I’m starting to think that the trim just came out of the mold like that when it was made like chipmunkofdoom2 suggested.

NewGoby · Jul 29, 2018

Pens said:
Okay, so it turns out the “warping” was there for a while. Here’s a pic of the tank I took a couple of days ago of the bowing and a picture of it that I took about 3-4 days ago (before I noticed the warping). When I walk up to the tank, I don’t even notice the warping and it feels flat, so it’s not bulging out or anything. I also looked at a picture of the tank when I first got it and saw the warping. Now I don’t think it’s a big issue because you can only see the warping at a certain angle. I’m starting to think that the trim just came out of the mold like that when it was made like chipmunkofdoom2 suggested.

On the last picture I'd say it's bowing outward, but I have a tank that has a bow like that in it by design.

I'd take everything out - get a new tank, just to be sure.

It's easier to do it now, because the tank is empty. It'd be horrible to come home to a empty tank & a wet floor, both for the livestock & for yourself.

siggy · Jul 29, 2018

+ 1 That would always bother me.

jsker · Jul 29, 2018

I agree with the above, replace the tank.

Rcpilot · Jul 29, 2018

Even if the glass flexing is normal -- sumtpin ain't right with that plastic moulding.

If the moulding is faulty, it could introduce a point load or pressure point to the glass in that area and cause a failure down the road. I agree with the above - replace it now. The tank is the cheap part of the hobby.