Tank bending outwards

[matildaschiffers]

Hello! I recently set up a 105l/26g reef. And I haven’t noticed anything until today after I put some more rock in. The tank bends outwards and I’m kinda scared…is this normal or should I take it down and get a different one. The glass is 5milieters, also it’s a bit dirty but there’s no cracks, leaks and the silicone looks fine.

 

[19Mateo83]

What brand is the tank and what are the dimensions?

 

[BryanM]

hard to tell, but that does not look good at all, especially for a fairly small tank.

 

[matildaschiffers]

What brand is the tank and what are the dimensions?

The brand is aquael, it’s a 75x35x40cm tank

 

[19Mateo83]

I’m not familiar with that brand but I did find another thread here with another aquael tank bowing…
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/is-this-glass-bow-a-concern.1110008/
Personally that would worry me to no end. I had a aquaeon 14 cube that bowed and I couldn’t wait to get it out of the house….

 

[UncommonSense]

The brand is aquael, it’s a 75x35x40cm tank

This tank is too long and tall for 5mm glass in a rimless configuration!

That bowing is concerning, and should be addressed!

You could run a lower water level, but a safer bet would be adding a glass center brace, or eurobrace to this tank; assuming you cannot return it in favor of a more robustly built option!

 

[matildaschiffers]

This tank is too long and tall for 5mm glass in a rimless configuration!

That bowing is concerning, and should be addressed!

You could run a lower water level, but a safer bet would be adding a glass center brace, or eurobrace to this tank; assuming you cannot return it in favor of a more robustly built option!

 

[matildaschiffers]

This tank is too long and tall for 5mm glass in a rimless configuration!

That bowing is concerning, and should be addressed!

You could run a lower water level, but a safer bet would be adding a glass center brace, or eurobrace to this tank; assuming you cannot return it in favor of a more robustly built option!

I have time to return it until the 6th of next month, do you think a 6milimiter glass would be okay?, I tried to look for different tanks but all are either 5mm or 6mm.

 

[UncommonSense]

I have time to return it until the 6th of next month, do you think a 6milimiter glass would be okay?, I tried to look for different tanks but all are either 5mm or 6mm.

If it was my tank, I’d return it!

6mm thick glass would definitely help, but is still shy of what a glass thickness calculator spits out for a standard safety factor of 3.8..

Here’s what I get plugging in your tank’s dimensions:

— getting a tank with a plastic rim, or glass eurobrace would reduce the thickness of glass required in some areas, too!

 

[Bear22]

This tank is too long and tall for 5mm glass in a rimless configuration!

That bowing is concerning, and should be addressed!

You could run a lower water level, but a safer bet would be adding a glass center brace, or eurobrace to this tank; assuming you cannot return it in favor of a more robustly built option!

Was going to say 5mm is on the thin side for a tank this size and of these dimensions. My UNS 20 gal is 6mm with a long edge of 23 inches.

My ADA 90T bowed, but that was glass was close to 5/8" thick and ADA tanks are flagship build quality.

 

[KrisReef]

I have time to return it until the 6th of next month, do you think a 6milimiter glass would be okay?, I tried to look for different tanks but all are either 5mm or 6mm.

FOR the love of no leaks, trade up to the thicker material. Bowing is normal, and physically unavoidable to a certain degree but the thicker the glass the less deflection (and lower risk of failure) which is very important when you start stocking a tank.

Also be aware, that these edges of glass are the perfect place to strike them with another object and cause a crack that can propagate rapidly and cause the contents to drain in short order.