My 80g rimless LeeMar has been running strong since 09/2014.
What Is The Longest Someone Has Kept A Rimless Tank Without Issue?
- Thread starter Manny’s Reef
- Start date
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Devaji
5000 Club Member
I think* there are a few factors here.
1. tank size + LxWxH + water volume
2. supporting stand
3. end user care
4. glass thickness
I had the RS 650P seam stared to fail RS replaced it with there newer model with extra stand support. I traded that for some home work.
the new tank is going to be euro braced IM 200
IMHO smaller rimless tanks are great bit to large I am not so sure.
1. tank size + LxWxH + water volume
2. supporting stand
3. end user care
4. glass thickness
I had the RS 650P seam stared to fail RS replaced it with there newer model with extra stand support. I traded that for some home work.
the new tank is going to be euro braced IM 200
IMHO smaller rimless tanks are great bit to large I am not so sure.
nothing_fancy
Active Member
I'm at year 7 with IM Nuvo 40. Went through one apt move no issues. I think they make a very good product. I'll be upgrading when I eventually buy a house. Upgrading to a bigger system is actually one of the main reasons why Id like to own a home...It's a dumb thing to say but I'm not kidding...
Lbrdsoxfan
5000 Club Member
Rimless tanks can be done, but has to be done right.... My cube in question has several owners before me and has been in service for over a decade (IIRC built in 2011), no leaks, no reseals, no issues whatsoever. Also to add the front pane is not supported by the stand as some of the other manufacturers claim is a potential issue. I do believe they can be done long term, but again process/quality of assembly plays a huge part IMHO.
It probably depends on dimensions and height. My 80g shallow is rimless at the top but only 16 inches deep.
I do not want rimless if I step into the 200-300g range. I would do eurobrace. Eurobrace doesn't even look bad and actually looks better if you are the type of person to run a lid anyway. Even the fancy lids still have tabs and crap which would be hidden by the eurobrace since the lid would sit inside a bit. Plus you can get creative mounting gyres to the underside of the eurobrace and such. The only downside being is it will be a lot cleaner with gyres under the brace or vortechs so clean flow options become more difficult.
Anywho... it is just for my own piece of mind when stepping into the much larger tank world.
5 or 6 people before this that said they had rimless >5 yrs old?
Certainly it sounds like there were some bad batches of red sea tanks though :/
FSP
Active Member
Why? I think of the mass produced rimless tanks the same way I think of the mass produced plastic framed tanks at Petco. Some last a good while, a few might pop a leak after a few months, many last somewhere in between. The "worthy builder" part gets passed over frequently because $$$ and time, rimless or otherwise. That isn't in any way an indictment on people who buy this, that or the other, just the reality of the aquariums that are popular in the hobby. For every one person who owns something like a Miracles/Savvy/Lee Mar/etc., hundreds (random number) of people own an off the shelf aquarium.
Gtinnel
10K Club member
One of my current tanks that I setup fairly recently had been running for 10 years between me and the previous owner. It is eurobraced at the top and bottom so I’m not sure if you’d count it or not.
Mark Goode
Active Member
I'm not sure that being rimless is the cause of the majority of RS tank failures. Most of the pictures I've seen suggest that the front overhanging glass is the greatest weakness, exacerbated by insufficient support. Looks pretty, but I now wish I'd bought something else.
OP
OP
Manny’s Reef
2500 Club Member
Potatohead
Valuable Member
I have a 66g SCA that is about 6-7 years old now. I inspect it from time to time and I have no concerns at this point. Front glass on these is also unsupported.
I honestly don't know why SCA doesn't get talked about more here. I guess because they are not featured on YouTube videos.
I honestly don't know why SCA doesn't get talked about more here. I guess because they are not featured on YouTube videos.
jepuskar
Active Member
Some tanks break because of the users, some break because of poor manufacturing or workmanship. Asking how long someone has had a rimless tank without issues doesn't validate or invalidate anything really...so what exactly are we doing here?
Troylee
all about the diy!!!!!
I’ve built plenty of rimless tanks and some are 20 years old and still going strong in my local fish stores.. they’re all acrylic of course lol..
Rimless tanks have been around a good while…longer than 10 years. SunnyX’s famous 100 gallon rimless with t5 was around 2008/2009. I had one custom made by a very reputable builder that I wound up selling after a couple years since I was upgrading.
I’ll keep the custom tank manufacturer’s name out of it but he did share with me something to the affect of:
“Hey, I get it. They’re museum type displays. But it’s a flawed design by nature. We have to use thicker glass so that we can have a larger silicon seam at to join the panes. The taller they are the more prone they’ll be down the line to a failure. One thing people request that we’ll never do is put an external overflow box on a rimless aquarium. It’s just not smart engineering. I can build any tank I want for myself. I’d always choose a eurobrace over a rimless; not for looks but for peace of mind”.
I’m sure many people have rimless tanks that are doing just fine at the ten year or older mark. But when I hear a tank builder of premium glass aquariums personally tell me that I don’t need to hear much more to make a more informed decision now.
I’ll keep the custom tank manufacturer’s name out of it but he did share with me something to the affect of:
“Hey, I get it. They’re museum type displays. But it’s a flawed design by nature. We have to use thicker glass so that we can have a larger silicon seam at to join the panes. The taller they are the more prone they’ll be down the line to a failure. One thing people request that we’ll never do is put an external overflow box on a rimless aquarium. It’s just not smart engineering. I can build any tank I want for myself. I’d always choose a eurobrace over a rimless; not for looks but for peace of mind”.
I’m sure many people have rimless tanks that are doing just fine at the ten year or older mark. But when I hear a tank builder of premium glass aquariums personally tell me that I don’t need to hear much more to make a more informed decision now.
If anything else I'd go eurobraced now simply because of dripping water on the exterior
OP
OP
Manny’s Reef
2500 Club Member
What are we doing here? Using the forum to ask users about their experiences. Thought that was clear.
My Cadlights 100g I got used in early 2016 so over 6 years no issues. It was used but probably only a year or two old, perfect condition when I got it.
Also, before that was a 34g Solana that i had for 5 years and the previous owner probably had at least a few years on it. Sold to someone else and probably still growing strong. Miss that thing.
Also, before that was a 34g Solana that i had for 5 years and the previous owner probably had at least a few years on it. Sold to someone else and probably still growing strong. Miss that thing.
Lbrdsoxfan
5000 Club Member
I'm ok with that, ssshhhh don't tell anyone else about them as it's still a great deal for low iron glass... and it's local to me.
As an (almost) 10 year owner of a 120 rimless about to break down, I (finally) have to agree. I will brace the next one even though my RSR525 has held up.
Underrated benefit. My 10' frag has Eurobrace and keeping the sides clean is SO much easier.
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