Rimless Tank Bowed

[Rio1969]

I just noticed that my 100g rimless tank is bowed at the front by 1/4 inch. The tank is 51 inches long x 19 5/8 inches deep and 23 3/4 inches tall. The glass is 3/8 inch thick. Should I be concerned by the 1/4 inch bow at the center? I am not concerned about the back glass as I have a CTC overflow.
I am thinking that maybe I should put two 3 or 4 inches glass straps from the back to the front glass to reduce the amount of bowing on the front glass.

 

[Djbeasley05]

Who built that tank as a rimless? 3/8 inch isn't near thick enough. Euro bracing will help but I'm thinking you'll need to drain the tank and allow the glass to straighten out before adding braces.


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[FullBoreReefer]

I am no engineer, but I definitely know how to read a tape, if it really is glass and really bowing 1/4”, I’d be nervous. Again, I’m no glass expert but to me that’s quite a bit deflection

 

[Rio1969]

Who built that tank as a rimless? 3/8 inch isn't near thick enough. Euro bracing will help but I'm thinking you'll need to drain the tank and allow the glass to straighten out before adding braces.


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I don't know who the builder is as I bought it second hand. The plan is to drain down the tank before adding braces.
What size / thickness glass should I use for the brace?

 

[2_zoa]

1/4”? As in a measurement from front to back at the Ends and in the middle?

Or

1/4” As in a straight edge across just the front pane of glass?

Big difference between the two. The first one meaning that the front AND the back pane is bowed only 1/8” each. Or, that each pane has deflected 1/4” with a measurement difference of 1/2” from edges to middle of the tank.

That said. Most tanks have a bow in the glass when full of water. 10 gallon tanks bow, 20 gallon long tanks bow, even my current DSA pro 65 bows with 1/2” thick glass.

 

[Rio1969]

1/4"? As in a measurement from front to back at the Ends and in the middle?

Or

1/4" As in a straight edge across just the front pane of glass?

Big difference between the two. The first one meaning that the front AND the back pane is bowed only 1/8" each. Or, that each pane has deflected 1/4" with a measurement difference of 1/2" from edges to middle of the tank.

That said. Most tanks have a bow in the glass when full of water. 10 gallon tanks bow, 20 gallon long tanks bow, even my current DSA pro 65 bows with 1/2" thick glass.

Front to back at the edges the measurement is 19 5/8 inches, at the middle it is 19 and 7/8 inches. The back glass is not bowed as I have a coast to coast overflow made of 1/4 inch glass attached with silicone to the back glass.

 

[mcgyvr]

Why do I feel like this "rimless" tank was a regular (rimmed) tank and the previous owner removed the rim..

3/8" glass is not suitable for your tank size and rimless at all.. It should be almost double that for a suitable safety factor.. 1/2" at minimum.. 5/8" better (15-16mm)

 

[ca1ore]

Yeah, my rimless frag is 3/8" glass; but it's only 48" long and 12" tall.

 

[mcgyvr]

Yeah, my rimless frag is 3/8" glass; but it's only 48" long and 12" tall.

yup... 1/2" here for 48" x 16 tall"