rimless tanks.. "In" now but what's the appeal?

One of the biggest advantages is that they look good without a canopy. Allowing you to more easily allow top down viewing in addition to the angles you already have.

Ultimately like many things it comes down to preference. I personally like the look of them, and don't really like canopy's.
 
It offers a "cleaner", more minimalist look. No bulky canopy and like the above post, it gives you the chance to get a clear top down look. I love the look of a rimless tank but we have cats....I'd never run the risk.
 
I love the clean look. I use to have a tank with the black plastic rim and didn't like it. The one thing i don't like about rimless is the splashing if u aren't careful when u are cleaning the glass. My next tank will b custome with a glass rim
 
Biggest advantage is there isn't a black or horrible oak looking rim around the tank. Plus the tank looks much more modern rimless
 
Purely aesthetic, though functionally inferior.

I agree, while I really do like the "clean" look of my rimless it can be a royal pain with water splashing over the edge at cleaning time. Basically you can count on cleaning and polishing the outside glass every time you scrape/clean the inside glass, and believe me i have tried VERY hard to keep the water inside but it seems to want to go carpet surfing as much as dottybacks...:lolspin:
 
How is it functionally inferior? As long as thicker glass is used, I don't see in what way it is inferior.

Gee, let's see .... splashing, unsightly calcium/salt deposits above nominal water levels, unsatisfactory solutions to prevent fish jumpers, snails crawling up and over the rimless top edge ..... I think anyone who selects a rimless tank does so for the aesthetic and lives with the functional inconveniences. I do have a rimless frag tank, and it's fine. No fish, in the main, to jump; I avoid CUC crawlers, and keep the water level lower than I would normally want in my main display. Wouldn't select a rimless as my main display though.

FWIW, I said 'functionally inferior' not 'structurally inferior'.
 
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I have had every issue Simon just described and like he said these are just issues I have to live with. Given the opportunity I doubt I would go rimless agian.

here is an old pic from 2013

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well said..its all what each of us like..rimless looks the best if you have your tank in your immediate living space,,
After having owned both I would not agree on them being inferior. It is trading one set of limitations for another.
 
I have owned both and I would say the ONLY disadvantages of rimless is the added costs and lower water level. You can keep fish from jumping, get screen netting from BRS. Don't like the black trim holding it together? Have a custom acrylic one made. The ONLY snail I've ever had a problem with are Nerites, and this wasn't even with a rimless tank. And lastly you can create a floating canopy to redirect light down in your aquarium and minimize light spill.

Different strokes for different folks, that's all this boils down to.
 
After having owned both I would not agree on them being inferior.

I've owned both and I would. That's OK though, 'horses for courses' as the old English idiom says. Though I must confess on being unable, of the top of my head, to come up with any way in which a rimmed tank is functionally inferior. Enlightenment is just a post or two away no doubt :)
 
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I thiNk you'd have to be into German cars to understand. :D

I'm in to German cars. I just highly customize my domestics to look as good or better :D

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I've owned both and I would. That's OK though, 'horses for courses' as the old English idiom says. Though I must confess on being unable, of the top of my head, to come up with any way in which a rimmed tank is functionally inferior. Enlightenment is just a post or two away no doubt :)

I did not say a rimmed tank was inferior, but that a rimless tank was not. Like lots of thing in this hobby, they have their place and set of operational conditions that make them different, but not necessarily better or worse.
 
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