How dangerous is bowing?
- Thread starter echoofformless
- Start date
:nilly: Don't want you to panic but unless it was a bow front by design, I'd be concerned. Stress, fatigue then failure. "T"
It's normal.
I had the same question awhile ago. Mine was bowing in the center by a 1/4 inch total when filled. It was a used, older tank, so I was concerned.
Had gotten replies on another forum from other 29 gallon owners that have bowing also (for years) with no problems.
I also called Aqueon (formerly AGA) and they told me it is normal too. And 29 gallon tanks do not have a center brace.
Hope that eases your mind.
My only issue with new Aqueon tanks is that the two I had looked at had issues. One the glass panels were totally misaligned and they just packed in globs of silicone and the other had the lousiest silicone work done- formed major air bubbles when filled. Sloppy work.
Think I'll hold tight onto my old AGA tanks!
I had the same question awhile ago. Mine was bowing in the center by a 1/4 inch total when filled. It was a used, older tank, so I was concerned.
Had gotten replies on another forum from other 29 gallon owners that have bowing also (for years) with no problems.
I also called Aqueon (formerly AGA) and they told me it is normal too. And 29 gallon tanks do not have a center brace.
Hope that eases your mind.
My only issue with new Aqueon tanks is that the two I had looked at had issues. One the glass panels were totally misaligned and they just packed in globs of silicone and the other had the lousiest silicone work done- formed major air bubbles when filled. Sloppy work.
Think I'll hold tight onto my old AGA tanks!
Do not center brace tank yet. If it is 29G G (30 x 12) which has plastic frame/rim on top and bottom, I would suggest to contact manufacturer as other members have mentioned and go from there.
Unless defective tank, center bracing may caused further stress by counteracting normal properties of galss container filled with fluid. If center brace is needed, I would assume both top and bottom should have them.
Check the bottom. Is there center brace on the bottom of the tank?
Probably not if it common 29G I am used.
If mfr suggest that such bowing is not normal, i am sure they will replace the tank for you.
By trying to mess with with original structural supports, you may end up causing crack and your warantee may be voided.
As far as to determine the amt of bowing, you can hold tight string form right corner edge to left corner edge tightly which will show the bowing. The distance form string to edge of rim is the measurement. You should do it both front and back. This will tell you if both front glass and backglass are bowing equally.
You should submit the measurements to mfr and follow thier recoomendation(s) and/or instruction(s).
Hope it is nothing!
Unless defective tank, center bracing may caused further stress by counteracting normal properties of galss container filled with fluid. If center brace is needed, I would assume both top and bottom should have them.
Check the bottom. Is there center brace on the bottom of the tank?
Probably not if it common 29G I am used.
If mfr suggest that such bowing is not normal, i am sure they will replace the tank for you.
By trying to mess with with original structural supports, you may end up causing crack and your warantee may be voided.
As far as to determine the amt of bowing, you can hold tight string form right corner edge to left corner edge tightly which will show the bowing. The distance form string to edge of rim is the measurement. You should do it both front and back. This will tell you if both front glass and backglass are bowing equally.
You should submit the measurements to mfr and follow thier recoomendation(s) and/or instruction(s).
Hope it is nothing!
1/4" of bowing on a short tank is a lot more than 1/4" of bowing on a long tank...
ya'll get what im saying cuase I had a lot of trouble wording that out right
*also the center brace on my 55g is missing so i added a metal brace in the middle but i kinda over compensated by about 1/8in... is that dangerous??
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8883/photo103u.jpg
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/1238/photo104yi.jpg
*just checked with the string trick, I have between 1/8 to 1/4 bowing outward... im good, right?
ya'll get what im saying cuase I had a lot of trouble wording that out right
*also the center brace on my 55g is missing so i added a metal brace in the middle but i kinda over compensated by about 1/8in... is that dangerous??
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8883/photo103u.jpg
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/1238/photo104yi.jpg
*just checked with the string trick, I have between 1/8 to 1/4 bowing outward... im good, right?
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All tanks bow to a degree but we seldom notice unless it is just way out. Glass is isn't quite as rigid as people assume and does flex some with tempered glass able to flex far more. A bow of 1/5 of an inch is is fine albeit an obscure measurement that isn't used. For those that don't know what a 29 gallon tank is, it has no center brace. A 29 has an approximate measurements of 30.25 x 12.5 x 18.75 (measured on the exterior of the tank) where a 30 gallon is 36.25 x 12.5/8 x 16.75 = longer and shorter than a 29 which is why it is often braced in the center. (Bracing allows for use of thinner glass which will bow more without bracing). I have 4 - 29 gallon tanks and they all bow slightly.
An alternate way to check for bowing is to use a true straight edge. Hold firm to glass on one end of tank and keeping it level slide down the glass until the far end has the greatest gap. Measure that gap. Do that 3 times and average it out (it should be the same all 3 times).
An alternate way to check for bowing is to use a true straight edge. Hold firm to glass on one end of tank and keeping it level slide down the glass until the far end has the greatest gap. Measure that gap. Do that 3 times and average it out (it should be the same all 3 times).
