How dangerous is bowing?

[echoofformless]

I noticed my 29g is bowing a slight bit - it's about a year and a half old.

Is this normal, and should be concerned?

 

[coach_z]

More info would be great about this issue:

how far is it bowing?
does the tank have a center brace? is the center brace cracked?
how thick is the glass?
What brand tank?

 

[echoofformless]

Bowing about 1/5 of an inch.
No center brace.
Not sure of glass thickness - it's an Aqueon/All Glass tank.

 

[The Zigman]

1/5" ?

Some bowing is normal, but excessive bowing is a sign of disaster.
Have you noticed this before?

My 125 has no center brace, is made from 1/2" glass (weighs 27,542# BTW) and bows about 1/4" I am not really worried. It was made with no center brace but I have reinforced it with a canopy I designed to limit the bowing somewhat.

 

[echoofformless]

I only noticed it because I was fiddling around with the lights. How much is excessive?

 

[bushwhacker]

honestly i wouldnt trust any amount of bowing, it stresses the glass and the seams i'd drain the tank down halfway and silicone a brace across the top to hold it ... now i'm and old glass man a nd carpenter thats built a few tanks. but i've gotten cautious in my old age LOL

 

[jmhart]

honestly i wouldnt trust any amount of bowing, it stresses the glass and the seams i'd drain the tank down halfway and silicone a brace across the top to hold it ... now i'm and old glass man a nd carpenter thats built a few tanks. but i've gotten cautious in my old age LOL

Some bowing is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about, but emphasis on the some.

Did it originally have a center brace, as in, did you or a previous owner remove it? 1/5" is probably fine...it's the 1/4" and up bow that you want to watch out for.

I'm assuming it's bowing more than it used to....or do you think you're just noticing it more? Most manufacturers offer a 5 year warranty these days. If it's really only 1.5 years old, and it's bowing to a point you're concerned about, email the manufacturer.

 

[RodInCALIFORNIA]

yes i would call the company to start with.

 

[echoofformless]

I didn't know they made 29g tanks with center bracing. I've never seen that before.


Bushwacker - could you tell me how to do this bracing thing? I'm ridiculously unhandy and lacking any knowledge in such pursuits.

 

[echoofformless]

Also, what is the most accurate way to get an exact measurement of how much the thing is bowing?