bow in acrylic tank. should I worry?

ljuhl · 02-25-2005, 08:41 AM

I've just noticed that my tank bows in both of the front and back walls. It is a 125G - 1/2" thick all around acrylic tank dimension 72 x 18 x 24. Is this normal for the acrylic tank or is it something tgat I have to worry about?

traip93 · 02-25-2005, 12:24 PM

what type of bracing do you have on the top? Where did you purcahse the tank from?

ljuhl · 02-25-2005, 01:12 PM

The top is a solid sheet of 1/2" acrylic with just 2 openings cut. I bought it from a local fish store in Cleveland. It's been 2 years so I can't remember exactly where.

MyReef · 02-25-2005, 02:28 PM

How much does it bow? We try making tanks that bow less than 1/8"....we aim for zero bow.... 1/2" should be thick enough for that tank, if the top opening are not too large.

ljuhl · 02-25-2005, 02:56 PM

Andy,
My estimate is about 3/8 to half of an inch. The openings are not that large. The narrowest edge of the top is at least 3" - 4". What you have to do when you build the tank to reduce the bowing?

MyReef · 02-25-2005, 03:03 PM

Are you sure the material is 1/2"? That is a lot of bow...I had a 60x24x24 tank from Tenecor years ago that was made out of 3/8" and it didn't bow that much....

We don't do anything different...we put euro braced tops on them...

I built my 36x36x22 tank out of 1/2" with a 1" euro braced lip and it doesn't bow at all either.

ljuhl · 02-25-2005, 03:20 PM

I am pretty sure it is 1/2" thick. The tank was built, well, like a tank. Anyway, you guys make me really worry now. When I asked the question, I was expecting somebody to say 'don't worry, it is normal for an crylic tank to bow'. But, I guess I'll have to start hiding money from my wife now.

MyReef · 02-25-2005, 03:44 PM

Sorry...it is normal for most mfg to make them bow slightly...it is just our goal to have them not bow...

If the tank is 2 years old, I am assuming it has bowed from the beginning...if so, then I am sure it is fine.