Glass is bowing . . . is this bad?

[justinx]

Ok, so i bought a cheap glass tank from a small petstore that was going out of business. anyway, it is a 20H tank that has been up and running for about three months. I noticed today that the back panel is bowing out a bit, and i can move it if i push on it. is this a bad thing that requires immediate action (read as excuse to get bigger tank ) Or do you think it will be safe the way that it is. I do not want to come home to a broken tank and soaked carpet full of dead animals.

 

[viper12775]

sorry to tell you if it is bowed and you can move it it will break or leak "get rid of it while theres still time"

 

[krishj39]

Wow, yeah, I'd say it's only a matter of a small amount of time b4 that tank busts at its seems. Get a new tank fast! (consider this your excuse to go by that 90+ gallon you have been dreaming about )

 

[fishtanker]

i agree, a few years ago,i had a 55gal that i just converted to SW. it started to bow and i waited to long and one day when i was looking at the tank, i all the sudden shattered and all the wayter went on the carpet along with the four dams i was cycling with. i guess we learn from experience.

 

[mmslue79]

Just wondering if bowing is only on certain brands of tanks, old tanks, ect... Mine are not bowing, 15 55 AGA. But I did buy a 120 Perfecto and not looking foward to the possiblity of shattering glass, YIKES!

 

[saltywashington]

I have several 10 gallons tht bow all the time and has for as long as I can remember, but I would still go for that 90+ tank it is a great excuse.

 

[surfnturf]

I've seen glass tanks bow over time, it happens, glass is really a supercooled liquid. Glass that bows and can be bent by pushing on it is definitely a cause for concern. Never seen it, hopefully never will. Get rid of the tank and buy a respectable brand next time, AGA is very good. I'm still intrigued by the ability of the tank to respond to your touch, are you sure this isn't acrylic?

 

[starfishjackedme]

A 55 gal is around $90 at petsmart. I say go get one of those badboys!

 

[rsd]

just tap on it in the middle, continuosly, at the same rythm.... you'll have no excuse to buy a new tank . Just joking...kinda. Glass shouldn't bow, viabrations, or any other stress will send it through. I saw a window mounted incorrectly in a door that was bowing... one day I knocked on that door to see if anyone was home and ended up with a face full of glass.
Trash the tank before it trashes your floor.

 

[justinx]

ok well i may have over stated a bit when i say move, it takes a little push (which i have yet to try again) and it only moves aboutan eighth of an inch, if that. and the bow on it is less than a 3 degree arc. I talked with the guy at the lfs and i figured he would for sure try and sell me a tank. But he showed me some of his display tanks and they are bowed more so than mine is, and there is a lot more pressure on his tank than in mine. I also spoke with my physics prof and he said the same thing. with only about 12 to 15 gallons of water, it will not be a problem. So, i guess i am going to stick with what i got because i dont want to move tanks unless its to a bigger tank which i cant get right now. I hope that i dont learn the hard way, and if i do, you can all say i told you so