Derimming a low boy

[zdrc]

Could I safely remove the upper rim of a 50 gallon low boy? I believe depth determines pressure so I would think the shallowness of the low boy would mean the tank is unlikely to fail with the upper rim removed?

 

[Jekyl]

Could I safely remove the upper rim of a 50 gallon low boy? I believe depth determines pressure so I would think the shallowness of the low boy would mean the tank is unlikely to fail with the upper rim removed?

Any supports should never be removed from a tank without adding another method. The tanks are built differently that are rimless.

 

[threebuoys]

Any supports should never be removed from a tank without adding another method. The tanks are built differently that are rimless.

I agree, never modify a tank in any way without confirmation from the manufacturer that the changes will not harm structural integrity.

 

[dank reefer]

Those tank use thin glass and even with the rim on you can see the tank bow when its full of water.

 

[TheDragonsReef]

If you remove the trim youd want to add euro bracing. I have one of those lowboys and they are pretty cheaply made with fairly thin glass. Rimless tanks usually go up a size in glass thickness for extra strength.

 

[zdrc]

So it sounds like it's a generally bad idea, at least without reinforcing the tank somehow.

I have a question though. I thought the rim only served to hold the panes of glass together? Therefore, it shouldn't matter how thick the glass is. The problem would have to do with the silicone joints not being strong enough to hold the panes of glass together.

Clearly, the low boy glass is thick enough already because the rimmed tanks don't fail.

Maybe rimless tanks go with thicker glass because they need a larger contact area for the silicone joint?

I could probably come up with some kind of low profile bracing for the tank. Maybe brackets re-infocing the corners or the eurobracing already mentioned.

I could also just go with a rimless tank like the UNS 75S or the 120S.

 

[Jekyl]

Rimmed tanks are made with thinner glass than rimless. The frame prevents bowing which is a tank killer.

 

[zdrc]

Rimmed tanks are made with thinner glass than rimless. The frame prevents bowing which is a tank killer.

I think I see what you're saying now. I think the frame on the side itself does little/nothing to keep the tank from bowing on that side, but the sides parallel to it do support the tank against bowing. Said another way, the short side of the rim actually supports the long side and the long sides of the rim support the short sides. This makes sense because the plastic rim is relatively weak to a transverse load, but strong to a tension load.

I bet rimless tanks run thicker glass partially to increase the surface area in the silicone joint and to reduce bowing. I could see bowing peeling open the silicone joint.

 

[Uncle99]

I would think Zoo-Med designed it that way for a reason.
It’s a low cost tank. No polished edges, that adds to the cost.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Please don't do that...

They are made how they need to be made, to be useable. The low boy already has very thin glass and even with the trim On, they bow Way more than I am comfortable with.

I wouldn't even recommend removing it and installing a full top and bottom euro brace set. The glass is thin and brittle and likely won't even take the removal without damage.