Is my aquarium safe from strong flow

[Phlynamjax]

Hello,

I am new to the forum and here is my first question. I have 70g rimless cube and I am running 2 x vortech mp40. The power heads are placed in the back of the aquarium and shooting flow directly to the front glass. The width of the tank is 24 inches. I am amazed how the glass and silicone is withhelding this strong flow. I like to make my flow stronger. However, I am concerned that the glass or silicone joint will break due to the strong water presssure. Is this safe ?

Thanks!

 

[EriksOasis]

I don’t believe that would be an issue I have never heard of powerhead creating so much flow it damaged a tank.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Only thing to note is some powerheads recommend checking with aquarium manufacturers about using a high powered pulse mode.

 

[Swoody]

Caveman is correct, I am pretty certain that in the MP40 manual it mentions the possibility of damage from excessive pressures caused by certain wave pattern....also it says this in my Gyre manual as well. It may be worth checking into further. My MP40qd is directed lengthwise opposite a Jebao Rw8 and my Gyre is set in a split mode whereas it flows along the back of my rock work and at an angle towards the front in my eurobraced 135g. I am wary of placing them in a pattern that produces a pronounced wave motion as that is alot of pressure working against the seams.

 

[Jim Heenan]

I love the look of rimless glass tanks, but I'd be too nervous to own one.

 

[Mandelstam]

If it's safe or not is not really possible to say without knowing the thickness of the glass. The thickness dictates both how rigid the glass is but also the width of the silicone joint and the strength of the seam. My guess is that it's safe but if it's built with no safety margin in terms of glass thickness maybe there's a risk. But I've never heard of an aquarium failing due to too high flow.

 

[reefwiser]

You don't want to get a standing wave pattern going in your tank it looks cool but will stress the seams of the tank.

 

[Phlynamjax]

The glass is 10mm think. I am more concerned about the silicone joint. Do you guys have any recommended way of determining how much wave is safe?

 

[reefwiser]

That is the issue the water will loosen the joint of the panels.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/too-much-flow-for-acropora.325146/

 

[NY_Caveman]

The best way is to contact the aquarium manufacturer and ask them. They should be able to tell you the pressure it can withstand. They might give PSI though, so you may have to work with them and be very detailed in the pumps, modes and percentages you use. Perhaps rimless and curved tanks may have more risk?

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I was at a LFS and he had an insane flow coming from a return pump that had a large whirlpool within the tank, yeah that tank failed at the seems.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Wow. With gyres, wavemakers and some crazy SPS tanks at 100x flow we certainly are testing the limits these days.

I just preordered the IceCap Gyre 2k for my JBJ Rimless 30. I plan on only using it in constant speed mode to break it in, then alternating gyre mode after. No crazy pulsing or standing waves.