Question about Rimless Tanks

[.Zion]

Hi All,

I am trying to understand a concept but I'm struggling with it. It is a very simple question but I am currently unable to see any logical answer to it. Why have a rimless tank?

I have 2 tanks one is 60l which has a open feed hole running at 25.5c and another tank which is 120l which is fully covered and running at 27.5c. Despite being half the size and running at a lower temperature I have more evaporation on the smaller tank due to the feed hole.

So clearly a rimless tank is going to sustain significantly more evaporation loss and so this leads to my question why are marine tanks generally rimless? Is this specifically an aesthetic reason or is there a scientific explanation which I have some how over looked?

Regards,

Zion

 

[Gonebad395]

Clean lines all for looks

 

[James M]

It’s also very sleek compared to a rimmed tank

 

[SPR1968]

I agree with what’s been said, I think they look sleek and modern and I certainly prefer the look but that just a personal preference

 

[lbacha]

Looks are the main reason

You don’t get views like this if you have a rim on the tank and since this is in my living room I want it to look good

That being said if I had a fish room I would probably just use rimmed glass tanks as you can get away with thinner glass and they are easier to cover if you want to do that

 

[malacoda]

Rimless = purely for aesthetics.

 

[ca1ore]

Marine tanks are NOT generally rimless. Above a certain size, rimless become impractical so I’d wager the vast majority above 60 gallons are trimmed. Even below that it’s almost certainly a minority. Probably a sizable percentage of frag tanks are rimless though. Aesthetics as noted already, but they’re also more practical for frags. One you find it necessary to use a screen top, the appeal of rimless is mostly moot IMO.

 

[lbacha]

The other reason rimmed/framed tanks are more common is they are cheaper to build. You can use much thinner glass and the bottom doesn’t need to be fully supported like a rim less tank does

Euro bracing is another option for providing the strength of a frame without the loss of aesthetics

 

[davocean]

I agree eurobrace is a great option, and my personal preference, though rimless do have a sexy sleek look, euro is close enough for me and has some advantages.

 

[MikeyD1182]

Not to hijack the thread with my own question but while we are on the rimless tank subject, how does a big rimless tank stay together 40+ gallons stay together with no trim or center brace over an extended period of time??

 

[ca1ore]

Haha, definitional ‘soup’. Eurobraced lacks trim in most cases, but not really rimless. I agree that EB is a good way to go.

 

[ca1ore]

Not to hijack the thread with my own question but while we are on the rimless tank subject, how does a big rimless tank stay together 40+ gallons stay together with no trim or center brace over an extended period of time??

Glass is thicker to withstand deflection.

 

[MikeyD1182]

Thats quite the beautiful tank @ca1ore

 

[Travis Stewart]

Looks are the main reason

You don’t get views like this if you have a rim on the tank and since this is in my living room I want it to look good

That being said if I had a fish room I would probably just use rimmed glass tanks as you can get away with thinner glass and they are easier to cover if you want to do that

What size are those?

 

[DaneGer21]

My Eurobraced 60x36x24! Looks just as good, and is way cheaper to build because thinner glass can be used. Win/Win

 

[DivingTheWorld]

I have a rimless tank because IMO it looks nicer. It was also 25% less custom made than the same size eurobraced. Being able to look down into a tank with nothing over it is like looking into a tidepool, it's awesome! It's also far easier to reach into for maintenance and there is nothing to block or deflect any light penetration. Drawbacks can be water splashing out or fish jumping. I have a 2" height above the waterline so I don't really have an issue with either. I don't mind the evaporation because I'd have the same with a rimmed/eurobraced tank unless I sealed the top for some odd reason.

 

[biecacka]

I went with acrylic Eurobracing on my tank. 48/48/24. Close enough to rimless and as others have stated, it is far cheaper. Love the look!

Corey

 

[lbacha]

What size are those?

The smaller one is 8 gallons and the larger is a IM 25g lagoon black

Here is the build thread
Lbacha’s 25g Lagoon & 8g Peninsula
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?sh...5g-Lagoon-&-8g-Peninsula.515788/&share_type=t

 

[Travis Stewart]

The smaller one is 8 gallons and the larger is a IM 25g lagoon black

Here is the build thread
Lbacha’s 25g Lagoon & 8g Peninsula
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?share_fid=1020&share_tid=515788&url=https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Lbacha’s-25g-Lagoon-&-8g-Peninsula.515788/&share_type=t

Did you build the 8 gallon? I want one!

 

[lbacha]

Did you build the 8 gallon? I want one!

It’s an aqua lab aquariums 60s which is the same as a aqua design Amano 60f

The dimensions at 23.5” x 11.8” x 7” tall