questions for those with rimless tanks

Joe parrish · Dec 3, 2015

So I am in the market for a tank, I have always had regular reef tank with the trim.

I really like the look of the rimless tanks but I have a few questions

1. Do you have any issues with fish jumping out?

2. Do you have a lot more humidity in your house with it being open?

3. Do you have any other issues or anything else I should know about rimless?

wpeterson · Dec 3, 2015

Whether you run a rimless tank or not, you want to have a cover on your tank: either a canopy, glass covers, or mesh lids.

I'm a big fan of running mesh lids that allow gas exchange with the surface of your tank but keep fish and inverts inside. Unless you put something covering your tank you will have fish and other critters escape and probably die.

I had a small rimless tank for a year that I found frustrating, because it was much easier to splash and make a mess any time I had my hands in the tank. Additionally, there would be salt creep and other mess on the top part of the glass that required constant cleaning. Rimless tanks also have to be much thicker to make up for the weaker structure. However, most folks seem to prefer them.

JOKER · Dec 3, 2015

1. Fish can jump out of any tank, but I would say it would be easier on a rimless.
2. I run all my tanks open top with BRS netting so not sure on that one but im sure humidity will be higher with open top compared to glass lids.
3. You will get some water line marks around the top from time to time which is easily cleaned up, also water splashes out easier.
I only have a rimless frag tank ATM but have a shallow 140 7' rimless on the way soon.

steve&mari · Dec 3, 2015

Love our rimless salt creep hasn't been a issue. Waterline to clean now n then and normal glass cleaning. I also believe all tanks should have a mesh top. Made ours for under 15 bucks and looks great. Also the starfire glass is crisp for viewing. Looking at a 135 rimless now actually lol.

Joe parrish · Dec 3, 2015

steve&mari said:
Love our rimless salt creep hasn't been a issue. Waterline to clean now n then and normal glass cleaning. I also believe all tanks should have a mesh top. Made ours for under 15 bucks and looks great. Also the starfire glass is crisp for viewing. Looking at a 135 rimless now actually lol.

Do you have a picture of the mesh top by chance

kschweer · Dec 3, 2015

I love my rimless. Can't say I have had issues with salt creep. It is easier to splash water out of the tank during maintenance but you get used to it pretty quickly. Here's a picture of my mesh top.

Jimbo · Dec 3, 2015

I made a similar mesh top like yours. Mines just sitting on top, are those clips I see on the sides to hold it on? If so what did you use?

kschweer · Dec 3, 2015

Jimbo said:
I made a similar mesh top like yours. Mines just sitting on top, are those clips I see on the sides to hold it on? If so what did you use?

I cut some strips out of some scrap acrylic I had laying around and glued them to the frame of the top. The top sits inside the glass and the acrylic tabs hold it in place

rickybrooks05 · Dec 3, 2015

I we have a 60 cube rimless. I would do a mesh top, I've lost a few fire fish from not having a top... No issues with salt creep. You will see a water line, but I use my mag float to clean it up.

Joe parrish · Dec 3, 2015

thanks

steve&mari · Dec 4, 2015

Our top is exactly like kschweer has.

Chrisfish · Dec 4, 2015

kschweer said:
I love my rimless. Can't say I have had issues with salt creep. It is easier to splash water out of the tank during maintenance but you get used to it pretty quickly. Here's a picture of my mesh top.

Really nice tank, is it a AIO? How many gallons?

kschweer · Dec 4, 2015

Chrisfish said:
Really nice tank, is it a AIO? How many gallons?

Thanks man! It's a 57g rimless 36"x18"x21"

Paranoiattack91 · Dec 4, 2015

In my 50 gallon rimless I lost a few fish due to jumping. My 120 that I have now looks rimless but has a glass euro brace. No jumpers so far (knock on wood)

Saltwaterwill · Dec 4, 2015

Sorry to hijack, how about drilling a rimless for overflows, any issues?

Waters · Dec 4, 2015

My 105 is rimless and topless....no issues so far going on almost 7 months. I am sure there is more humidity in the room but nothing that I notice. I guess the only drawback I have had so far are snails climbing out of the tank....sometimes several feet away on the carpet

ss95003 · Dec 4, 2015

If I didn't have wrasses I wouldn't have a cover. My cover is also a screen from BRS. I know any fish can jump but a lot of jumping happens when a fish is bullying another, so if you chose fish wisely I do not think a cover is a must. I would never run glass covers so evaporation is the same with or with out rim imo. I also do not have any salt creep issues. like other stated you do need to clean your water line but if you stay on top of your normal glass cleaning is nothing more then running your cleaner slowly at the water line. I personally have never had a snail climb out.

echopiece · Dec 4, 2015

Like others have said, yes fish will jump no matter what kind of tank but might be more prevalent in a rimless. I built a BRS top on my previous tank but I felt it was too small of a mesh (1/4"). I went with a 1/2" bird netting on my new tank and I like it a whole lot better.