Why does a rimless tank need full bottom support?

[BZOFIQ]

.... Very large (large for glass that is) aquariums will sometimes have double thick bottoms. This is for two reasons - flexion and addional support.

...

I've seen manufacturers in Europe also split the bottom to allow it to "work"

 

[Hydrored]

Let’s ask @Joe Glass Cages for his input

 

[Joe Glass Cages]

Let’s ask @Joe Glass Cages for his input

Wow... Lots going on here.

Lets pretend for a second. Lets pretend you had a 144 x 49 x 36 tall glass tank with euro-bracing (see picture), would you only support this tank on the perimeter? I so no, you want the entire bottom of this tank supported level with an aquarium grade pad. Some tanks can be supported on on the perimeter and most of them are a smaller footprint. On this topic, its best to follow the manufactures requirements for their aquarium. Builders build different and have different requirements.

Rimless vs Rimmed. Typically a rimless glass tank is made with thicker glass because there is not a rim to help with the structure. The thicker glass will offset not having a rim. We always us an interior bottom brace on all rimless and rimmed tanks. This allows for more glass surface area for the silicone.

True the height determines the pressure and thickness of the glass. Total weight will also have an impact on the tank build and how it is supported. The tank I used in the pretend above (144 x 60 x 36 Tall) would have just under 10,000 lbs of water weight (tank in picture has a double 3/4" glass bottom with 1" perimeter). So this build would need to hand the vertical pressure and the bottom must support the weight.

 

[kirehajba]

Glass aquariums, both rimmed and rimless do not need full bottom supports PROVIDED the stand is 1) level, and 2) it is flat and 3) the seams are properly joined. Water pressure increases with the height of the aquarium and not so much with the width. Rimmed aquariums are usually constructed with thinner glass than comparable rimless and the rim provides structural integrity. Very large (large for glass that is) aquariums will sometimes have double thick bottoms. This is for two reasons - flexion and addional support.

Some companies provide a cushion with their setups. This is usually for making up for slight variations of the stand surface. The reason for their stands having solid tops is for practical design considerations. Flat full top stands are easier for retail customers to assemble.

We produce both acrylic and glass aquariums and recommend solid surface stands for all aquariums. Our aluminum profile stands provide plenty of support for glass aquariums but a solid top surface is better yet.

Hi Tenecor Aquariums! Thank you for your reply..
I just got delivered an aquarium with dimensions 160x60(h)x70 cm, but one of the long sides is "hanging" (please see photo bellow), so it's not touching the support. The aquarium is flat laying on a support mat.
Is this safe to use or there is a risk of failure?

 

[kirehajba]

Glass aquariums, both rimmed and rimless do not need full bottom supports PROVIDED the stand is 1) level, and 2) it is flat and 3) the seams are properly joined. Water pressure increases with the height of the aquarium and not so much with the width. Rimmed aquariums are usually constructed with thinner glass than comparable rimless and the rim provides structural integrity. Very large (large for glass that is) aquariums will sometimes have double thick bottoms. This is for two reasons - flexion and addional support.

Some companies provide a cushion with their setups. This is usually for making up for slight variations of the stand surface. The reason for their stands having solid tops is for practical design considerations. Flat full top stands are easier for retail customers to assemble.

We produce both acrylic and glass aquariums and recommend solid surface stands for all aquariums. Our aluminum profile stands provide plenty of support for glass aquariums but a solid top surface is better yet.

Thank you for this info!
I just received my new aquarium with dimensions 160x60(h)x70 cm, however, one of the long sides is hanging and not touching the bottom
The aquarium is leveled on a mat, but not sure if this is a risk?
please see the photo attached

 

[BZOFIQ]

Thank you for this info!
I just received my new aquarium with dimensions 160x60(h)x70 cm, however, one of the long sides is hanging and not touching the bottom
The aquarium is leveled on a mat, but not sure if this is a risk?
please see the photo attached

Probably not a risk but rather poor craftsmanship / attention to detail on the manufacturer's part.

 

[piranhaman00]

Thank you for this info!
I just received my new aquarium with dimensions 160x60(h)x70 cm, however, one of the long sides is hanging and not touching the bottom
The aquarium is leveled on a mat, but not sure if this is a risk?
please see the photo attached

Yikes I do not like that at all

 

[Bpb]

As mentioned above, elos tanks are rimless and the stands aren’t flat top. The one elos tank I’ve seen locally doesn’t even provide full support (there is not top brace along the front, the doors open and close directly under the front glass about 1/4 cm gap is present). The support is a U shape. Granted the bottom isn’t a single pane. It’s a double pane with a grid work of rubber spacers. Not sure but that must provide some kind of structural integrity. They’re higher end tanks with a good track record so it obviously works. For my rimless tank I was paranoid and used a foam pad on a 3/4” plywood top

 

[Sumpleton]

True rimless
Sides do not sit on bottom panel
Only has edge support