Tank's full to the top of the viewing window, which is as high as I plan on running it. Bowing is unnoticeable visually but my 4' straight edge is showing that there's a very small amount. So far no leaks or signs of water reaching the plywood. I used pool and spa lube on the fittings to seal off the bulkheads without fully seating the pipes so it's easy to remove. It's potable water safe and I already had it because I use it on my pond's primer pot. still need to scrape the glass to get the silicone residue off. then filter, insulation, heat exchanger, water changing system, and lighting.