Will She Hold?!!!?

[TropicalRyan]

I had bought a used aquarium a little over a year ago. I was just getting into the hobby at the time so I thought, a fish tank is a fish tank. I bought it from a friend who had been using it for a few years- no problems. Now that I am about to redo the design in my planted tank, I started wondering if this tank will hold up longer? I just want to sleep better at night and am wondering if it has the correct strength or I have just been lucky thus far lol. It is a 50 gallon-39.5 inches long X 15 inches wide/deep X 19.5 inches tall (although I usually only fill it to 18.5-19 inches). It is rim less and has no center brace, it is a true rimless tank as the edges are polished glass and beveled- so it was not just de-rimmed. the glass is about 8mm thick (0.314 inches). The seals are really well done- I did inspect these and was really impressed actually. So far no problems and it is not bowing at all. According to some glass calculator this should be okay (but I don't no if those factor in it being rimless).

-Any thoughts, experiences? will she hold?

 

[smitty03281964]

Why now would you be questioning the integrity of the tank.

 

[TropicalRyan]

because like I said when I bought it I didn't know anything about fish tanks, I just thought they were all the same. Now that I am more into the hobby I see how important bracing and glass thickness really is

 

[Gill Blue]

should be fine. I have a 90 that's over 20 years old with a front pane that's 48x20 or 21 inches. my glass is only .25" there is trim around the top, but it's 4 individual pieces.
if you're truly concerned, you might be able to buy a plastic rim with center supports. or if you can't find one that size, a center brace of glass siliconed in can add support.

however, on the off chance it bursts on you, I am not a professional and all information posted here is not to be considered a substitution for a engineers opinion.

 

[TropicalRyan]

thanks Gill Blue, I was just seeing if people thought it would be okay for a few more years, the idea of siliconed glass across as a brace is a good idea, I will keep that in mind if it ever starts bowing, as of right now its still perfect