[p.lewis]

I bought a used 6 foot long 90 gallon tank that one of the previous owners removed the rim from. The last owner kept turtles in it (low water level I assume) and he said the guy before him had it as a reef tank full of water without a rim. Well, this last owner also said it was a 125 gallon, and that was wrong, and that's enough to make me skeptical.

So, I'm keeping Rainbowfish in this 90 gallon hoss and will have a canopy and some kind of lid on it since they jump anyway, but I'm not sure if I should go to great lengths to buy and install a new plastic rim, add DIY Euro-bracing, or just use the canopy as a brace (the easiest, I think).

What are your thoughts? I searched the forum and couldn't find anybody talking about de-rimming a 6 foot 90 gallon tank.

I'll start a tank journal soon with a stand/canopy build as well as my setup and aquascaping.

 

[tuffgong]

Have you leak tested it? If not you need to fill it up completely and see how much, if any, bowing on the front and back panes. I would also let it sit, filled, for at least a couple of days. I'm not gonna lie, I'd be scared to put that thing anywhere but the garage, where 90g of water on the floor isn't going to be a big deal.

Against all of the advice I received on this forum, I de-rimmed a brand new 20g long a couple of years ago and the front and back panes bowed slightly. Never had any problems, but it was definitely a concern.

Good Luck!

 

[p.lewis]

Actually, it is in the garage until I do a leak check (with some temporary bracing/clamps added). I kinda already expect to need to touch up the silicone. I think I'm just as scared as anybody of a catastrophic fish tank failure, but it will be down in the basement if it holds.

We'll see! Cross my fingers! Get busy aquascaping, or get busy selling your equipment!

 

[Freemananana]

I'd go with a few glass braces across the top. The center euro brace and maybe one on each end. Definitely measure deflection AS you fill it up. No point in filling it to the rim if it is bowing at half filled. Would I trust it? Probably not. I'm a huge advocate of rims. Without a rim, you rely on the silicone. Silicone is strong but you rely on how well it sticks to the glass and you really need a wider surface area since you don't have a rim (for more contact/adhesion). I'd definitely get to bracing it. Shoot, maybe 5 braces would make me feel safe. Since they are glass, it won't take away from the look or lighting. Simple, cheap, insurance.