Aquarium Bowing

[cbianco]

The front glass panel on my aquarium is bowing.

When you take a straight edge to the front glass panel, there is about 1mm of play.

It is only a 30 gallon, should this be happening?

[sharkboy]

don't think so...is the tank stand level? how long has this been setup?

[cbianco]

don't think so...is the tank stand level? how long has this been setup?

The stand is level and flat. Just set up my tank this morning.

[sharkboy]

got any pics?

[cbianco]

got any pics?

My cell phone cam won't focus on such a shot. No camera besides the phone.

I searched on the net and apparently bowing is not an uncommon event. I going to keep a watchful eye on the aquarium.

[NateDogg]

I had a 29g acrylic that bowed more than that... never had a problem, but it was nerve wracking!

[MKCindy]

Yep, my 40 gallon acrylic has a definite bow in back. I try not to look at it and put minimal weight on it.

[Bill S]

1 mm? Not 1 cm? 1 mm is no big deal. Remember, glass is actually a liquid...

[cbianco]

1 mm? Not 1 cm? 1 mm is no big deal. Remember, glass is actually a liquid...

A liquid, holding a liquid. :hypnotyized: A bit redundant.

I believe you bill but I'm going to have to look that up. You got me curious now. :)

Christopher

[MattK]

Glass is considered a liquid, fact.

[brewercm]

1 mm? Not 1 cm? 1 mm is no big deal. Remember, glass is actually a liquid...

Very true.
If you check the thickness of glass on a very old building that's windows have been there for quite a while the glass pane will be thicker at the bottom than on top. Over many, many years this will continue to happen.

[Bill S]

You know, I started this... But, it appears as though the "glass is a liquid" MAY be an Urban Legend... I got to thinking about my OP on this, and then remember hearing somewhere that it might not be true, so I did some searching:

Scientists aren't in agreement on this, BUT:

Most agree that glass is actually an amorphous solid, rather than a liquid and,

There is a belief that the reason why old glass is thicker on the bottom is that glass making was very imperfect, and the heavier end (thicker end) was installed on the bottom because the panes were more stable that way...

Oh well!

[MattK]

I can agree with glass being an amorphous solid, that is a solid that does not have a crystalline structure. Only recently have they added the two subclasses of solids, amorphous and crystalline. Prior to this glass could not be considered a solid because it didn't and a definite shape with a crystalline structure.

[QuickSilver525]

thats crazy :) lol havent really payed attention to that but my next tank i will once its fully setup thanks for the info