Which is a better aquarium design, or it doesn't matter?

**balefire** · 10th May 2014, 17:07

Hi,
I have seen aquarium design whereby the bottom glass is recess into the 4 side glass.

I have also seen the 4 side glass sitting on top of the bottom glass.

Any idea which design is better?

Regards

**Urban Aquaria** · 10th May 2014, 19:22

So far, i've only ever seen glass tanks made with the first designed you mentioned... never with the second design.

I guess aesthetically the first design is better as the bottom silicone join seam isn't exposed when viewed from the front, so you'll just see a single flat glass panel.

**tetrakid** · 10th May 2014, 20:20

Originally Posted by Urban Aquaria

So far, i've only ever seen glass tanks made with the first designed you mentioned... never with the second design.

I guess aesthetically the first design is better as the bottom silicone join seam isn't exposed when viewed from the front, so you'll just see a single flat glass panel.

I don't know much about mechanical or structural engineering, but I would reckon that the four sides sitting on top of the bottom piece would be more able to bear the outward force exerted by the water column, as the force on the silicone would be sideways rather than directly against the adhesion of the silicone material, as in the case of the other design.

**Darick** · 10th May 2014, 20:43

Originally Posted by tetrakid

I don't know much about mechanical or structural engineering, but I would reckon that the four sides sitting on top of the bottom piece would be more able to bear the outward force exerted by the water column, as the force on the silicone would be sideways rather than directly against the adhesion of the silicone material, as in the case of the other design.

Hm... interesting. My leak tank is 1st design. My slim GEX 45cm is 1st design. The new tank that I've bought to replace my leak tank is also 1st design.

I don't remember coming across 2nd design but probably I wasn't paying enough attention on this aspect. I wonder which is stronger or are they both the same?

**tetrakid** · 10th May 2014, 21:55

Originally Posted by Darick

Hm... interesting. My leak tank is 1st design. My slim GEX 45cm is 1st design. The new tank that I've bought to replace my leak tank is also 1st design.

I don't remember coming across 2nd design but probably I wasn't paying enough attention on this aspect. I wonder which is stronger or are they both the same?

If the stationary water column has the same characteristics or properties of a solid rectangular block, then I suppose there's no force acting on the glass panels, and so it should make no difference how the glass walls are configured. But that is provided the water column is the same as a solid block, I'm not sure about that.

**balefire** · 10th May 2014, 22:10

Recently i just purchase a new tank and it looks like this.

**tetrakid** · 10th May 2014, 22:50

Looks like an interesting tank, especially the metal part at the bottom. I am hoping one day they will come out with a tank which incorporates a fitting metal or fibreglass draining tray at the bottom to contain water leaks when it happens.

**Urban Aquaria** · 10th May 2014, 23:42

Originally Posted by tetrakid

Looks like an interesting tank, especially the metal part at the bottom. I am hoping one day they will come out with a tank which incorporates a fitting metal or fibreglass draining tray at the bottom to contain water leaks when it happens.

I guess those vintage/antique fish tanks have their advantages... full metal frames all round!

Source: http://reefbuilders.com/2014/02/10/z...uarium-museum/

**balefire** · 11th May 2014, 00:25

Originally Posted by tetrakid

Looks like an interesting tank, especially the metal part at the bottom. I am hoping one day they will come out with a tank which incorporates a fitting metal or fibreglass draining tray at the bottom to contain water leaks when it happens.

There is no metal part. Its just 4 side sitting on the bottom glass. I didn't notice it until I took it home and it look different from my other tank.

**Urban Aquaria** · 11th May 2014, 01:10

Originally Posted by balefire

There is no metal part. Its just 4 side sitting on the bottom glass. I didn't notice it until I took it home and it look different from my other tank.

That's indeed a rare tank design... i guess both designs work, just depends on the tank maker.

In your particular tank the bottom silicone seams can be seen all around the tank, so the tank maker has to make the seams very smooth or his workmanship quality will be very noticeable, that might be a reason why its not such a common design.

In the first design, all the bottom seams are hidden, so even if got thicker or excess messy silicone, its not as noticeable after adding substrate anyways, that could be why its more common.