Tropicalfishkeeping201 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 (edited) Hello guys, I will be purchasing a new tank soon and can't decide if to get a rimmed or rimless tank. Will a rimless tanks last longer than a rimmed tank or is it more prone for these tanks to leak? What are your thoughts on the Ultum Nature Systems (UNS) rimless tanks? I've never owned a rimless tank before but I'm looking for something durable and I wanted to know what are your thoughts on rimless tanks and which do you experienced fish-keepers think is better, rimless or rimmed tanks? Thank you in advance Edited March 16 by Tropicalfishkeeping201 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Burke Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 Don’t own, never have owned, a rimless tank. IMO they are kinda specialty items that present several challenges. If your tank stand is just a little off level, there’s no hiding it. The rim can hide that. If anything hard taps the edge, it could chip. The plastic rim offers protection. But the biggest problem is the cost. Rimless tanks are really expensive. On the plus side, they can be stunning! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllFishNoBrakes Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 I have 2 small rimless tanks, both cube shaped. Both with lids. They’re fine. They serve their purpose for those projects and I got them on sale, but I’m not going out of my way for another one and especially not a bigger one. My 50% off standard tanks are a way better value and I personally like the rim on a standard tank. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knee Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 I've kept medium sized rimless tanks. I had two of them custom made with thicker glass. I made sure that my stand is completely flat and levelled besides that I treated it the same as I would a rimmed tank. I think planted tanks look better rimless and I like the clean look It gives. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropicalfishkeeping201 Posted March 16 Author Share Posted March 16 (edited) Thank you for sharing guys! @Ken Burke, @AllFishNoBrakes, and @knee Edited March 16 by Tropicalfishkeeping201 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lennie Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 On 3/16/2023 at 7:08 AM, knee said: I've kept medium sized rimless tanks. I had two of them custom made with thicker glass. I made sure that my stand is completely flat and levelled besides that I treated it the same as I would a rimmed tank. I think planted tanks look better rimless and I like the clean look It gives. Def agreed. I have one rimmed 29g, and one rimless 50 cube. Now having another rimless 160 Liters tank custom made with a thicker glass. I think they look much better visually, also not dependent on the frame potentially being damaged over time. You just have to make sure to thickness of glass is ideal for the size of the tank. Some are made way too thin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepere Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 Given the price difference between the two, I have a hard time imagining myself ever owning a rimless tank. Having been a boatbuilder with the Mantra in the back of my head that “Silicone makes a better gasket than an adhesive” The idea of depending on silicone as a glue to hold the panels of glass together gives me the willies…. Yes, I acknowledge there are different grades of silicone, and I am sure the ones used to assemble rimless tanks are engineered to be up to the challenge…. I also acknowledge I sleep better with the addition ofthe rims holding things together…. I will admit relying on plastic as a frame involves a whole other leap of faith… 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy's Fish Den Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 I have one rimless tank, a 93 gallon cube. Rimless tank glass is thicker than a rimmed tank the same size so keep that in mind if it's going to be a larger tank. One of the biggest issues I have with mine is that I have fairly hard water, and the mineral deposits along the water line show since there is no rim to hide it like in my rimmed tanks in my fish room. I have to take a razor blade along the water line every couple weeks and scrape the line off. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JettsPapa Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 I've never had a rimless tank, and probably never will. If you have hard water, like mine, it will leave residue at the top of the water. I'm not a fan of continuously scraping that away, so I keep my tanks where the water level is behind the rim and it doesn't show. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 (edited) UNS is a quality product and the low iron glass is beautiful. Look to Europe as rimless is quite popular their. I don't see any more stories of leaking than with rimmed. Probably the opposite honestly. I just bought my first rimless and couldn't be happier. Just buy plenty of Shims and take the time to get it pretty level. An auto leveling mat is needed too. I believe hardware stores sell the same style of foam that many use. Edited March 16 by Mmiller2001 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 I have a UNS 90L (20 gal). The quality is amazing. Glass is thick and clear. I had to custom make a glass lid as it didn’t come with one. Like others have said, it’s hard to hide the calcium buildup. Especially where the sponge filter sprays a fine mist on the lid and edges. But worth the money. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepere Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 (edited) Petco 20 gallon, $27.49. UNSL 90. 20 gallon… $249.99 at an online seller… maybe there are cheaper sources out there…. I understand everybody has different views of what is of value to them and that is fine. I dont know that I could ever feel comfortable with the added cost myself… Having said that, I did spend what felt like an absurd amount of money on a new light for one of my tanks…. Edited March 16 by Pepere 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flumpweesel Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 I have both but I prefer the rimmed for hiding the water line and blocking the glare from the lights. It depends so much on the were you are going to keep the tank and what you are looking for. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet Fish O Mine Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 I have several rimmed tanks over 25 years old, and two stainless steel framed tanks over 50 years old. Never had a leak or blowout. Can rimless tanks be expected to last as long? Probably, but like others I think I would worry more about them. Especially with a really large one. I do admit they can look stunning, and for me cost difference would not be that much concern. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropicalfishkeeping201 Posted March 16 Author Share Posted March 16 Thank you guys for sharing! Really appreciate it! I haven't decided yet on which to pick and how big I want the tank yet but I was leading more towards a rimless tank because I like the look of it. I was thinking of getting a UNS 44 gallon or maybe smaller but I'm going to keep all these things in mind. Thanks again! @Lennie, @Pepere, @Andy's Fish Den, @JettsPapa, @Mmiller2001, @Stef, @Flumpweesel, and @Sweet Fish O Mine. On 3/16/2023 at 5:59 AM, Mmiller2001 said: UNS is a quality product and the low iron glass is beautiful. Look to Europe as rimless is quite popular their. I don't see any more stories of leaking than with rimmed. Probably the opposite honestly. I just bought my first rimless and couldn't be happier. Just buy plenty of Shims and take the time to get it pretty level. An auto leveling mat is needed too. I believe hardware stores sell the same style of foam that many use. This tank is awesome!! Where did you get the stand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 On 3/16/2023 at 12:27 PM, Tropicalfishkeeping201 said: This tank is awesome!! Where did you get the stand? It came with the tank as a package through Innovative Marine (APS stand). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropicalfishkeeping201 Posted March 17 Author Share Posted March 17 On 3/16/2023 at 11:54 AM, Mmiller2001 said: It came with the tank as a package through Innovative Marine (APS stand). Thank you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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