480g tank construction

[Mr31415]

** Sorry for the double post but I was not sure where I'd get better help - here or DIY **

I have a glass aquarium (non-hardened glass) 2.7m long, 0.85m front
to back and 0.8m high. Its side panels are all 12mm glass, and the
bottom panel was 2 x 10mm sheets double based - the bottom one 2.7m
long and the one on top of it placed in strips of approx. 400mm wide,
tightly packed.

The stand is a square tubing metal stand, supporting the tank on all
4 sides with a polystyrene cushion between the tank and metal stand.

The bottom of the tank broke - a crack from left to right through the
whole length of the 2.7m. This happened 2 days after filling it.

My questions are:

1) Is the 12mm side panels (the tank is braced) good enough?
2) Is the 2 x 10mm bottom panel good enough assuming it is not
supported in the center, only the sides?
3) Would one 19mm bottom panel be stronger than 2 x 10mm double based
panels?
4) What is the right glass thickness to use for a tank such as this?

I'd really appreciate it is someone could make the time to help me out.

 

[Mr31415]

anyone?

 

[Poita]

My new tank is going to be similar dimensions, but not quite as long, and I was told it had to be 15mm sides and base if thats any help

 

[X men]

That is a big aquarium... and i fear that there are some flaws... when i compare this aquarium to others that are smaller, i think it needs to be supported on the hole lenght, by means of a plywood. Not just supported on the 4 sides. And 12 mm for an aquarium this size ? 80 cm of hight is big, very big. In this case : why dont you go for 19 mm side pannels, preferably have them heat-hardened. Sure it will cost, but it will be safe.

 

[Mr31415]

The tank stand's braces look as follow (square tubing indicated):

As you can see, it is supported on all four sides as well as the two center braces.

 

[Mr31415]

PS: The LFS assures me they have built many larger aquariums (4m long x 1.2m high x 1.2m wide) using only 3 x 10mm bases on top of each other, and 12mm side walls.

They do not want to be convinced that 19mm is needed.

I even had another LFS (not the one who built that tank originally for me) stating that a single 12mm base would be more than sufficient.

Yet when I read about 3.8 safety factors and using online calculators I get a minimum side wall thickness of 19mm and bottom thickness of 27mm - assuming the base is only supported on the edges as is in my case.

So I am confused!