ADVICE needed on BIG tank

ricwilli

ricwilli

Member
Do you foresee a problem with a 96x31.5x24.5 in, 3/4 glass rimless tank? There will be no bracing nor eurobrace whats so ever.
 
8 feet is a pretty long run of glass without center support. No scientific calculation here, but I would expect some deflection at the middle and with 3/4 glass that sight would scare even me a bit. I'd brace it, but again, I can't back that up with anything more than gut feel.
 
72x30x24 3/4" rimless is already pushing it. Definitely no on a 8ft tank. You wont find a builder that would do it on a complete rimless tank.
 
The glass could be strengthened if it was tempered. But I don't know if that would be enough. If the front and back glass were laminated 1.5" thick that would do it $$$
 
I'd go 1" if not more for an 8 foot tank. I'd be constantly worrying about the glass breaking and that's no fun. Not to say it's not doable but really...I'd sweat buckets.
 
I wouldn't use it and I'm not particularly cautious.
Slap a single brace across the middle and it'd be just fine.
 
my friend welded this for his brothers 300g. they took out centerbrace and put in the welded center brace. the tank still has the eurobrace though.

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I know someone who had a similar brace welded up for an oceanic 210 that lost its' center glass brace. Works well and isn't very unsightly at all. Not sure of what geaux's is made of, but my buddy had his powdercoated. Worked rather well I have to say.
 
If you are really concerned I would put in a center brace. If you construct the center brace out of 3/4 glass it is going to need to be fairly wide inorder to provide enough surface area for the silicone. Alternatively you could double up the brace and keep it narrower. The metal one is pretty clean looking and you probably don't need it that wide and with 3 cross braces. I am not a fan of euro bracing on the top but it is functional. Also, if you are planning on any type of fish cover plan for it while you still have all of your options open.
John
 
doubleohwhat said:
Hmm, seeing this has me worried now. I've got a 94"(L) x 23"(W) x 16"(H) tall tank on order that is completely rimless :/
Click to expand...

What is the thickness or who is the builder? The fact that it is only 16" high is a big factor and counts more toward how thick the glass has to be than the length. It is probably 3/4".
John
 
doubleohwhat said:
Hmm, seeing this has me worried now. I've got a 94"(L) x 23"(W) x 16"(H) tall tank on order that is completely rimless :/
Click to expand...

I'll just agree here that you should be OK given the water line should be something even shallower than 16". You should have a contract or some sort of proposal as to what the tank will be made of. I'm gonna hope it's 3/4".

1/2" rimless at that length would even have me a bit weak in the knees. I think the stress at the middle of that tank would leave it a bit more vulnerable to damage from being hit by something inadvertently. What I'm talking about here is someone walking by the tank with a drill in hand, or a ladder being moved around the room in front of the tank, etc.

1/2" or 3/4" you should always be "on guard" for the possibility that tank would be struck, even lightly, at some mid-point in its' length.
 
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