Anyone with tank building experience here?

[Robgixxer]

I've been out of the hobby for about 10 years. I have the itch again. Was thinking about building my own tank. Looking to be in the 250-280 gallon range. 72" long, 36" high, and 24" deep is the maximum size I have room for. Everything that I can find tells me thickness and how to put it together with bracing the top, etc. My question is what should my bottom panel be so I can drill for overflows as tempered will shatter. Just want to make sure that the bottom will be a strong enough glass. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[mcgyvr]

Dont use tempered glass if you want to drill it..
Non-tempered float glass is what you would use..

 

[Robgixxer]

thank you. i just wanted to be sure.

 

[asudavew]

Buy a tank instead.

 

[jdstank]

Just thought Rob, but I’d look into doing a bean animal overflow rather than drilling the bottom. Still have to drill but it’s not the bottom and you’ll have a much better designed overflow system. Best of luck in that venture, those are seriously heavy glass panels you’ll be dealing with.

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

You can buy that size tank standard.. no need to build it

 

[Robgixxer]

You can buy that size tank standard.. no need to build it

I haven't seen that height standard. Everything that I saw was shallower. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough.

 

[Robgixxer]

Just thought Rob, but I'd look into doing a bean animal overflow rather than drilling the bottom. Still have to drill but it's not the bottom and you'll have a much better designed overflow system. Best of luck in that venture, those are seriously heavy glass panels you'll be dealing with.

Thanks for the advice. I will look into it. 2 of the panels are to be starphire. Front and one end.

 

[lifeoffaith]

I'd build a plywood tank if I were you. You can still do 2 or 3 panels of glass and much easier to customize the size and such without sinking thousands into glass.

 

[JTL]

I have built a few tanks over the years but none larger than 100g. My advice is don't start out with something as large as you are contemplating. Working with glass that size is not for amateurs.

 

[oreo57]

you can play w/ these. No guarantees..
http://www.garf.org/tank/BuildTank.asp
https://www.easycalculation.com/measurement/aquarium-glass-thickness-calculator.php


https://www.livingreefs.com/threads/glass-thickness-calculators.21048/
Of course recommended glass thickness w/ a reasonable safety figure (4) is 22.6mm
Half way between 3/4 and 1" ...

bottom should be 1"

https://www.livingreefs.com/attachments/revised-thickness-calculator-zip.3396/

 

[geekengineer]

I'd build a plywood tank if I were you. You can still do 2 or 3 panels of glass and much easier to customize the size and such without sinking thousands into glass.

Yeah I was curious if people make plywood tanks for saltwater reefs? Wasn't sure if there was issues with the saltwater and the waterproofing.

I tried to make a 120 fresh tank ages ago with plywood. I gave up on it because I tried to do something to make it waterproof that was unconventional and didn't work out too well. lol Then I decided I went way overboard anyways.

 

[Jamsoury]

Buy a tank instead.

This!

 

[lifeoffaith]

Yeah I was curious if people make plywood tanks for saltwater reefs? Wasn't sure if there was issues with the saltwater and the waterproofing.

I tried to make a 120 fresh tank ages ago with plywood. I gave up on it because I tried to do something to make it waterproof that was unconventional and didn't work out too well. lol Then I decided I went way overboard anyways.

There are many here who have had saltwater plywood tanks running for a long time. I still haven't taken the plunge, but have thought about it many times.

 

[lapin]

I've been out of the hobby for about 10 years. I have the itch again. Was thinking about building my own tank. Looking to be in the 250-280 gallon range. 72" long, 36" high, and 24" deep is the maximum size I have room for. Everything that I can find tells me thickness and how to put it together with bracing the top, etc. My question is what should my bottom panel be so I can drill for overflows as tempered will shatter. Just want to make sure that the bottom will be a strong enough glass. Thanks in advance for any input.

As said above; 1 inch should be ok for the bottom.
I too am questioning the drilling of the bottom for an overflow. Maybe you dont have room or its not in the design for an external overflow box. In my mind if a bulkhead leak should happen, bottom holes will drain the whole tank.
Is it your first time at building a glass tank?
Like stated above these panels will be heavy. You will need help. It will also be difficult to get and keep them in position while siliconing the seams. Low iron glass will scratch so be very careful.

 

[JTL]

As said above; 1 inch should be ok for the bottom.
I too am questioning the drilling of the bottom for an overflow. Maybe you dont have room or its not in the design for an external overflow box. In my mind if a bulkhead leak should happen, bottom holes will drain the whole tank.
Is it your first time at building a glass tank?
Like stated above these panels will be heavy. You will need help. It will also be difficult to get and keep them in position while siliconing the seams. Low iron glass will scratch so be very careful.

A tank that size is just way to difficult for an amateur to build. Even if he gets it together my guess is it will not be a pretty sight. Glass is not cheap, in fact it is downright expensive paying retail for pieces that size and thickness.

A drilled bottom should have a overflow box running from the bottom of the tank to the top. If it is made of glass and sealed on the sides and bottom the only water that could leak to the sump is the small amount contained in the sealed box. It is also nice that if a leak should develop in a bulkhead it will drip into the sump. Getting the tank closer to the wall be eliminating the pipes on the back of the dt is also nice. I have had both and really don't have a favorite.