DIY Zero Edge

Rosseau

Rosseau

New member
Does anybody have the energy/time/skills and tools to do it?


I hope my title is not misleading...

I don't want anyone to build me one, nor am I building one.

Though, I am increasingly liking the look of open top aquariums and the zero edge style is quite appealing. I feel like a DIY "Zero Edge (c)" is do-able.

Any thoughts?
 
In case you are unaware of what I am talking about. . .

http://www.zeroedgeaquarium.com/

256646-0edge1-embed.jpg

http://www.aquarium.org.hk/attach/256646-0edge1-embed.jpg

At or around $2,000 for a nano sized set up, a similar DIY system may be appealing.
 
They are not hard. Probably easier than a regular tank. The problem is once you start adding any size they get expensive due to the thick acrylic.

Don
 
Plus you also have to think how much of a pain in the *** it is to clean the glass, if you have water on both sides ;)
 
^^ what that guy said. One lady local here had one and that's the one thing she hated, twice as much surface she had to clean regularly
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11127144#post11127144 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sfsuphysics
^^ what that guy said. One lady local here had one and that's the one thing she hated, twice as much surface she had to clean regularly
Click to expand...

Yes, but they are so small it cant be that big of deal.

Don
 
Hey Don!

Some of those tanks aren't small though that are available in negative edge. I do see what your saying...but double the amount of that size that you normally clean and your cleaning a lot more algae then you would normally. I mean its a whole nother ball game because now your not just cleaning streaks, salt spray, etc. off the front and sides, your cleaning all of it...I just see it as a pain in the ***. But it does look cool...it really looks cool in swimming pools.
 
I would do one with glass... easier than acrylic. With acrylic that isnt braced, there are extra tricks you have to do to get it to work.
 
Yeah use a thick cell cast to do it with and the bending is not a problem.

hahnmeister,

Glass would be a little tricky to figure out though as well as your either going to have it custom made to fit, or work it yourself...then you have to be sure your thickness can withstand the water pushing out on it, with no braces.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11133141#post11133141 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by timrandlerv10
...snails could clean both sides?

how hard is it to level these things?
Click to expand...

They dont have to be level. The water is actually up welled over the top so there is room to play with. Snails would cause splashing on the exterior water film.

Mine is 3/4 thick about 55 or so gallons. The biggest trick with them is rounding the top edges and having enough return flow to get the water upwelled over the top. If there isnt enough flow to upwell you wont get the full sheeting effect over the sides.

The drains are are also another thing that has to be considered. With a bigger tank you cant use bulkheads or they will slurp. There is to much flow, so the water needs to have very large drain holes. It goes into an overflow box under the tank then to the sump through oversized drain tubes.

Don
 
Would there be issues with the water splashing and making noise as it reacehes the bottom of the glass and enters the tray area?
 
Not if you have thick rounded top edges and enough flow to make the upwell over the top. My understanding is the origonal design did not have round edges and made some noise.

Don
 
You have to get the overflow just right because too much flow I see it being a problem as well and not flowing down the sides...but not enough and you don't have even coverage over the glass/acrylic.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11135298#post11135298 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JaredWaites
You have to get the overflow just right because too much flow I see it being a problem as well and not flowing down the sides...but not enough and you don't have even coverage over the glass/acrylic.
Click to expand...

I see that too.

Some of the DIY'ed ones as posted above do not have 100% glass covered by the overflowing water.

However, the actual Zero Edge tanks seem to have this accomplished.

I wonder how you would be able to allow a the "moat" to fill up a bit without overfilling or underfilling and running dry - really an aesthetic thing.

I guess ball valves or something on the drains could be used to vary the depth of this moat.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11134125#post11134125 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JaredWaites
Yeah use a thick cell cast to do it with and the bending is not a problem.

hahnmeister,

Glass would be a little tricky to figure out though as well as your either going to have it custom made to fit, or work it yourself...then you have to be sure your thickness can withstand the water pushing out on it, with no braces.
Click to expand...


No, there is more to it than just using a thick cell-cast. I have seen 1" cell cast that is only 8" tall bend w/o a euro-brace. Even the thickest acryilic will bend w/o bracing. The trick is that the 0-edge ones are done with a bend already in the acrylic... so they are bent inward slightly and when you fill them, they bow out just right. Otherwise, I dont care what you use... 1" or even thicker... it will eventually warp.

Glass can be easily custom made to fit, and even without trim, you could get away with a fraction of the thickness because glass doesnt warp or bend as easily. For say, 2'x2'x1'h, you would only need 1/4" or 3/8" thick plate glass. You can get this from any plate glass place... usually for alot cheaper than acrylic. And then you can have them give the edges a flat polished edge, rounded edge, you name it. Glass, FWIW, is easier to do 'frameless' than acrylic.

The only disadvantage of glass is that you would have the silicone seams in the corners (unless you had a single piece bent... that would be cool). But it seems that is the main idea with the 0-edge... there are no seams. But with glass... you could 'own it' and just make your seams out of black silicone or something... it would just be different. But loads easier to DIY than acrylic.
 
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