Glass tank building, PLEASE advise.

[Mikeeal]

Hey now. I've built a few glass tanks in my time, but they were smaller. (20-40 gallons) I've recently gotten the opportunity to get some glass sheets at cost. I'm gonna put together a tank with the dimensions of 96"L X 48" W X 24" H. My calculations come up with 478 gallons. Here's the kicker, 1/2" is three times the cost of 3/8" Would anyone feel comfortable building a tank of this size with 3/8" glass? I understand that for the most part the heighth is what dictates the glass thickness, but...I don't know. Here's what Garf has to say:

Tank Information:
Material = Glass
Tank Height = 24"
Tank Width = 48"
Tank Length = 96 "
Glass Thickness = 3/8"
Approximate Gallons = 479

Cut List:
Bottom = 95 1/4 " x 47 1/4"
Front = 96 " x 24"
Back = 96 " x 24"
2 Sides = 24 " x 47 1/4"
Top Front/Back brace = 95 1/4 " x 2"
Top Sides brace = 47 1/4 " x 2"

Additional Materials
1. Tube of aquarium grade silicone
2. Tape or clamps for holding the peices in place
3. Solvent for clean up.
4. Rags/Paper towels for clean up.
5. 1/4 inch wooden dowels.

6. Big Cahones, or lots of stupidity.

I added #6 to the list. I plan on bracing the hell out of the top, actually gonna double up on them most likely. I can also brace the bottom like Glasscages does if that would help at all. I'll float the bottom pane like Garf suggests, plus all the tanks I've seen are built this way. This project is going to happen, I just need any advice, opinions, experience, etc. that anyone can add. Thanks for helping out.

 

[reeffer1]

So is it big cahones or lots of stupidity?? I wish I had the space and time to do it!!!

 

[GARFVolunteer]

I would go with 1/2" on the bottom glass due to the large area and the amount of weight it could be expected to hold.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[Mikeeal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6931021#post6931021 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GARFVolunteer
I would go with 1/2" on the bottom glass due to the large area and the amount of weight it could be expected to hold.

Thanks,

Scott

How about two sheets of 3/8" slapped together? I can get THREE sheets of 3/8" for the price of one 1/2".

 

[windsor-aquatic]

I would recommend using 3/8in. glass with a double thickness for the base, BUT you would need to brace the tank around the top inside perimiter and also put cross braces running front to back ( I think you refer to this as eurobracing?).

 

[L8ndeb]

I would look at this site. BTW, isn't the extra expense worth a little peace of mind?

http://www.thekrib.com/TankHardware/glass-thickness.html

 

[Mikeeal]

Thank you for the replies. I will post back with updates on construction.

 

[REEFKEEPA]

Thats a lot of volume for 3/8 glass. I am also aware of the height specs. Just because the science says it's o.k. I would be sceptical.
If something bumps the glass wouldnt you feel better if it was thicker?

 

[jman77]

That's one big tank. Have you ever built your own glass tank before? If so, you have some big *** cahones.

Man 479 gallons is a heck of alot of water if you know what i mean.

 

[Mikeeal]

I know, I know. I'm leaning towards 1/2" myself. I mean, I'm still gonna be saving probably a grand, or more, which I can use for other things. I'm actually starting to research plans on "plywood" tanks now, so we'll see what happens. If I go that route, I'll go with a 30" depth with a 1/2" front pane, and I could also go 72" wide instead of 48" like I originally planned. An 8' X 6' footprint, nice!

jman, nice avatar. That is one sick lookin pup.

 

[rdavis289]

Just wondering if you have started on the build yet?

 

[Mikeeal]

No, we haven't gotten started yet. I've been talking to the guy I get my glass from, and we've decided on 1/2". But, last night he came into my work and said they got extra sheets of 3/8", so we'll probably build a 4'X4'X2' first and see how that goes.