glass thickness check.

[simo2004]

Hi. Just want to check on what size glass you would use on this size tank ?

Tank size is 1000mm x 527 x 700mm ( L X W X H )



How think for braceless and how think with braces all round and double base ?

Cheers
Ian

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

that is over 2' high, you will likely need 15mm glass rimless and 12mm glass fully braced..i didn't run a calculator, just going on tanks i have had and seen.

 

[simo2004]

OK thanks for your info here people assuming the hight is the issue !!

how about if i turn it on its side so 527mm high or 21 inch high ?

 

[hijinks]

Height is the biggest issue with how thick glass has to be

 

[simo2004]

great think ill switch it then

 

[uncleof6]

Hi. Just want to check on what size glass you would use on this size tank ?

Tank size is 1000mm x 527 x 700mm ( L X W X H )



How think for braceless and how think with braces all round and double base ?

Cheers
Ian

Both height and length are important when figuring glass thickness, as well as the exact type of silicone used, and the skill of the builder. However, the calculators only figure the glass thickenss end of things, and they are usually wrong.

At these dimensions, for a rimless 19mm glass, 1" bottom panel.

For a rimmed tank (full metal rims top and bottom--what online calculators all assume) 13mm. (12mm would be ok in this case.)

For a eurobraced tank, assuming it is built the right way, 15mm glass.

Turned on its side, as you suggested, 15mm glass for a rimless, with 19mm bottom panel.

 

[simo2004]

Thanks for the info there ill do it the new dimensions with 12mm

ive done bigger tanks with thinner glass and been on but just want this to be perfect

 

[simo2004]

am i right in thinking there should be a 2mm gap for silicone between glass panels

i did 2mm as the glass has a tolerance of 1mm



Also i seen on some tank builds they put spacers under the panel to create a gap with the bottom piece of glass so the weight of the glass doesn't push all the silicon out of the joint... is that needed on this size ?


cheers

ian

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

the silicone between panels should be 1/16", which is less then 2mm, but not by much…as for the spacers if you are putting the sides on top of the bottom then you should keep it spaced somehow..

 

[uncleof6]

If you put the sides around the bottom (a better construction method) there is no need for spacers. Spacers (that I have used in the past,) I have made on the fly. I don't recommend using spacers, if it can be avoided.

 

[simo2004]

If you put the sides around the bottom (a better construction method) there is no need for spacers. Spacers (that I have used in the past,) I have made on the fly. I don't recommend using spacers, if it can be avoided.

i didnt know you could do it that way


every tank i have seen all the glass panels sat on top of the base glass

ian

 

[uncleof6]

Well that is one way to do things. Most "production" tanks, if you take the rims off, have the sides on top of the bottom as well.

What makes strength for the seams, is the width of the seam. Either way works. However, you can get a wider seam with sides around the bottom than you can with sides on top of the bottom, because you should be using a thicker bottom panel. Either way though, you should have an internal bottom euro brace if going rimless. It is a fine technical point.