Glass thickness check

[Curtispants]

This isn't a DIY, but I saw a similar thread regarding glass thickness so I thought I'd try here.

I'm looking at a glass starfire tank that is 24x24x20 and is rimless. I have the option of getting the 50 gallon tank for $550 with 8mm thickness or $700 for 10mm thickness. Is the 2mm thickness worth $150? I've never owned a rimless tank so I'm not sure. What's the standard thickness for a 2'x2' tank that's 20" tall?

Thanks!

 

[uncleof6]

Yep. Clear and concise, no ambiguity.

 

[Curtispants]

Why? What's the reasoning behind the 2mm being worth the extra loot?

Thanks!

 

[uncleof6]

It is called engineering (safety factor.) A rimless of those dimensions requires 10.28mm (and a 15mm bottom panel) glass or else it will bow too much, so technically it should be 12mm sides. As I said, it is pretty clear and concise. Aside from that, 8mm glass is very uncommon, and the proposed builder is trying to pawn it off on an unsuspecting someone, at a discount price, by using it to build a sub-standard tank. Hooah...

 

[Curtispants]

On Sales and Marketing: If it sounds too good to be true, trust and believe-- it ain't.

 

[dattack]

8mm seems very thin for a rimless tank. Usually what I have seen with 20" height rimless tanks are near 1/2" thick glass.

 

[sfsuphysics]

Another thing to consider whether or not you want the expense of thicker glass is whether or not you really want a rimless tank. A rimless tank can be nice, but it's really meant to be viewed from above as well as the sides. I've seen too many rimless tanks with either a canopy, or a light fixture that's so large that it really doesn't justify why the expense of a rimless tank was done.