Is 96"×36”×36” rimless possible?

[osi]

Planning to build 96"×36"Ã—36" rimless tank using 19mm (3/4") tempered glass. I want to know is this possible to build as rimless?

Or i can go with 96"×36"Ã—30" if that's what it takes to make it rimless.

I been told Tempered glass is 6 times stronger than normal glass.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[bullitr]

Tempered glass have a tint on it right?

 

[osi]

no it looks 100% similar to normal glass. No tint.

 

[CuzzA]

I'm not a glass tank building expert so I could be wrong, but I don't think the tempering has as much to do with it to a degree. What's important is does a 3/4" thickness provide enough surface area for the silicone seam to safely hold the pressure at 36" high. That is the question and it would likely be better to ask an experienced tank building company than here on RC. Unless of course you get replies from experienced tank builders.

I will say the thought of tempered glass scares me and a lot of large tank builders do not temper the glass, instead they calculate the correct safety factor and match it with the proper thickness of glass. Of course rimless brings in a whole different level that I'm not experienced enough with to offer much insight. But if for whatever reason the glass were to fail, as I'm sure you know, it fails much differently for tempered glass and the thought of a tank this size exploding would always be in the back of my head, instead of a non tempered tank where a failure is typically just a crack or seam separation where you may have enough time to limit the damage.

 

[dave.m]

Yes, tempered glass is naturally tinted a slight green, same as regular glass. That is why people pay extra to get low-iron glass. But low-iron glass is not as strong as regular tempered glass. You cannot drill tempered glass. I have had a 36" tall tank in 1/2" low-iron glass, but it had euro-bracing at both top and bottom. I do not trust rimless.

Dave.M

 

[CuzzA]

I'm pretty confident that low iron glass being weaker or scratching easier is a myth. This info is available on the net.

 

[dazza0685]

I have a 96 x 36 x 18 rimless in 19mm low iron. Im sure you could go to 24" high with no issues but much more would be pushing it imo.

 

[dazza0685]

Also tempered glass isn't really ideal and don't think it would solve the problem that you would have with 36" deep. As mentioned above the rimless design relies on the silicone seam of the sides and the bottom, i don't think the 19mm would hold up personally.

 

[ClearwaterUK]

I recently started a 1400 x 1000 x 785 mm tank 55 x 39 x 31 "deep

having originally wanted a 1 meter cube 39"

the costs were escalating due to the 39" height, in the end I did a one piece brace in 15" glass 5/8th

it's the depth that determines the glass thickness

for extra strength you could look at laminated glass, if cost is no object this allows drilling etc

 

[dave.m]

Careful with the word "depth". Americans use it when they mean "width". Best to use the word "tall" or "height" to reduce ambiguity.

The height of the tank determines how much pressure is put on the bottom seams due to the way water displaces itself. This is what determines how thick the glass needs to be. Some brands of low-iron glass like Starphire only go up to 3/4" thickness so when you go for a really tall tank that needs very thick glass they have to laminate/bond pieces of glass together in a kiln. Not a lot of glass/tank companies can do lamination so the cost starts to escalate quickly the taller the tank gets.

Also the weight of very tall glass starts to get formidable, as well. Look for local suppliers as shipping costs will get prohibitive with distance. When the prices get this high they start to compare with the cost of acrylic. The acrylic weighs much less than the glass and is much clearer. It's worth shopping around and getting many quotes when you are looking to get a custom tank built.

Dave.M

 

[ClearwaterUK]

Tanks Dave.m two cultures separated by a common language I did mean tall

My tank ended up at 220 Kg 484 Lbs

 

[hobbzz]

I'm pretty confident that low iron glass being weaker or scratching easier is a myth. This info is available on the net.

Most people that have had low iron tanks would disagree, like myself. Nothing beats experience.

 

[skanderson]

im with the above poster on the scratchability of low iron glass. I have 2 large low iron tanks and both scratch far easier than any regular glass tank I have had. I would never trust a 36 inch deep rimless tank. I have also broken, although exploded would be a more accurate description of the event piece of 4 foot by 6 foot by 1/4 inch tempered glass by walking into it with my forehead. there were glass pieces 20 to 30 feet in all directions afterward. keep us posted on what you decide I would find it interesting.

 

[CuzzA]

A couple years ago I assembled a brand new lanai table and chair set I just purchased from Home Depot. Of course after completing the job I poured myself a nice adult beverage in a glass, took a seat in my new chair and set the glass on the brand new table only to have the tempered table explode sending a billion pieces of glass everywhere on my pavers. Needless to say I wasn't happy. Having experienced that makes me cringe at the idea of having a tank filled with 300 some odd gallons of water explode in my house.

As far as low iron glass not being weaker or not easier to scratch is just what I was told by every tank builder I got a quote from... All of them said the same thing. But I don't have personal experience.