need help DIY

[Kelly68]

I just bought a tank that was homemade. It is made well. 3/8" thickness glass....dimensions are 5 ft by 23 7/8 by 23 7/8. So almost 5 x 2 x 2. It has no trim or center brace. It was set up for fish. So apparently there is no need for a center brace...even though I don't like that idea.

My husband can make me trim for the tank and a stand...possibly a canopy. Won't the wood kill the fish or the stain or whatever the wood gets treated with bad for the tank?

Any ideas would be wonderful. Do you think we should make shift a brace?

Thanks for any help and replies.

Kelly

 

[scooters reef]

I'd sure sleep better if braced!!!

As for wood finishes, you should have nothing to worry about after it has cured, if sticking with polyurathane for the top finish. If you were planning something else, may want to look around.

 

[Kelly68]

so you do think that a pc of glass cut to size and siliconed on top would do for a brace in the center? I am not sure how to go about doing this. But I know if 55's bow out when their plastic brace breaks...even though this is thicker glass I would feel better too if I could make one.

 

[papagimp]

I just recently purchased a 150g tank, 5ft x 2ft x 2ft, sounds the same as the one you got, only mine has a 6 inch wide brace across the top, it's just a piece of glass cut to size and siliconed on top. I probably wouldn't have purchased this large of a tank without that brace, no matter how thick the glass was. 150g across the carpet is not my idea of a fun afternoon spent cleaning.

 

[Kelly68]

I am glad I am not the only one with this fear. I was wondering too...if i just wanted to trim out the tank what is the best way to do it? You know how tanks have the black or wood trim?? That is plastic though. My husband is worried that if he puts the trim all the way to the top and water splashes on it and runs into the tank that I just poisoned everthing. Is there a way to make something that is safe if that is all that I can do with it at the present moment?

 

[scooters reef]

I'm not sure on the "how" to get it braced. If others don't have ideas, Jason will be back from vacation soon and is likely to know (or at least have some fancy way to make it work).

For trim, I don't know if I can find it again but saw one tank manufacturer that would make just the trim custom to fit a DIY tank. Otherwise, if braced and the canopy is built to cover the edges I wouldn't worry about trim unless it was a part of the bracing.

For the wood, if you stick with poly I don't think you have anything to worry about. Once cured it is nothing but plastic either, basically. It's only harmfull when wet due to the other chemicals/solvents that are gone once it's cured.

 

[scooters reef]

Without KNOWING it's safe for sure, I'd go with a piece siliconed in the center at least. Also, since any canopy would have to rest on the top, another piece on either end. Then, make the canopy with a lip hanging around the edges to account for the trim as well.

 

[yaitisme]

Angled (90 degree) aluminum? Pretty cheap (menards has 1/16 x 3/4 x 8 foot pieces for under $8.00) and when painted black will look just like the plastic stuff.

As for as a top brace, the european style of tank brace/trim looks nice and clean.

just my 2.5 cents

 

[Kelly68]

the european style of tank brace/trim ????? Maybe I would know it if I saw it. I was thinking about checking out Menards and seeing what they would have. Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

 

[yaitisme]

Now that I am looking for a good pic of a euro top brace, i can't find one.

"Euro Bracing â€"œ Euro bracing is an approx. 3” wide strip of glass that runs all around the perimeter of the tank. It gives you complete & free access to the inside of your tank without any cross braces. This is also a favored option for those optimizing on the light penetration into their tank. This bracing can also be polished for a very refined look. In very large tank applications, euro bracing is tempered."

There is a crappy pic here:

http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/eurobracing-29500.html

 

[jmkarcz]

Not sure if Tempering is requires Scott.... I would pay the extra few $ though for 1/2 thick glass... if your a quality oriented and over-build it kinda gal (or guy for Scott). DON'T use acrylic to glass with silicone to save money! if you have to ask why, sell your tank, house and car, and move to a place where you pay people to take care of you.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c205/jmkarcz/IMG_5823.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>
END BRACE EURO CORNER

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c205/jmkarcz/IMG_5824.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>
CENTER BRACE EURO

ALSO SEEN HERE...
http://www.glasscages.com/prodpics/4528_acrylicaqeurobraced.jpg

OR Check out the Acrylic tanks area of... GlassCages.com

Euros are most common on accrilic tanks, and large glass tanks... and DIY tanks. It's very effective... and you can have these cut from "seconds" glass or not so perfect glass to save a bundle... it's gonna get scratched anyway. You dont need to double lap everything either... and on a tank that size I' d go for strips like 2" wide on the long sides and the short sides so... 2 pieces 2"x5'x 3/8" or better... and 2 pieces 2" x 231/2"x 3/8" or better. and then I'd do like a 3" or 3 1/2" center brace. Makes a great place to set rocks or tools while workin in the tank... you will need to install these BEFORE water goes into the tank as you want them installed prior to the panes being under pressure.

At least thats the way I understand it.

Hope that Helps.

And Yes... after it is installed, a nice wood trim could be installed, and finished. I would use a stain or finish that will stand up to the water and lights (if hot) I would proly check out the diy area...for stain recommendations... I am about to build a light hood and I will be inthe same boat to.

 

[Kelly68]

Thanks guys. A lot of useful information.

 

[yaitisme]

My clipboard was full (of sh!t) as I failed to quote the Euro bracing. That description came from here:
http://www.aquariumillusions.com/customaquariums.htm#BRACING STYLE

They build-um, I just admire um. Could be like you said though JM, scraps that fit the need.

Speaking of acrylic though, what about using strips of acrylic (maybe 1" sides and 3" top glued/welded into a 90 degree angle) to build a clear frame with one or two cross members that fits tightly over the top edge of the empty tank, that holds the tanks top edges from bowing out, with a little bead of aquarium safe silicon to prevent water from sneaking over the lip (holy run-on sentence batman!). Sorta a hybrid plain-old top support/euro brace? Definitely fits the DIY spirit or originally.

 

[jmkarcz]

Yep.

But acrylic? only on an acrylic... not glass. I will NEVER trust acrylic siliconed to glass.

and Yep, I think that its up to you in you want it inside the tank, or on top of the top edge... my 300 is on top. as you can see by the photo.

J