Rimless Aquarium Club

[Mike de Leon]

It's been a while since my last update, here is
7 month update of my 128g rimless

Nice job here. Gorgeous tank!

 

[Kamisxy]

going rimless on a tank of 500g is gonna be EXPENSIVE cause it is gonna require some seriously thick glass!!!! there are a few 300+g tank build threads floating around in the DIY forum & those are made out of 3/4" braced plywood w/ 3/4" front glass panels....take away that top bracing (especially if you go over 18" tall) & you have some serious forces being put on not only the glass but the seams as well. the only way to overcome it is w/ very thick glass.....my uneducated guess would be (depending on dimensions) that you'd be looking at 1-1.5" thick glass at minimum

thanks James just wanted an idea of if it could be done or not..but iam just hoping even with that thickness the starfire will be as equally as clear?

 

[Altikesimoglu]

Thank you d2mini, customdusty, Mike de Leon.
No, I dont have a build thread. The tank is custom build here in Istanbul.
Customdusty, your tanks seems so neat, clean and very impressive.

 

[strendo]

Here's an updated shot of mine (I ordered a rimless but they put a little bit of glass bracing around the edges)
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YMTfD0mjLFcx_A8uozn3JQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NPIRWKuZUJQ/Syei3Z4EJ-I/AAAAAAAADm8/4IGFJvlncLw/s800/IMG_3241.jpg" /></a>

 

[kc350twin]

Strendo- Whats you dimensions and bulb choice? That tank is sweet.... Love it...

Do you have a build thread?

 

[Rickyrooz1]

Here's an updated shot of mine (I ordered a rimless but they put a little bit of glass bracing around the edges)
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YMTfD0mjLFcx_A8uozn3JQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NPIRWKuZUJQ/Syei3Z4EJ-I/AAAAAAAADm8/4IGFJvlncLw/s800/IMG_3241.jpg" /></a>

Do you have a tank thread?

 

[juldelf]

beautiful tanks !!!

 

[james3370]

thanks James just wanted an idea of if it could be done or not..but iam just hoping even with that thickness the starfire will be as equally as clear?

it will actually be MORE noticably clearer going starfire on thicker glas, but i'm unsure what it'll cost...or if you can even get it in those large thickness. glasscages sells it & the biggest they list is 3/4" & it is remarkably higher in price vs. regular glass ($21sqft vs $32sqft).

the largest rimless tank glasscages lists on their site is a 240 (48x48x24)...but they might be able to custom a bigger

you can clearly see the difference in starfire & std glass in THIS picture

 

[customdusty]

My only knock on the starphire glass is that it is very soft in comparison to regular glass. You must treat it more like acrylic, it scratches very easily.

 

[Kamisxy]

it will actually be MORE noticably clearer going starfire on thicker glas, but i'm unsure what it'll cost...or if you can even get it in those large thickness. glasscages sells it & the biggest they list is 3/4" & it is remarkably higher in price vs. regular glass ($21sqft vs $32sqft).

the largest rimless tank glasscages lists on their site is a 240 (48x48x24)...but they might be able to custom a bigger

you can clearly see the difference in starfire & std glass in THIS picture

GOT IT! THANKS a BUNCH! but i was just wondering...why is thicker starfire more clearer?

 

[BFG]

Looks similar in thickness to me, just that the starphire is slanting more than the normal glass.

 

[KMP]

hey guys - quick question. from your experience, how low from the top edge of the tank should the water line be? 1 - 1 1/2" or more?

 

[james3370]

GOT IT! THANKS a BUNCH! but i was just wondering...why is thicker starfire more clearer?

because starfire is low iron. the iron content is what makes the greenish color of the regular glass.....thicker glass just amplifies/compounds this greenish hue. hence it is less noticible on thinner glass

so in reality, a 3/8" or 1/2" regular & starfire tank might only have a slight variation in greenish hue between them, but a 5/8" or 3/4" thick tank the difference will be quite more noticible

it is also considerably more noticible when you mix a starfire front & regular sides & only compounds when the tank has thicker glass....the greenish hue of the sides will "bleed over" into the starfire front. the front will be clearer than a regular glass front, but will be even clearer if the sides are starfire as well. having the tank in-wall will cut this a bit since there will be less light coming thru the std glass to transmit the greenish hue

me personally, if i was doing an in-wall tank, i'd only do the front in starfire & paint or vinyl cover the sides. if it was where it could be viewed thru the sides, i'd starfire all 3 sides

 

[james3370]

hey guys - quick question. from your experience, how low from the top edge of the tank should the water line be? 1 - 1 1/2" or more?

i'd say it depends on what "type" of flow you have.....if you are using a wavebox or vortechs that will give some form of a wave action you obviously want the level lower

it you are using powerheads that cause alot of cavitation to the water surface, you want to take that into account as well

another thing some don't think about......when the power goes out & the tank drains down, once the power comes back on, if you have a very powerful return pump, it can actually pump water back to the tank faster than the overflow(s) can keep up with until it all "settles in" so keep that in mind if you try & run the water level very close to the top

 

[KMP]

good info - thank you!

 

[james3370]

good info - thank you!

you're welcome.....i actually had the last point i mention happen to me on a biocube 8 of all things LOL

i kept the rear return chamber level above the recommended to help combat evaporation. i turned the pump off (non-oem....much faster flow) to do something & when i turned it back on the display tank filled up REAL FAST & i looked like :eek2: before the rear chambers caught up :lol:

 

[altezza]

i have a question..i want to build a tank 72 x 30 x 20 with 1/2" regular glass with eurobracing..will this hold?

 

[Kamisxy]

because starfire is low iron. the iron content is what makes the greenish color of the regular glass.....thicker glass just amplifies/compounds this greenish hue. hence it is less noticible on thinner glass

so in reality, a 3/8" or 1/2" regular & starfire tank might only have a slight variation in greenish hue between them, but a 5/8" or 3/4" thick tank the difference will be quite more noticible

it is also considerably more noticible when you mix a starfire front & regular sides & only compounds when the tank has thicker glass....the greenish hue of the sides will "bleed over" into the starfire front. the front will be clearer than a regular glass front, but will be even clearer if the sides are starfire as well. having the tank in-wall will cut this a bit since there will be less light coming thru the std glass to transmit the greenish hue

me personally, if i was doing an in-wall tank, i'd only do the front in starfire & paint or vinyl cover the sides. if it was where it could be viewed thru the sides, i'd starfire all 3 sides

Cool thanks..iam tryin to do a cube...starfire

 

[FranktheTankTx]

Alright guys!! I just had to join the club, but manufacturers were too pricey so I'm building my own. I'm almost done with the silicone - can't wait to get water in it!

Decided to change my plans a little since I was quoted very affordable prices on cut glass.

Here's the details:

Rimless no bracing
Tank Dimensions: 72"x36"x24"
3 sides Starphire
Glass Thickness 1/4"

Water goes in it tonight!!

 

[customdusty]

Alright guys!! I just had to join the club, but manufacturers were too pricey so I'm building my own. I'm almost done with the silicone - can't wait to get water in it!

Decided to change my plans a little since I was quoted very affordable prices on cut glass.

Here's the details:

Rimless no bracing
Tank Dimensions: 72"x36"x24"
3 sides Starphire
Glass Thickness 1/4"

Water goes in it tonight!!

Is the 1/4" glass thickness a typo? If it isn't, you are nuts to even consider putting water in a tank that size with 1/4" glass, especially without bracing!