Glass Thickness Guide

[headlessblade]

hey guys I am glad i saw this thread...

I recently bought a 220 gallon fish tank USED. I measured the glass and it is made of 5/8" thickness glass, 72"Lx24"Wx30"H, I have no clue if the bottom panel is tampered(no stickers) it is floating style, but I do know that the 4vertical panels are non tampered, because they are chipped on the bottom edge.

When I bought the tank it came with only a TOP plastic frame No bottom plastic frame this is how it got chips on the bottom (it still holds water). The center brace made from 5/8"glass about 12"Lx24"W was unglued. I will attach a picture.

I called all-glass/aqueon and perfecto/marineland... they all make there 210 out of 1/2" glass but there tanks have 2/3 center braces with the plastic frame, so I cannot get a frame for it, ill have to make my own.

1) I would like to know if this tank can be ran without any plastic frames(rimless/frameless)? OR do i need to find a plastic frame(top and bottom) for it?
2) Do I need to attach the center brace to prevent bowing?

you can see the silicone where the brace was attached.

 

[salty joe]

with tempered glass sometimes the strength is increased by 5 times sumtimes strength isnt increased, so by all means use tempered just dont really on it being stronger.

It is my understanding that tempered glass will withstand about 4 times the load of regular glass, but I don't pretend to know that for a fact.

Are there different types of tempered glass? I have heard of toughened glass. Is that different than tempered? Any drawbacks to using tempered? BTW, I'll be using low iron glass.

 

[headlessblade]

i finally filled my tank in the above pics and i got around a 1/4" bowing center middle...
so i guess i need to put the brace back

 

[amehel0]

i finally filled my tank in the above pics and i got around a 1/4" bowing center middle...
so i guess i need to put the brace back

the brace is there for a reason.

to the guy about tempered, each batch is tested,and need to pass a certain standard after that they qualify to be used.

 

[oswego]

I picked up a 24x24x72 tank with 3/4 bottom and 1/2 inch vertical. There is not any bracing, should I add bracing and if so where.
It appears to be well made but I am a little concerned about the lack of bracing.
Got a great Cabinet stand with it and want to get it set up and get back into the "hobby".
It appears to have never been used.

This is my first post here by the way.

 

[12 Volt Man]

I think this thread should be removed as a sticky.

simply because the glass thicknesses given as a guide are below that of standard thicknesses used by the mass produced brands (Aqueon, Oceanic, Perfecto).

which is scary if you ask me.

my Aqueon 150g (72x18x30 tall) has two thick cross braces and uses 12mm glass.

yet the chart says you can build a 360g that is 36" tall with the same thickness.

which means one of two things:

a) Aqueon tanks are overbuilt (a good thing)

or

b) a 360g tank built with 12mm glass is the bare minimum thickness to be safe, and only with proper bracing (which is not clarified) which is not good thing..

for the person running the business - you know what you are doing with the proper bracing etc. to make the tank safe even with thinner than normal glass.

but for the do it yourselfer, well, they many not.

which means these recommendations could be dangerous for those using this guide for a home built tank..

 

[12 Volt Man]

Those thicknesses are well below safety standards in the USA and MFK

and Canada as well..

I would be curious as to what type of bracing is recommended to make these tanks considered up to north american safety standards.

what is alarming to me is that in my area, reptile tanks specifically not designed to hold water use appoximately the same thickness as is recommended for water holding aquariums in that list..

 

[bigcol]

Hi guys, i would like to know how thick my glass should be on an 14x6x6ft pond, i also need a devider in the middle as the pond will start at 8x6x6ft then be extended to the 14ft marker. The windows will be 3x2ft and the divider will be 3ft,high x 5.5ft,wide. Please help guys as im only good with ft, i cant use any other measurements

 

[amehel0]

I think this thread should be removed as a sticky.

simply because the glass thicknesses given as a guide are below that of standard thicknesses used by the mass produced brands (Aqueon, Oceanic, Perfecto).

which is scary if you ask me.

my Aqueon 150g (72x18x30 tall) has two thick cross braces and uses 12mm glass.

yet the chart says you can build a 360g that is 36" tall with the same thickness.

which means one of two things:

a) Aqueon tanks are overbuilt (a good thing)

or

b) a 360g tank built with 12mm glass is the bare minimum thickness to be safe, and only with proper bracing (which is not clarified) which is not good thing..

for the person running the business - you know what you are doing with the proper bracing etc. to make the tank safe even with thinner than normal glass.

but for the do it yourselfer, well, they many not.

which means these recommendations could be dangerous for those using this guide for a home built tank..

well i think after 36,000 tanks we would know if the tanks were underbuilt. they have way more bracing then the crappy american tanks! theese are a commercial company and have produced many tanks. ive seen many photos of american tanks and 9/10 there underbraced and underbuilt. you use crappy silicone and plastic bracing.

 

[12 Volt Man]

well i think after 36,000 tanks we would know if the tanks were underbuilt. they have way more bracing then the crappy american tanks! theese are a commercial company and have produced many tanks. ive seen many photos of american tanks and 9/10 there underbraced and underbuilt. you use crappy silicone and plastic bracing.

but you are giving recommendations for glass thickness to people without access to your "better" silicone and "better" bracing to build their own tanks.

which is a disaster waiting to happen for someone who uses this guide without the proper bracing and 'better silicone'..

hence, why this thread should not be a sticky.