Anyone with experience building a glass tank

Stewbacca · 12-15-2007, 05:01 PM

Hey all,
I was just wondering if anyone has any experience building their own glass tank... i was thinking of building my own 125 gal with 1/2" glass. I was also thinking of using 3/4 so i can make it brick style without any bracing unless the 1/2 would be enough.. I was looking at using loctite Marine epoxy (is this safe in a reef tank?) any help is greatly appreciated... Im not building the tank to necessarily save $$ more to be able to say "yeah i built that"...

Thanks Again..
Stewie

Stewbacca · 12-16-2007, 03:28 AM

crvz · 12-16-2007, 09:13 AM

I've built a glass tank, but it wasnt near that large. I built a 45 gallon hex tank about 12 years ago. It wasnt as pretty as it could be, but it worked. I don't know why, but I'd be nervous about doing one that big. Not that it's really any different...

But in terms of glass thickness, my current tank is a 150 and is made from 3/4" glass. It's unbelievably heavy (400 lbs empty). I would worry that, mostly due to inexperience, it would be too hard to manage the glass, as the side panels would be in the ~100lb range each. But if you do decide to do it, I'd love to see some pictures!!

Hop · 12-16-2007, 09:18 AM

I would have to agree with CRVZ. I replaced a pane in a 110 some years ago and I wouldn't say it was hard but everything was already squared up. I would think with something that big, a good jig would help quite a bit in getting things rolling. That and some strong friends who have not drank beer yet

crvz · 12-16-2007, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hop

That and some strong friends who have not drank beer yet

That sounds like experience talking...

Hop · 12-16-2007, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crvz

That sounds like experience talking...

When we moved my 450 in the house a couple people were late and so the rest of us hit the beer before they got here... It didn't go well when the rest of the people got here... Lets just say that little things like making sure the tank fit through the jam without taking the door off the hinges were missed before we attempted to walk through... there is still a nice ding in the door jam

Stewbacca · 12-17-2007, 02:07 AM

sweet..... I will definately post pics if i decide to start this build.. im still unsure of the glass thickness.. ive seen a 125 with only 1/2" glass.. i wonder if its based on the measurements of the tank??

Hop · 12-17-2007, 07:31 AM

My 190 is 1/2" glass and is plenty IMO.

kcress · 12-18-2007, 06:10 AM

1/2" is pretty thick. What dims are you talking?

The standard chart is:

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/aqu...customtank.htm

I'm interested because I want to build a 5.5W x 2D x 3T tank and that 3T is the big driving force.

The chart sez 5/8" or heavy duty 3/4".

1/2" glass weighs about 6.7lbs/sqft
3/4" glass weighs about 10.1lbs/sqft

Means my tank will weigh:
(5.5x3)x2 + (2x3)x2 + 2x5.5 = 56sqft
1/2" glass => 56x6.7 = 375lbs
or 3/4" => 56x10.1 = 566lbs!

Biggest piece of glass will weigh; 111lbs or 167lbs.

My aching back..

What are your dims???

Stewbacca · 12-18-2007, 02:09 PM

I was thinking 5l x 2w x 2h... which would give me about 150gal volume... I was thinking of making the back glass about an inch shorter than the front and making a coast to coast overflow...

Stewbacca · 12-18-2007, 02:14 PM

i just looked at the chart and the 1/2" would be plenty for the higher safety rating but i was planing to not have any bracing around the top so i might go with the 3/4" to prevent any bowing..

crvz · 12-18-2007, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcress

I'm interested because I want to build a 5.5W x 2D x 3T tank and that 3T is the big driving force.

3' tall? Lighting a reef tank that deep is trouble, but if you're going after just fish (or freshwater) than it'd be fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewbacca

i just looked at the chart and the 1/2" would be plenty for the higher safety rating but i was planing to not have any bracing around the top so i might go with the 3/4" to prevent any bowing..

That's what I'd do...

kcress · 12-19-2007, 05:49 AM

crvz; I've been warned.

Actually I'm not sure I'll have 3ft of water as I want waves. Big, top-of-the-reef waves. Churners. And surge. Serious surge. I'll also have direct sunlight rammed into the tank and lensed-focused lighting so hopefully it will hit bottom.

Stewbacca; That's a great idea! I was trying to figure out a method for a long one too. I like it. I have to deal with the waves hitting. Haven't worked it out but am thinking a full coast overflow might help mitigate the "runoff".

Stewbacca · 12-19-2007, 06:03 AM

Im going to start looking into glass prices tomorrow to see how much this is gonna cost...If the cost will be substantially more than just buying a tank i may just buy a premade...

The overflow design im thinking of may work for you... im no good at making 3D drawings cause they never look like what i have in my head.... can you kind of visualize my idea??

kcress · 12-19-2007, 06:09 AM

Oh, Absolutely! You would need some sort of fingers and a rear-outside the tank chamber to catch this overflow.. But that should be doable.