Crazy Tank Experiment!

[Mbones]

Hey Everyone,
I have three old tanks that have been used for FW for 4 years, then sat for about 6 months. I have now come up with a crazy plan to combined the three of them. I know you all are like "WHAT", but what the heck, I have no real use for them anyways. So here is the experiment:
I have two 10 Gallon Tanks and one 20 Gallon Tank, all glass, that I want to combined end to end. I have thought about this for about 3 months now and finally said what the heck, might as well try. So tonight I went out to HD to get a glass cutting tool and some straight blades.
With tools in hand and two of the tanks just staring me in the face I went at them. I first strated by tanking the black plastic top and bottom off the first ten gallon, that went by ok, had a little mishap and broke one of the pains of glass but I figured I could get another piece from HD. SO with one 10 Gallon missing an end I started the 20. I got as far as taking the plastic off it and notice some problems that I am going to have to address, so this is far as I got tonight, and might be as far as I get for a couple of weeks while I fix my little problem with the ten and the difference in bottom heights.
I know that this is a crazy idea, but what the heck, I just graduated college and I have a lot of free time now! HAS anyone tried this before? Just wondering if I am really that stupid for trying this.
Here is a drawing of what I am trying to do:

[Reefdude5]

Haha, sounds interesting! That sounds hard, cutting part of the end off of the 20! It would be pretty cool when its finished though! I'd say go for it! Why not?

[Geoff]

i really have no idea if it will work or not. it has the potential to work if there is enough surface area for the silly-cone to seat against the panes. i would go ahead and make a frame for the three tanks so that the bottoms will be support equally. keeping the bottoms square and supported will be problem areas. i suggest insetting the 10's into the 20. this will give the best support for the joints. also since the tanks will be braceless you might want to put some corner glass corner braces on all of the corners on the top of the tank.

good luck, keep us posted.

G~

[jeepjon]

What about having the three tanks combined so that the tops of all of the tanks are level, but the bottoms are at different levels? That could be interesting, so that the middle is as deep as the 20 gallon was, and the two ten gallons are as deep as the ten gallon normally was...just a thought...

[Geoff]

Originally posted by jeepjon
What about having the three tanks combined so that the tops of all of the tanks are level, but the bottoms are at different levels? That could be interesting, so that the middle is as deep as the 20 gallon was, and the two ten gallons are as deep as the ten gallon normally was...just a thought...

thanks, i meant to say that in my post. i agree that this will prolly be your best bet for success.

G~

[Reefdude5]

i know it might be a tad late, but couldn't you just drill some massive bulkheads, and connect the tanks, without takin the ends off, so fish and current could swim through? It would be easier than trying to make sure those seals are perfect.

[Mbones]

Hey Guys,
Just to let you know, I made a little progress on this project today. I practiced cutting the glass on a spare piece and found it to be pretty easy for the most part. I will post more in a couple of weeks, the project is in Orlando were I will be moving to, so this is all that I can write as of now. Plus I will post pictures of the project as I go once I move, I know people like to "see" what is going on.

[Geoff]

Originally posted by Reefdude5
i know it might be a tad late, but couldn't you just drill some massive bulkheads, and connect the tanks, without takin the ends off, so fish and current could swim through? It would be easier than trying to make sure those seals are perfect.

Now Austin, where is the fun in that.

G~

[Phishnoob]

If the bottoms are at different levels how do you support the weight. I guess a custom platform fit exactly would do it. If everything was not square though the upper tanks would put a lot of stress on the mating surfaces.

Phishnoob

[512148048]

well you sould make a bottom that fit snug to take the stress of the new seams and on the top as wellthen use that as a mounting bracket for the hood

[icebear]

if your stand flexes you're screwed

[Mbones]

I have thought about that. I am in the process of creating a stand to prevent that from happening. I have enlisted some help from my father since he has carpenter experience. Plus since I am stuck away from my project for a while I can get a good plan for this unigue stand.

[Surfergirl]

Would the extra weight from more water on less joints and less thickness of glass be an issue in the tank structure ?

[Mbones]

I think that the extra weight from the water with the thin glass is the biggest reason that it will fail. I am really worried about this problem. I am going to use some extra braces to try and combat this issue, but I guess only time will tell!

[Geoff]

if the 10's are inset into the 20 than it should work if the bottom is properly supported. the pressure along all of the glass panels is still equal to what the tanks were designed for. you are not increasing the length or the depth of any of the tanks. seams are the same for each each tank. if you inset the 10's the slightly thicker 20's glass (it may actually be the same thickness glass, this is just to be safe) will give the better contact area.

you may need to make a frame for the top also. or at least keep the 20's ends from flexing outward. glueing a piece of glass across the top at this are should work.

G~