First Tank build.

Gonzoglassman · May 5, 2016

Hey guys I'm new to forums. This is pretty much my first one. Forgive me if I'm doing it wrong.
I am a glass fabricator and I've had some interest in building fish tanks. So I just want to share my first build with you guys or actually my second build ( silicon was harder to do then expecting).
So for my first tank I wanted to do a 12x12x12" rimless cube made out of 3/8 flat polished low iron starphire with a lid and stainless brackets that I made. The lid is also 3/8 starphire cut and polished at 12x8" with a two inch hole centered for quick feeding. I cut it at 8 inches to allow for evaporation and space for a filter and heater. Let me know what you guys think? Mistakes were made along the way. Not enough silicone, bad seams, I didn't mask of the fist tank I made. My goal is to only refine the way I do it and produce a qulity. Next project is to take apart the First tank I made and remake it but the back panel will be out of custom laminated glass that I'm making right now. Its tempered solar cool bronze sandwiched between two piece of 1/8" clear. The middle piece will be shattered by hand leaving the other two panels intact giving the apperance of shattered glass. I will update on that build hopefully this weekend.

143MPCo · May 5, 2016

Well since this is your first post welcome r2r!!! Second, I think you did a really good job on this tank, what type of silicone did you use?

Gonzoglassman · May 5, 2016

Thank you much. I would like to have done a cleaner thinner job on the silicon but if it hold water it'll work for now. I used the GE 100% silicon window and door.

BoneXriffic · May 5, 2016

Welcome. When are you building my tank? =). Looks good. The lid is interesting. I think if it was exposed to salt all the time even the stainless will corode... other than that clean build.

Gonzoglassman · May 5, 2016

Lol thank you.. I definitely need to refine my skill before I start building tanks for people. I have a high standard for quality and in not there yet. Just getting my feet wet. I'll keep that in mind on the brackets I think I may be able to do something out of acrylic Or just no lid.

TheHarold · May 5, 2016

Gonzoglassman said:
Lol thank you.. I definitely need to refine my skill before I start building tanks for people. I have a high standard for quality and in not there yet. Just getting my feet wet. I'll keep that in mind on the brackets I think I may be able to do something out of acrylic Or just no lid.

Aquarium Silicon is MUCH easier to work with!

Virtualbasil · May 5, 2016

Looks good, where are you planning on putting the filtration?

Gonzoglassman · May 5, 2016

Thank you. I'll have to give it a try on my next build. For this one I was thinking of just doing a hang on filter in the back. I have some ideas for a bigger tank and making an overflow or canister filter system. This one was kind of a test to see if I could make something look good and hold water now I need to shoot for more functionality.

143MPCo · May 5, 2016

Look into RTV type silicone, the bond strength is reportedly stronger, and IMO a must use on larger builds. I prefer MOMENTIVE but that's just me, again nice work!

dbl · May 5, 2016

Gonzoglassman said:
...Just getting my feet wet.

Welcome to R2R. Really nice work for your first tank build, it looks really good. And just a head up...that's not an expression used in the aquarium hobby! We shoot for dry feet and floors.

Gonzoglassman · May 5, 2016

143MPCo said:
Look into RTV type silicone, the bond strength is reportedly stronger, and IMO a must use on larger builds. I prefer MOMENTIVE but that's just me, again nice work!

Any specific recommendations on rtv. Seems kind of hard to get a clear answer on what RTV to people are using via Google search.

143MPCo · May 5, 2016

Gonzoglassman said:
Any specific recommendations on rtv. Seems kind of hard to get a clear answer on what RTV to people are using via Google search.

Momentive RTV108 clear
Momentive RTV103 black
Amazon link-> Here

SINcredible · May 5, 2016

Hi everyone and very nice build. I'm new here also. Working on a 48x30x24 rimless build. What's the best glass placement? All panels of glass on top of bottom piece or around sides of bottom. I've read different ways. What's best and glass will be 3/4in. Thanks.

143MPCo · May 5, 2016

SINcredible said:
Hi everyone and very nice build. I'm new here also. Working on a 48x30x24 rimless build. What's the best glass placement? All panels of glass on top of bottom piece or around sides of bottom. I've read different ways. What's best and glass will be 3/4in. Thanks.

Hello @SINcredible, I'm sure the community here would be able to help you with this endeavor, please start your own thread so as to not hijack the OP's thread.

Thank you.

SINcredible · May 5, 2016

@143MPCo no doubt. I apologize to you all. No disrespect intended. Was trying to start a new thread and couldn't quite figure it out. Kept wanting me to add a recipient from R2R but I know no one here. But thanks and I'll figure it out in a sec. Once again no disrespect to your thread @Gonzoglassman and the rest, plus no intent on hijacking. Peace.

Gonzoglassman · May 5, 2016

SINcredible said:
@143MPCo no doubt. I apologize to you all. No disrespect intended. Was trying to start a new thread and couldn't quite figure it out. Kept wanting me to add a recipient from R2R but I know no one here. But thanks and I'll figure it out in a sec. Once again no disrespect to your thread @Gonzoglassman and the rest, plus no intent on hijacking. Peace.

No problem man. I'm so new at this too I not sure what I'm doing 95% of the time. I think the very first and only form post I've done (at least up until now) went a little something like you did. Its all good. Glass on top man. At least that's they way I do it. Maybe I'll have to check out your thread to see what other people are doing.

Gonzoglassman · May 7, 2016

So far so good. Haven't got my feet wet yet!

Gonzoglassman · May 7, 2016

While water testing one tank I have another one drying. 1/4 low iron starphire with 45 degree polished miters on the vertical seams. All fabrication on glass has been done by me. For the people that day 45degree miters in glass have to be done on a cnc your crazy. We have two Cnc's at my job and I've never seen them do miters. Shape bevels sure, never miters. That huge mirro you see on that machine getting flat polished is the same machine I did the miters on. Its a enkong variable miter machine with 11 spindles. The 1/4 is also a 12x12x12 cube. I will clean it up tomorrow and keep you guys post. Not sure if I should start a new thread or not on my upcoming builds. I have something in the works for a customs lami back panel with 3/8 starphire. The lami is 3 pieces of glass with the middle pane being tempered and broke after lami so the panel appears to be shattered but it's not it's fabricated that way. I will post a pic of that panel so you have an idea and more to follow up on that build.

143MPCo · May 7, 2016

That's interesting, technically a 45° mitered joint like that should be stronger. Basically you're allowing the external forces to be dispersed equally over the entire structure of the adhered joint, as opposed to adhesion to one side on a boxed joint . I would be very interested to see how it would work out on a larger scale tank, say 150 or above.