Glass Thickness Needed for Shallow Rimless

[kalmanb0y]

I'm looking to build my first reef tank, a shallow lagoon style measuring 32" x 16" x 8" from starphire glass. Its a very shallow tank, but it is fairly long, so I was wondering what the ideal glass thickness would be? I've used multiple of those online "aquarium glass thickness" calculators, but they gave me suspiciously thin results, which I am not inclined to trust. Does anyone else have a similarly shaped rimless tank? If so, what is the glass thickness?

Alex K.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

I am Not a pro at building tanks here but I would use 1/4 inch there. Toothpick spacing so silicone dives in between each pane.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

I made my sump out of 1/4 inch and it is 32x17x14

 

[kalmanb0y]

Yeah, that or 3/8" is what I was thinking.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

I would personally use 3/8 or 1/2”. There’s really no downfall of going too thick. Going too thin is a different issue. But I wouldn’t go thinner than 3/8.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Yea 3/8 would be ideal but I see Frameless tanks from aqueon 30 gallons using 1/4inch. This frag tank is long but still less then 20 gallons

 

[kalmanb0y]

The IM Nuvo 30 is a similar footprint with a shorter height, and that uses 8mm glass, around 3/16," and I sure trust them more than I trust Aqueon.

 

[kalmanb0y]

*5/16

 

[45ZoaGarden]

*5/16

I still wouldn’t go thinner than 3/8. It’s better to go one size up.

 

[kalmanb0y]

Agreed. Thanks everyone for the helpful input.