Purchasing custom tank - TEMPERED OR NON-TEMPERED??

Tuffloud1 · May 11, 2019

Where would you mount the overflow if it were your tank?

Tuffloud1 · May 11, 2019

Anyone have armored seams? Do you like them?

Potatohead · May 11, 2019

Overflow back left corner

Armored seams are nice but keep in mind they are much wider than regular seams

Tuffloud1 · May 12, 2019

Potatohead said:
Overflow back left corner

Armored seams are nice but keep in mind they are much wider than regular seams

When you say back left corner, do you mean on the back wall to the left?

Since I’m going with an external box, I was thinking on the back wall centered.

jwilliams860 · May 13, 2019

Following, also considering custom aquarium for next tank

Potatohead · May 14, 2019

Tuffloud1 said:
When you say back left corner, do you mean on the back wall to the left?

Since I’m going with an external box, I was thinking on the back wall centered.

If it’s external it’s less important but I would put it either on the left glass entirely so it’s left of the tank, or just on the back glass but all the way over to the left. Probably the latter unless I wanted it to be peninsula style.

Tuffloud1 · May 14, 2019

Potatohead said:
If it’s external it’s less important but I would put it either on the left glass entirely so it’s left of the tank, or just on the back glass but all the way over to the left. Probably the latter unless I wanted it to be peninsula style.

The only access I have is from the back. Currently building stand.

I’m wondering if having an external box might be too much in the way. I really want to keep as much of the overflow out of the tank as possible.

Anyone have access only to the back and have an external overflow?

Tuffloud1 · May 22, 2019

So Custom Aquariums is saying that 5/8 glass is absolutely fine to use on my size tank especially with their aluminum frame system.

The 3/4 ends up costing $348 more than the 5/8 glass.

Is the upgrade to 3/4 worth doing?

Steve Fast · May 22, 2019

Tuffloud1 said:
So Custom Aquariums is saying that 5/8 glass is absolutely fine to use on my size tank especially with their aluminum frame system.

The 3/4 ends up costing $348 more than the 5/8 glass.

Is the upgrade to 3/4 worth doing?

5/8 tempered will also cost more, would be equally strong, but would be lighter. If your tank is larger than what they deliver, you will have to enlist friends to move it and perhaps lighter would be better. 3/4 would be 20 percent heavier.

Tuffloud1 · May 22, 2019

Steve Fast said:
5/8 tempered will also cost more, would be equally strong, but would be lighter. If your tank is larger than what they deliver, you will have to enlist friends to move it and perhaps lighter would be better. 3/4 would be 20 percent heavier.

It would be 5/8 non-tempered which would cost $348 less than 3/4 non-tempered.

The 5/8 would be 100 pounds lighter than the 3/4.

Potatohead · May 22, 2019

Looking at the CA builder thing, it looks like they use 5/8" front/back/bottom and 1/2" on the sides. There's not much point to upgrading to 3/4" if the sides are still 1/2", better to just do the whole thing in 5/8" if you want it a bit overkill. 3/4" f/b/b and 5/8" sides would be really overkill but if it's not much more I might do that. Only thing that sucks is it's harder to find powerheads that really hold well on 3/4" so 5/8" might be better anyway.

Also, if I had young kids I would probably temper the exposed panel front, and just use 5/8"

Tuffloud1 · May 22, 2019

I’m not doing the 1/2 sides thing.

It’s 5/8 all around or 3/4 all around.

CA doesn’t recommend tempering and I don’t see any benefit.

I’m not worried about my kids “hitting” the glass. They know better.

Plus, on an exposed corner, I wouldn’t want tempered anyway because the edge is the weak point of tempered glass.

Tuffloud1 · May 27, 2019

Is there a difference between 5/8 and 3/4 low iron glass in terms of distortion.

Was wondering if looking through another 1/8 of glass on the 3/4 would be more distortion than the 5/8.

Tuffloud1 · May 30, 2019

I just placed my order. I decided on 5/8 non tempered for all panels. After speaking thoroughly with Custom Aquariums as well as tons of research on safety factors the 3/4 was just way overkill for 72x28x30H.

Steve Fast · May 30, 2019

Tuffloud1 said:
I just placed my order. I decided on 5/8 non tempered for all panels. After speaking thoroughly with Custom Aquariums as well as tons of research on safety factors the 3/4 was just way overkill for 72x28x30H.

Well done

Tuffloud1 · May 30, 2019

I hope not tempering the bottom will be okay. Custom Aquariums didn’t think it was necessary at all.

I hear tons of people say to temper the bottom in case rocks fall.

Steve Fast · May 30, 2019

Tuffloud1 said:
I hope not tempering the bottom will be okay. Custom Aquariums didn’t think it was necessary at all.

I hear tons of people say to temper the bottom in case rocks fall.

If the water goes in first it will reduce the issue of rock landing hard

JoshH · May 30, 2019

Tuffloud1 said:
I hope not tempering the bottom will be okay. Custom Aquariums didn’t think it was necessary at all.

I hear tons of people say to temper the bottom in case rocks fall.

Another way to protect the glass is to add something like starboard overtop