Question about DIY glass aquariums

[Seawitch]

(for an article)

For those who have built or are building DIY glass aquariums, what kind of glass did you use? and what thickness?

Thanks

 

[CC13]

(for an article)

For those who have built or are building DIY glass aquariums, what kind of glass did you use? and what thickness?

Thanks

I built my first ever reef tank many years ago. The glass thickness depends a lot on the total overall size and if you plan to use euro bracing or you want rimless but I always use Starphire (low iron) glass for all viewing panels.

 

[lapin]

Find a glass thickness calculator. It will give you ball park numbers. These numbers are not set in stone. As stated above there are variables. If its your first tank build, I would go a little thicker than what you need. It will give you more of a bonding surface to make up for any inconsistencies in your seams.

 

[CC13]

Find a glass thickness calculator. It will give you ball park numbers. These numbers are not set in stone. As stated above there are variables. If its your first tank build, I would go a little thicker than what you need. It will give you more of a bonding surface to make up for any inconsistencies in your seams.

I agree with this.

Also what I do on my tank now is I get the corners all mitered to 45 degrees and polished (refer to picture below). This increases the surface area of the two surfaces being siliconed together and drastically increases the strength of the tank. Not cheap, but it also looks amazing when its finished. Super clean looking.

 

[Seawitch]

... but I always use Starphire (low iron) glass for all viewing panels.

What about the other panels? What kind of glass do you use for that? And where do you get it? Do you cut it yourself? Or get a glass professional to give you the sizes you need?

 

[Seawitch]

Find a glass thickness calculator. It will give you ball park numbers. These numbers are not set in stone. As stated above there are variables. If its your first tank build, I would go a little thicker than what you need. It will give you more of a bonding surface to make up for any inconsistencies in your seams.

What kind of glass do you use?

 

[CC13]

What about the other panels? What kind of glass do you use for that? And where do you get it? Do you cut it yourself? Or get a glass professional to give you the sizes you need?

All panels that will not be looked through and the bottom pane are regular glass. Why pay a premium when they won't be viewed through.

You can get glass ordered, sized, cut and polished at any glass manufacturing facility. They have all the tools, lasers and polishers to give the best finishes and its all they do for a living.

 

[Seawitch]

@CC13 Thank you. That's what I wanted to know.

 

[lapin]

You have a choice of glass.
Annealed = Std Plate Glass (this is what I recommend). Avail in std or Low Iron (Starphire, Crystal Clear, ect...)
Tempered = Baked to make it harder. The baking process can make it distort. Can only be drilled by a professional.
Optical = Hard to find and very very expensive
Have a professional shop do all your cuts, drilling and polishing unless you want to learn the craft.