Questions about building my own tank

[JosephM]

So I’m thinking about building a frag grow out tank. I wanted to upgrade to a bigger tank but this will be cheaper and more accepted by my parents who I still live with. I was thinking about a 30”x30” tank that will be plumbed into my current system that has a 20gal sump. I wanted this size because I plan on using a viparspectra like my DT to keep it cheap as I’m only a teen and don’t have a lot to spare. What is the best height for a grow out tank? Like 12-14”? My brother in law works at a glass shop so I can normally get free glass if they have what I need as scraps or I get it for next to nothing. What size glass will I need? Will I need to brace it in anyway? What is the strongest silicone I can use. Since I’m building it myself for the first time I’d rather go quality over cheapest on the silicone to minimize failure rate. Any advice or even just pointing me to a thread that might have some answers will be greatly appreciated

 

[JosephM]

Let me restate everything I said. The more I think about it the more I find myself clueless. So let me start with a basic question... what is the best size for a frag grow out tank. I don’t want to go any bigger then 30x30x24 so that one viparspectra will suffice along with my 20g sump for both systems

 

[AJTX]

Momentive RTV silicone 103/108. GE SCS 1200 are 2 of the best. I have used ASI also. Clean the glass thoroughly with acetone.

 

[JosephM]

Momentive RTV silicone 103/108. GE SCS 1200 are 2 of the best. I have used ASI also. Clean the glass thoroughly with acetone.

Okay thank you. Turns out I’m gonna get the glass for free too I have a landscaping business on the side and he’s building a new house so he’s gonna provide cut glass and I’m providing landscaping lol.
So I’m 99% sure I’m gonna do 30x30 but it might end up being 24x24 if I don’t have enough room. What will be the best height for those dimensions. It’s going to be solely for corals and maybe a couple fish that done need rock. BB with elevated egg crate to hold corals

 

[AJTX]

Go with a shallow tank 14-16 inch height. That way you can build egg crate frag steps.

 

[JosephM]

Go with a shallow tank 14-16 inch height. That way you can build egg crate frag steps.

Okay. Water line will be a couple inches below the surface I assume? I don’t need to put any bracing will I and 1/2” glass will be okay for the bottom and sides?

 

[AJTX]

1/2 inch for a 30x30x14-16 will work well. No bracing needed. Add bracing if you want more peace of mind.

 

[JosephM]

1/2 inch for a 30x30x14-16 will work well. No bracing needed. Add bracing if you want more peace of mind.

Sweet. I’ll probably have a wood rim around that bottom as a little extra support if that makes sense. Now onto the designing phase lol. So it looks like if I went with the max size of 30x30x16 it will be a little over 60 gallons. I’ll just play with that number cuz that’ll be the most. I have a 29gal DT with a 20gal sump. Will the 20g sump suffice if I have another skimmer in the frag tank and probably a few large bags of matrix below the egg crate

 

[AJTX]

You can add bottom bracing also if you want to. Hope you can see the bottom bracing in the pic

 

[oreo54]

Sorry did it for 12" height.

14" height

16" deep

1/4" glass is 6.35mm.

 

[AJTX]

If you use 1/2"(12mm) your safety factor will be above 20-25 at 16" which is very very safe, gives you peace of mind.

 

[oreo54]

Not sure where you get 20-25..but YES a lot safer.
Hey if glass is free I'd go for it.
Split the difference.. 3/8" or 10mm 9.7/5.6 s.f.

 

[AJTX]

Not sure where you get 20-25..but YES a lot safer.
Hey if glass is free I'd go for it.
Split the difference.. 3/8" or 10mm 9.7/5.6 s.f.

Ok. 17.3 on a 12.7mm glass so maybe around 14-15 on a 12mm. Way above the 3.9 safety factor

 

[JosephM]

Haha. Thank you guys. He works in a massive glass shop Im sure I could get 1” for free if I wanted to. He’s friends with the guy over the whole factory and I’ve hung out with them a few times. Not too worried about how much more worried about thickness. I’ll go for 1/2” to be extra safe. A 600gph overflow box should be plenty right?

 

[JosephM]

Im thinking one of those low profile overflow boxes in the middle (fiji overflow, what I use in my DT) and a return pump that goes to two loc-line flare returns in each corner towards the top for gas exchange and two gyres on each side. How does this sound? I want to be able to have a mixed frag tank. Maybe get an extra SLW wide flow for the rack where SPS will be?

 

[oreo54]

Another parameter to consider..

 

[AJTX]

Haha. Thank you guys. He works in a massive glass shop Im sure I could get 1” for free if I wanted to. He’s friends with the guy over the whole factory and I’ve hung out with them a few times. Not too worried about how much more worried about thickness. I’ll go for 1/2” to be extra safe. A 600gph overflow box should be plenty right?

I wish you were closer to me

 

[JosephM]

Someone want to double check my measurements I’m gonna send him:
1 - 30x30
2- 31x16
2 - 30x16

The front and back sandwich the two sides (even though it’s a cube but you get my point) is that how it works. I watched a few videos and it seems they all have different opinions but I was going to install them on top of the bottom glass instead of on the side to ensure full contact and that it’s level and sándwich the sides with the front and back

 

[oreo54]

Someone want to double check my measurements I’m gonna send him:
1 - 30x30
2- 31x16
2 - 30x16

The front and back sandwich the two sides (even though it’s a cube but you get my point) is that how it works. I watched a few videos and it seems they all have different opinions but I was going to install them on top of the bottom glass instead of on the side to ensure full contact and that it’s level and sándwich the sides with the front and back

Your dimensions (1/2 glass) is for a floating bottom.

 

[JosephM]

Your dimensions (1/2 glass) is for a floating bottom.

Can you explain what that is...
Im sorry if that’s something I should know.