Talk me into it

Singletrackjack · Mar 16, 2021

So I picked up this tank and I am not sure if I trust it to be perfectly honest.
The seller said it was used as a reptile enclosure when he bought it.
It is made of ½ inch glass 72 long 24 tall 16 wide rimless.
I am not certain that it was professionally built (quality of assembly) but it has held water for 3 days with zero leaks.
I have never owned a rimless tank before and am a little concerned about 3/16' bowing of each long pane of glass.
Is this normal? Should I build a frame with support for the middle to take that concern away?

It's good to be here,
Thanks for the input!

Tim

dedragon · Mar 17, 2021

very cool size tank, while im not a tank builder I would think you would at least need one support brace, if not two. Any bowing in glass is bad and will put a lot of strain on it and the seems

Jekyl · Mar 17, 2021

Not a tank builder here either. The phrase reptile enclosure is what worries me.

polyppal · Mar 17, 2021

A 72" rimless tank without a brace prob isnt an aquarium, but a terrarium (which I would not trust, at least until you add some euro bracing). Pics?

Singletrackjack · Mar 17, 2021

I feel the same about the braces de-dragon.
The phrase Reptile enclosure was thrown at me because the guy who owned it before the seller had used it as one, that doesn't mean it was built as one.
I hope it wasn't at least. I have mentioned my concern to my wife and now she is not digging the idea. I am not sure I could live with the guilt of having reservations and then setting it up only to have it fail and flooding my basement lol

pecan2phat · Mar 17, 2021

For a 6' tank, I would need 1/2" glass all around and euro-bracing to be comfortable if there are no cross braces.

Singletrackjack · Mar 17, 2021

It is ½ glass and when full to the top it went from 16'' exactly to 16 ⅜''
So 3/16 for each pane of glass.
I made a brace out of a clamp when it was at 16 then loosened it slowly to get to ⅜.
I am considering the Euro bracing but would hate to do it and have it fail anyway... see what I mean about talking me into it?? LOL
I am my worst enemy.
I do have another 48'' 30'' 18'' that I know is good with a rim top and bottom but I really like the length of this one for the location I want it to go.

Oregon Grown Reef · Mar 17, 2021

I would, at the minimum, put euro braces on it. I wouldn't trust any glass that's bowing without doing something first.

polyppal · Mar 17, 2021

Singletrackjack said:
I feel the same about the braces de-dragon.
The phrase Reptile enclosure was thrown at me because the guy who owned it before the seller had used it as one, that doesn't mean it was built as one.
I hope it wasn't at least. I have mentioned my concern to my wife and now she is not digging the idea. I am not sure I could live with the guilt of having reservations and then setting it up only to have it fail and flooding my basement lol

Well the fact that its 1/2 glass is very good, if the silicone job is quality then have a glass store cut some custom 1/2 strips for you and attach them to the top and you should be set...

Singletrackjack · Mar 17, 2021

I am going this route Oregon, gonna see what it will cost for a couple Euro braces being made up.
would you suggest ½ or 10mm or ?

Hugh Mann · Mar 17, 2021

I would suggest bracing it. Wouldn't be too difficult to DIY.

I would also suggest after bracing it, put it somewhere leaks wouldn't matter, fitt it up and leave it sit for a few weeks, just to see if it holds.

Oregon Grown Reef · Mar 17, 2021

Might as well throw up the same thickness on top as is on the sides. More contact space for the silicone=more support.

Singletrackjack · Mar 17, 2021

oregongrownreef said:
Might as well throw up the same thickness on top as is on the sides. More contact space for the silicone=more support.

Doesn't the brace go on top or can it go on the inside?
Iv'e only seen them on the top that I recall... I am old and getting back into this after a 20 year hiatus

Oregon Grown Reef · Mar 17, 2021

Singletrackjack said:
Doesn't the brace go on top or can it go on the inside?
Iv'e only seen them on the top that I recall... I am old and getting back into this after a 20 year hiatus

It does go on top. You'll want to silicone anywhere glass touches, including bracing touching bracing.

Like so.

codycolina707 · Mar 17, 2021

Singletrackjack said:
It is ½ glass and when full to the top it went from 16'' exactly to 16 ⅜''
So 3/16 for each pane of glass.
I made a brace out of a clamp when it was at 16 then loosened it slowly to get to ⅜.
I am considering the Euro bracing but would hate to do it and have it fail anyway... see what I mean about talking me into it?? LOL
I am my worst enemy.
I do have another 48'' 30'' 18'' that I know is good with a rim top and bottom but I really like the length of this one for the location I want it to go.

I'm sure it's an aquarium who would use 1/2 glass for a reptile enclosure seems way over kill not only that but adds a ton of weight