Tank Builders Help

[AScarbro14]

I'm tossing around the idea of build my own tank. It would be a 36x24x24 rimless. My question is would 1/2 sides and 3/4 bottom be adequate to support the weight of the water? I've never built a tank before but I believe I am about to do it. Just looking for some extra tips.

 

[143MPCo]

Glass or cell cast acrylic?

 

[AScarbro14]

Oh sorry glass

 

[Aussie paul]

Should be ok if your a cautious person like me you can always add glass rods in corners for extra strength

 

[AScarbro14]

How did you add the rods? I've look all over the Internet and can't really find much on building tanks other than how people lay it out before hand.

 

[143MPCo]

Oh sorry glass

Yes the thickness it fine, what type of silicone will you be using?

 

[Aussie paul]

All you do is build the tank then add the rods to the inside of each corner with a bead of silicone up each side of the rod. It adds extra surface area for strength in the corners

 

[143MPCo]

3/4 bottom be adequate to support the weight of the water

if you can source it 1/2" tempered glass would also work and cut down on weight.

 

[143MPCo]

Momentive silicone RTV108 or 103 are the best choices, this is a sealant and promotes exceptional adhesion.

 

[Aussie paul]

Tempered glass is ok as long as you don't intend on drilling it. I always use plate glass just my preference don't like the idea if something fails the glass shatters

 

[AScarbro14]

I was looking at ge1 silicone and I want to do all plate glass in case I decided to drill it.

 

[Pepcrylic]

Why would you use 3/4'' for the bottom?

 

[Kresimir_72]

My tank is 110x60x55 cm and all is done from 10mm glas (3 front sides is opti white) with 2 top glass rods to prevent belly on any side..... If I read and transfer measures correctly you have no reason to worry, it will be fine.... ;-)

 

[AScarbro14]

Why would you use 3/4'' for the bottom?

This would be my first tank and everything I've read says the bottom should be thicker for extra strength.

 

[AScarbro14]

My tank is 110x60x55 cm and all is done from 10mm glas (3 front sides is opti white) with 2 top glass rods to prevent belly on any side..... If I read and transfer measures correctly you have no reason to worry, it will be fine.... ;-)

Thank you for reassuring me. Any tips for assembly?

 

[Kresimir_72]

I can take few pics later today (cos it is still in garage) so you can see how we do it....

 

[AScarbro14]

I can take few pics later today (cos it is still in garage) so you can see how we do it....

I would greatly appreciate it. I really want to try to do this. I live building thing lol

 

[Harold Green]

Nothing wrong with overkill but I've owed factory 40 breeders that were 36 inches long that were built of quarter inch glass. For the 24" height I would think that 3/8 would be enough. Half inch should be extra strong just make sure you cure it properly. That means either working very rapidly to do the glass to glass seal and the internal filet at the same time or allowing the glass to glass to cure for 24 hours and then razor blade excess from the inside and add the filet at that time. I've never heard of adding glass rods but if the silicone is done right it shouldn't be necessary on that size tank. Good luck and if you can find it Dow used to publish a small manual on building glass tanks with their silicon. It listed recommended glass thickness per height and width of glass panel to be used along with suggestions on building different shaped tanks.

 

[AScarbro14]

Nothing wrong with overkill but I've owed factory 40 breeders that were 36 inches long that were built of quarter inch glass. For the 24" height I would think that 3/8 would be enough. Half inch should be extra strong just make sure you cure it properly. That means either working very rapidly to do the glass to glass seal and the internal filet at the same time or allowing the glass to glass to cure for 24 hours and then razor blade excess from the inside and add the filet at that time. I've never heard of adding glass rods but if the silicone is done right it shouldn't be necessary on that size tank. Good luck and if you can find it Dow used to publish a small manual on building glass tanks with their silicon. It listed recommended glass thickness per height and width of glass panel to be used along with suggestions on building different shaped tanks.

Thank you for the tips. I really want to make sure that it is strong as possible. I will see how well I'll be able to manage the piece of glass when I get them. But I will most like do the glass to glass seal cure then internal. Also I will look and see if I can find the manual that you mentioned.

 

[Harold Green]

If you're buying the glass already cut you have a choice of clear cut or polished. Clear cut is as cut with sharp edges. You can take an old sanding belt and smooth all the edges on clear cut glass yourself if you choose. Also when you clean the inside of the tank to remove excess silicone from the first glue up make sure you orient the razor blade so it doesn't cut into the between glass seal. I wash the glass before adding silicone with a small amount of alcohol to remove any grease from the glass. All this said unless you have a low cost source for the glass generally you can buy a completed tank as cheap as building your own. I reserve building my own for special shape tanks that are more expensive or unavailable.