mitch9 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Hi Guys, I'm getting a 450lt tank made measuring 150cm X 50cm(width) X 60cm. Any thoughts on the thickness of glass I should use? Also is this tank too high? Cheers Mitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momo Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Hi Guys, I'm getting a 450lt tank made measuring 150cm X 50cm(width) X 60cm. Any thoughts on the thickness of glass I should use? Also is this tank too high? Cheers Mitch im pretty sure anything 2ft high requires 10mm glass. if i was you and of course space permit i would go 5x2x2 or even better 6x2x2. shouldnt be a huge jump in price, might as well go bigger if you need 10mm glass. just my opinion though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 I agree with Momo in regards to the mentioned dimentions. I would however go up a size in glass thickness to 12mm. How can a tank be too high (see my post in photography section)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch9 Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 Thanks for the replies guys, yeah i would love a 5x2x2 or a 6 foota but the buffet that the tank will be sitting on is only 50cm deep and 5ft long, so i figured go higher for more volume. I am mainly just worried about waking up in ankle deep water but if its very unlikely the tank will split i should ok with 10 or 12mm? Mitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colfish Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 the buffet that the tank will be sitting on i'd be having a very good look at the construction of the buffet, i'm sure they're not built with the idea of supporting 5oo+ kg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch9 Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 Yeah no problems, my old man has reinforced it (he's a carpenter), the buffet will be fine he said, it will probably be the tank or the floorboards that go first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion King Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Yeah no problems, my old man has reinforced it (he's a carpenter), the buffet will be fine he said, it will probably be the tank or the floorboards that go first Yes, as others said, 2ft high tank only need 10mm thick glass. Unless it is 2.5ft high than you need 12mm thick glass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 10mm is minimum. Why take a chance, especially if you have concerns. My 2.5ft high tank I had made out of 15mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momo Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 10mm is minimum. Why take a chance, especially if you have concerns. My 2.5ft high tank I had made out of 15mm. $$$$$$$ .......in my opinon 10mm is defineately good enough...but as cthompson mentioned one size up is safer, but not necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted June 23, 2007 Share Posted June 23, 2007 I think construction is really important too, as someone who had a 4x2x2's silicone split in their living room! I'd rather pay for a better builder to make a 10mm tank than a "cheaper" builder to make a 12mm one for the same money for instance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 I think construction is really important too, as someone who had a 4x2x2's silicone split in their living room! I'd rather pay for a better builder to make a 10mm tank than a "cheaper" builder to make a 12mm one for the same money for instance. Difficult to know who makes well, and who makes well/better on the day. Even a good tank maker is human. But yes, tank construction is as important as how thick the glass is. In regards to going up an extra thickness being needed or not, ask that questing after tank has broken. I have seen posts with photos on ACE where a tank has cracked and children required stitches. I'll pay extra to be an extra step away from the "minimum" requirment - and any parent would don't you think? It will cost extra dollars as you say Momo, but if you're frightened of spending money, you’re in the wrong hobby . How much would be lost if the worst should happen. All the fish, all the carpet, lounge, sterio and how about the people who live below you if you live in a flat? If you going for standard sized tanks I personally have no problem with getting the glass thickness that is regarded as minimum - there will be thousands out there which have never had an issue. But as soon as you start to go into tank heights two foot and above, I become more inclined to go up the extra thickness and hang the expense. You got to remember too, no matter how well the tank is made, accidents happen. If for example you have your tank in the lounge room and you have active kids, that extra glass thickness may be what stops the tank from cracking when and if it takes a knock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momo Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 i personally am not frightened to spend money, especially in the case of safety, well actually more so the safety of my fish rather than my own safety. LOL im more worried about the thousands of dollars worth of fish in my tanks rather than me having to mop up the mess/ and potential personal injuries (i have no children). i have owned over the years many 2ft high tanks made of 10mm glass (both china made nasties, as well as custom), i have not had a single problem with any of them. as ash said i would be more worried about the silicon job on the tank. thats why i have no hesitation in the use of 10mm glass on 2ft high/width tanks. i still personally think 10mm glass is sufficient, as mentioned above if you go one size thicker even better, but in my PERSONAL reasoning i dont think it is worth the extra expense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antz Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 i was looking for thickness in a new setup im planning and found this link when i did a search of the forums http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/aquariumd...lcustomtank.htm btw. sorry forgot who posted it. but credit goes to ya! also make sure its the same thickness all round including the base. (sometimes the base isnt the same?) cuz people get 10mm all around including the base and some get extra so would be 12mm base -- for example. .. but i dont know why? im guessing water pressure etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m0oks Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 Cheers Antz for the link.Very helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 cuz people get 10mm all around including the base and some get extra so would be 12mm base -- for example. .. but i dont know why? im guessing water pressure etc The base is inside the sides. Almost all "glues", including silicone are stronger against a stretching force (base inside, sides pushed out) than a shearing force (base on bottom, sides on top & pushed out). With a thicker base panel in a correctly constructed tank, you have a larger edge to glue to, so a stronger joint against stretching force. This is where my cheap tank builders screwed the pooch so to speak, they put the sides on top of the base which meant the silicone had to deal with a shearing force, and what do you know about 2 1/2yrs in the silicone split. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palpatine Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 http://www.nationalglass.com.au/products/11/11_09.html Glass thickness recommendations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch9 Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 Thanks for all the help guys, sounds like i've got a bit of thinking to do. Does anybody know if its possible to get warranties against tanks splitting? Cheers Mitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huzzy Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 Thanks for all the help guys, sounds like i've got a bit of thinking to do. Does anybody know if its possible to get warranties against tanks splitting? Cheers Mitch A good tank maker will warrant his tank for at least 2 years. I know of two that warrant for 5yrs and another that claims a lifetime warranty. Obiously this is nulled if your base/stand is not correctly made or you break it whilst moving it or by accident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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