1/2 inch thick glass enough for 1000 gal???

[domingos.44]

Hi I can get a hold of 1/2 inch thick 4 ft by 8 ft sheets of glass and want to take the whole sheet and build a 8 by 4 by 4 ft plywood tank around 1000 gal with the one 4x8 1/2 inch thick tempered glass viewing window... But is 1/2 inch enough????...not sure if it will hold the pressure of a 4 ft depth

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[sashimimaster]

I would do some calculations with tempered glass rated strength and pressures with a 4ft high water column. My guess is that it should be fine but it would depend on how comfortable you are with a lower factor of safety.

I used 3/4" non tempered with 3 ft high depth. I don't remember what the safety factor was but it was very sufficient and I can sleep soundly at night.

 

[David R]

http://www.fnzas.org.nz/?p=1732

Toughened glass is considerably stronger than standard glass. It cannot however be cut. If toughened glass is to be used it must first be cut to size, have its edges finished and then be send away for toughening. The thermal resistance properties of glass are also improved by toughening. Standard 6mm glass will rupture if plunged into water at 21°C if the temperature of the glass is more than 55°C hotter or colder. Toughened glass will rupture at approximately 250°C difference. Toughened glass also has a tensile strength greater than 5 times that of standard glass. Standard glass has a very important advantage when used on aquariums. It tends to fail in a non-spectacular manner, – typically a vertical or diagonal crack. Toughened glass however will fail completely, much like the old style car windscreen (100% shattering).

So I would say a 1/2" toughened/tempered sheet would be adequate for 4' depth, you're talking a similar tensile strength to 2.5" thick regular glass, but not sure if I'd do it myself. Seems how you can't cut the sheet down (as it is tempered) you could build the tank to 4' height but only fill to 3' deep and have some wood sticking out of the water with plants above the water sort of like a terrarium/riparium.

 

[sashimimaster]

you could build the tank to 4' height but only fill to 3' deep and have some wood sticking out of the water with plants above the water sort of like a terrarium/riparium.

Good idea.

 

[Bong]

Yes no problem, it will hold if you build like this

http://youtu.be/w7up1Bd0pfE

 

[HyPHyISM42o]

Yes no problem, it will hold if you build like this

http://youtu.be/w7up1Bd0pfE

nice build