6 x 2.5 x 2.8 tank glass thickness help

[fishtanknemo]

Hello Guys,

Need some serious help.

I want to build 1830mm( 6foot) Length x 760mm(2.5 foot) Width/depth x 840mm( 33 inches) Height.

19mm glass safety factor without braces is: 3.7 and by adding top braces it jumps to 4.1 ( if i am not wrong) but it turns, cost of the glass is very high.

Would it be possible to build above size with 16mm glass if i add bottom braces + metal/aluminium braces on top with usual cross glass braces ? i have calculated with online calculator and safety factor below 3.

Not sure what to do. For sure safety is my high priority

 

[Backfromthedead]

I would definitely hold out for the 19mm on the long sides. In fact im trying to put together a tank roughly identical to the dimensions of yours and am also finding the long side panels cost prohibitive and hard to find. Im using 16mm for the bottom and short sides with no reinforcement as i think that will be adequate. I may end up going rimless, cutting the height down to 23-26" to cut down on costs, and to get it through doorways.

 

[fishtanknemo]

I would definitely hold out for the 19mm on the long sides. In fact im trying to put together a tank roughly identical to the dimensions of yours and am also finding the long side panels cost prohibitive and hard to find. Im using 16mm for the bottom and short sides with no reinforcement as i think that will be adequate. I may end up going rimless, cutting the height down to 23-26" to cut down on costs, and to get it through doorways.

Do you mean keep the front and back panel to 19mm and rest 16mm ? or use 16mm with top and bottom braces.

 

[fishdance]

If you put a rectangular metal ring around the top and another ring around the bottom, this would strengthen the build enormously. By ring, I mean a continous joined strip, either screwed or welded.

The ring takes the pressure and the glass does the water proofing barrier. I would still use as thick glass as you can afford or consider tempered glass as medium to large fish doing a quick turn can easily create a pressure wave much higher than your tank depth.

The ring would remove the need for top cross braces or double bottom braces but I would still add lengthwise braces to stiffen the long sides especially if not using tempered glass.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Do you mean keep the front and back panel to 19mm and rest 16mm ? or use 16mm with top and bottom braces.

Yeah i would use the 19mm at 33"h and 72"L. You will still need to use some kind of bracing at that height too though. Eurobracing with 16mm would definitely work.

In my design i was just going to use a 16mm glass crossbrace across the middle 8" wide and two strips to brace the ends 4" wide. Nothing fancy but would do the job.

 

[fishtanknemo]

Hello,

would prefer straight forward answer.
If use 16mm how to increase the safety without endless sleeping night. Tank will be Marine setup and as a reef keeper Jadi, height and width is highly important then length. I happy to sacrifice the height bring down to 30 inches( 2.5 foot) but not lower then that, if it increases the safety.

 

[fishtanknemo]

More, has anyone has experience with chine made aquarium? 6 x 2.5 x 2.5 19mm glass tank costing me half the price of the current 19mm glass. I understand due to mass production it can be cheaper but when I asked seller wats the warranty, replied 1 year warranty on sealent. That put me down.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Hello,

would prefer straight forward answer.
If use 16mm how to increase the safety without endless sleeping night. Tank will be Marine setup and as a reef keeper Jadi, height and width is highly important then length. I happy to sacrifice the height bring down to 30 inches( 2.5 foot) but not lower then that, if it increases the safety.

I thought i was pretty straightforward in that my opinion was 33" height needs 19mm glass. To be blunt, i wouldnt use 16mm for the long sides of this tank. You can do as you please, but the obvious answer here is that thicker glass=safer tank.

Of course reducing the height increases the safety factor. 16mm is commonly used for 72" long tanks up to 30" in height, but taller than that you will see most builders go to 19mm.

For ANY tank 30" or taller, you will need some kind of bracing on the top. I would suggest looking up eurobracing if youre looking for a minimalist design.

BIG-G maybe explain it better than i.

 

[fishtanknemo]

I thought i was pretty straightforward in that my opinion was 33" height needs 19mm glass. To be blunt, i wouldnt use 16mm for the long sides of this tank. You can do as you please, but the obvious answer here is that thicker glass=safer tank.

Of course reducing the height increases the safety factor. 16mm is commonly used for 72" long tanks up to 30" in height, but taller than that you will see most builders go to 19mm.

For ANY tank 30" or taller, you will need some kind of bracing on the top. I would suggest looking up eurobracing if youre looking for a minimalist design.

BIG-G maybe explain it better than i.

Thanks crysta clear now.

euro or cross braces on the top for me is mandatory. I will add braces even if it’s over kill.
one question: if I don’t reduce the height below 33”.
You mentioned “ you wouldn’t go 16mm glass on long side”. Do you mean 16mm glass for front and back side. If yes, if I use 19mm for front and back and rest 16mm will it work ? For sure bottom panel will have excellent staff support will be from center on every 1.5 foot.
to be crystal clear: so, if Ireduce the height to 30” I can move to 16mm glass without any fear with euro or cross braces( as mentioned earlier, happy to put bottom and top braces).

 

[Backfromthedead]

Thanks crysta clear now.

euro or cross braces on the top for me is mandatory. I will add braces even if it’s over kill.
one question: if I don’t reduce the height below 33”.
You mentioned “ you wouldn’t go 16mm glass on long side”. Do you mean 16mm glass for front and back side. If yes, if I use 19mm for front and back and rest 16mm will it work ? For sure bottom panel will have excellent staff support will be from center on every 1.5 foot.
to be crystal clear: so, if Ireduce the height to 30” I can move to 16mm glass without any fear with euro or cross braces( as mentioned earlier, happy to put bottom and top braces).

Oh yes i only meant that the long side panels, front and back, should be 19mm. The 30" sides and bottom would be fine at 16mm even at 33" height.

And yes i think 16mm would work fine for all panels of a 72x30x30 tank with proper bracing.