600+ Gallon Cube Build

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Aquaculture76

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 24, 2011
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Georgia
This tank will be a plywood walk-around "cube", I want to view it from all sides and get a different view from every side. I am in the planning stages of my build idea and any of the experts out there, please chime in, as I do NOT want to have any leak/glass breakage issues whatsoever. I have a 2 year old daughter and do NOT want to have to worry when she wants to see the fishies!!!

First off, the actual dimensions are going to be (outer dimensions) 84"L x 84"W x 35"H (total height from bottom of tank to top - HOWEVER, the actual waterline will be at 28" high. I will be using 4"x4" posts at the corners, and 2"x6" cross beams and supports. The glass for all 4 sides will be 72"L x 24"H x 1/2" thick (12mm) tempered (glass guys please inform me if this isn't a safe thickness for this build).

The stand will be built separate, and be 32" tall. The 4"x4" post will extend up 12" above the the top 2"x6" cross beam on the tank, so I can have support for the center overflow (Center overflow box will be built out of 2"x16") and have structural bracing for the top of the tank, and a great place to mount my lighting (LED's). I have tried playing with this in Google Sketchup, but am having a few problems with it, so once I figure this out a little better, I can post a few idea pics from there. (Unless someone here can envision what I am trying to accomplish, and do the sketchup for me....it would be greatly appreciated):drool:

Any questions or constructive criticism is welcome and I would love to hear any other ideas to improve this build. Thanks.
 
I would not do tempered glass. If you have a LFS that orders tanks, then you can get single sheets of glass cut to size.That is what I did for my build. Tempered glass will shatter if struck just right rather than plate glass will fracture and may give time to empty the tank. As far as I know 1/2 should be OK for 28". Mine is 3/8 for 24" depth, and is holding just fine.

Sounds cool, and cant wait to see some progress.
 
Going to be an awesome tank.. Hurry and get started and post some pics
 
mqktandy said:
Going to be an awesome tank.. Hurry and get started and post some pics
Click to expand...

x2 Sounds seriously awesome!

I've also heard alot of concerns with tempered glass, but your 1/2" should be fine assuming that the waterline will be at approx the top of the glass. I have a 24" tall tank with 1/2" glass with no problems...

Now get to it!
 
i would never use tempered glass as catching it right it will shatter, i work in the glazing industry and seen just how east tempered can shatter from a light tap and sometimes it takes a really hard blow to break it sovery unpredictable
 
If the glass is milled edge, 12mm tempered glass will never break as long as you seal the edges. good luck :)
 
Thanks for the replies so far. I am wondering if I should just go for 3/4" NON -tempered glass, probably would make my life alot easier and be able to sleep alot better at night. This build will be a full blown reef. I actually have to change the dimensions a little as I want to be able to set this up anywhere I move to in the future and be able to fit it through a 36" doorway, so the new outside dimensions of the tank will be 79"L x 79"W x 34"H, but I am using 4"x4" post for the corners and 2"x4"'s and 2"x6"s for top, bottom runners and around each window. The bottom will be covered with 2 layers of 3/4" plywood.

One other question, does anyone know how to possibly build the frame for the windows? I ask this because each window will be visible from across the tank and from the sides and I want it to look visually appealing without seeing a bunch of silicone around the glass. I know most of you have put silicone around the 2" border on the perimeter of the glass you put against the front of your tank, but this tank will have 4 pieces of glass and everything will be seen. Thanks for any help and stay tuned for this build and pics...
 
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