Building aquarium

[Jmas]

hi , I want to build my own cube aquarium dimensions of 15x15x15“ i have been reading on how to build it, what confuses Me is I have seen people place the side,back and front panels on top of the bottom glass, I have also seen some people place them around the bottom glass?
what should I do ?

lets say I decided to place the glass around the bottom instead of on top,
so should I just buy 5 glass panels at EXACTLY 15x15” each,

because In the other method were the glass is placed ontop of the bottom, the side panels are cut shorter due to the glass thickness of the front and back panels,
this would be a pain for me to do and i would rather just use the exact sized sheets as thats what my local diy store sells for cheap

 

[Jmas]

I’m very new to diy so any a would be appreciated

 

[TheWolfman]

For glass aquariums the bottom pane gets surrounded buy the sides. The front /back ,and bottom glass will need different size panes. Acrylic aquariums the sides would sit on top of the bottom pane. Either way the front/back and side panes would need to be different sizes.

 

[Backfromthedead]

You can do it either way, just need to size your panels appropriately for the type of construction. Ive polled many tankbuilders on which is a superior method, and there doesnt seem to be a clear consensus, really just personal preference.

For your build i would stack the sides on top of the bottom. Thats my preferred method for thinner glass on smaller builds.

Whatever you do you will have to cut the glass panels different sizes. You should just be able to order them like that though. For your build you would need, using 3/8" glass:

1x 15"x15" (bottom)
2x 15"x14-9/16" (front and back)
2x 14-1/8"x14-9/16" (sides)

 

[SCT62382]

For glass aquariums the bottom pane gets surrounded buy the sides. The front /back ,and bottom glass will need different size panes. Acrylic aquariums the sides would sit on top of the bottom pane.

Is there a specific reason for that? I'd almost imagine that without a frame, it would always be best to have the sides sitting on the bottom pane. How do the front/back and sides sit in relation to the bottom pane when building a plywood tank?

 

[jjohnwm]

Everybody has a different correct way to do it.

I've only made a few smallish all-glass tanks, and I felt that standing the sides and ends on top of the bottom ensured a perfectly flat bottom, whereas sides and front overlapping the bottom could possibly be slightly uneven and create pressure points when filled. No idea how true this may be, but that was my logic.

I've made a bunch of plywood tanks and always make sure that the front panel overlaps the bottom and ends, so that all the screws go straight through the front wood and into the edges of the other pieces. This prevents any screws that might be slightly off-center or off-kilter from bulging the inner surface of the front wood outwards which would prevent a perfect flat sealing surface for the wood/silicone/glass interface.

 

[SCT62382]

Everybody has a different correct way to do it.

I've only made a few smallish all-glass tanks, and I felt that standing the sides and ends on top of the bottom ensured a perfectly flat bottom, whereas sides and front overlapping the bottom could possibly be slightly uneven and create pressure points when filled. No idea how true this may be, but that was my logic.

I've made a bunch of plywood tanks and always make sure that the front panel overlaps the bottom and ends, so that all the screws go straight through the front wood and into the edges of the other pieces. This prevents any screws that might be slightly off-center or off-kilter from bulging the inner surface of the front wood outwards which would prevent a perfect flat sealing surface for the wood/silicone/glass interface.

That all makes sense to me. Thank you

 

[TheWolfman]

Is there a specific reason for that? I'd almost imagine that without a frame, it would always be best to have the sides sitting on the bottom pane. How do the front/back and sides sit in relation to the bottom pane when building a plywood tank?

That's just the way most aquariums are assembled. Frameless Glass Aquariums are usually sat on top of styrofoam so you could do it ether way.

 

[Jmas]

ok thanks, can you guys recommended me a type of straight edge i can use when cutting glass, i see there's so many different types, i would like a type off one that would help me get a precise accurate cut, and stay perfectly straight so my cut would be perfectlystraight, as its my first time cutting glass, i have seen some which are T-squares,
some are right angled L framing squares, some which are some are just plain straight and others, which is the best type for cutting glass?

 

[Backfromthedead]

ok thanks, can you guys recommended me a type of straight edge i can use when cutting glass, i see there's so many different types, i would like a type off one that would help me get a precise accurate cut, and stay perfectly straight so my cut would be perfectlystraight, as its my first time cutting glass, i have seen some which are T-squares,
some are right angled L framing squares, some which are some are just plain straight and others, which is the best type for cutting glass?

I use c clamps and a straightedge to guide my cuts. Since its your first time cutting, i would recommend taking a couple practice cuts through junk material to figure out exactly how to set up your jig and get the right measurements.