Can my Floors handle this?

[12 Volt Man]

3/8" non tempered

3/8" is not going to be thick enough for almost any of the tank sizes you have mentioned in this thread

there have been a few threads on glass thickness, but the main factor is the tank height.

below 24" you can use 3/8"

24-30" tanks you can use 1/2".

taller than that probably 5/8" or greater..

can someone with more experience verify?

 

[mannyhappy]

3/8" is not going to be thick enough for almost any of the tank sizes you have mentioned in this thread

there have been a few threads on glass thickness, but the main factor is the tank height.

below 24" you can use 3/8"

24-30" tanks you can use 1/2".

taller than that probably 5/8" or greater..

can someone with more experience verify?

you are right. with the 18" he wants....he should be good. The bigger issue is the length of the tank. There is more of a possibilityof it flexing. Plywood is okay, but the plywood/glass connection should be thought out carefully.

 

[KYeasting]

and if it were me i would get a ton of cinder blocks and park something heavy on it to see if the ground sags over time.

As long as the sand/soil beneath the house is firmly packed, it won't settle much, if at all. Foundations are made up of soils that won't settle, and they're thick enough to dissipate any stresses caused by the house and whatever else is loading the soil. I don't see the blocks settling much more than 1/4" or more as long as the soil is well compacted.

 

[12 Volt Man]

is the tank going to only be 18" tall now? IMO, that presents problems for the giant fish that are going to be in it (except for rays)

you need at least 24" in height to keep pretty much any monster fish IMO. they need that much room when spooked otherwise they will be smashing into the lid of the tank if it is shallower..

which means you need at least 1/2" glass..

 

[AndrewMack]

well then i will have to settle for an insanely nice african cichlid tank

 

[12 Volt Man]

Im trying to build something large enough for a lima shovelnose, a silver aro, and some big oscars. Maybe keep that footprint and only do 18-12" hieght?

don't panic just yet. how much more expensive is 1/2" glass that is 24" high?

I am just speaking from experience here. I had an 18" pacu in a tank that was only 18" high (plus a bit of gravel) and when the fish would eat, the tail of the fish would be dragging on the bottom of the tank.. not the optimum situation.. the fish you are looking at all get pretty big..

you can do it shallower, but its better if you can go with a 24" depth (or even 22")

 

[AndrewMack]

well 3/8" is enough for a tank that is only 24" but now i wanna stay under 300g just to be safe

 

[AndrewMack]

i can do 8'wide X 22" high X 30" front to back......

 

[souljah2009]

glass up the trailor and fill .....look in a window to see fish

 

[cchhcc]

I wouldn't even consider putting such a tank inside a home, mobile or otherwise, that isn't fitted with a huge air exchanger or the like. You cannot imagine the humidity and moisture problems you will face unless you're done it before.

Also, that much weight needs a slab for sure.

I also think only an expert tank maker could make 3/8's work IF AT ALL. For some perspective, my last 300 had 1" glass.

I'd suggest you build your big tank outdoors. I did so, and it is very easy to maintain even in semi-cold climates.