Hello all, I am more of a lurker on this site, But i need some help/advise from those who have built plywood tanks, i have a few idea's and would like some advise/opinions on them. I have been on Garfs site, the aquatools website, and a few other that i can't remeber off hand when it comes to glass thickness, but nothing really pertains to my needs, I will eventually build a plywood tank that will be for just fish, But i want to house Reptiles and or amphibians in this tank.
1.) I want to build a plywood paludarium. for my first idea, The water depth will be roughly 15 inches at Max. the dimensions would be 96" L x 30"W x (15" water depth) (with a Height of 4 or 6 foot. Terrestrial height) (haven't decided how tall yet.) However, the idea I have and the plan in my head, requires that i don't have bracing for the front glass, or a plywood trim at the top of the glass. really just eliminating that top strip of plywood from the viewing window. I have seen it done on 6' tanks. but not on anything longer, and i understand the bowing issue is the most reason. but if it is possible what glass thickness can do? tempered or non. ( i don't mind ether one.)
2.) Another option is to build a tank that is 96"x30"x36" all one sheet of glass braced just like a normal plywood tank. but with a water depth of around 12" Max, What glass thickness would be recomended. I want to keep this tank a paludarium "WITH NO" future of becoming filled to the top with water. so i don't want to go with glass that requires the thickness to the height of the tank. if that makes since.
3.) third and last option. is i have 1/8 tempered glass, (now before you say: or think anything lol hear me out). The sheets i have are 72" x 34" they were from a sliding door, i have 4 panes. tho 1 is scratched from our dogs jumping and hitting it and wanting in from outside (we since fixed that issue lol) anyway i know that 1/8" glass can hold a foot of water, at least 10g due to me having a 10g however this is tempered vs the 10g non tempered glass. what i am getting at is if i built a river tank mountain stream more like. max depth would be 8 inch in the deepest spot, with the water really running down hill per say and not being at one level but multi leveled against the glass, could i possibly use the 1/8 glass? the plywood would be cut out just at the contour of the water level to hide the false bottom and so on. So it would have the 3/4" plywood supporting it right below the water level. the tank would be 6'x3'x3' tho actual water would be 12"-15 inches wide front to back depending on terrain. of the land portion. or 12' by 30" x 3' with same water width and height just longer. basically the biggest pondish area would be 20g at a depth of 8". I'm sorry if i am confusing you all, or not making sense. I am trying my best to make it make sense.
thanks for your patients in reading this. and any help you can provide.
1.) I want to build a plywood paludarium. for my first idea, The water depth will be roughly 15 inches at Max. the dimensions would be 96" L x 30"W x (15" water depth) (with a Height of 4 or 6 foot. Terrestrial height) (haven't decided how tall yet.) However, the idea I have and the plan in my head, requires that i don't have bracing for the front glass, or a plywood trim at the top of the glass. really just eliminating that top strip of plywood from the viewing window. I have seen it done on 6' tanks. but not on anything longer, and i understand the bowing issue is the most reason. but if it is possible what glass thickness can do? tempered or non. ( i don't mind ether one.)
2.) Another option is to build a tank that is 96"x30"x36" all one sheet of glass braced just like a normal plywood tank. but with a water depth of around 12" Max, What glass thickness would be recomended. I want to keep this tank a paludarium "WITH NO" future of becoming filled to the top with water. so i don't want to go with glass that requires the thickness to the height of the tank. if that makes since.
3.) third and last option. is i have 1/8 tempered glass, (now before you say: or think anything lol hear me out). The sheets i have are 72" x 34" they were from a sliding door, i have 4 panes. tho 1 is scratched from our dogs jumping and hitting it and wanting in from outside (we since fixed that issue lol) anyway i know that 1/8" glass can hold a foot of water, at least 10g due to me having a 10g however this is tempered vs the 10g non tempered glass. what i am getting at is if i built a river tank mountain stream more like. max depth would be 8 inch in the deepest spot, with the water really running down hill per say and not being at one level but multi leveled against the glass, could i possibly use the 1/8 glass? the plywood would be cut out just at the contour of the water level to hide the false bottom and so on. So it would have the 3/4" plywood supporting it right below the water level. the tank would be 6'x3'x3' tho actual water would be 12"-15 inches wide front to back depending on terrain. of the land portion. or 12' by 30" x 3' with same water width and height just longer. basically the biggest pondish area would be 20g at a depth of 8". I'm sorry if i am confusing you all, or not making sense. I am trying my best to make it make sense.
thanks for your patients in reading this. and any help you can provide.
