Free 4x8 Sheets of Glass!!!! Big Tank???

[CJH]

If they're free I would at least look into what it would take to properly laminate sheets together with clear polyvinyl film.

I don't have the links handy but for architectural purposes laminated safety glass is generally considered to be about 75% the strength of it's total thickness. So 1/2" safety glass would be as strong as 3/8" float glass. That 75% number is considered conservative by some.

Over in the UK laminated safety glass is used in all glass builds a lot and even in some suprisingly tall tanks relative to the thickness. I started to read into that when it came up in a recent build thread but didn't get very far.

If you can't laminate the sheets together (and test them outside) I would do what a previous poster suggested and build some paludaria. I would not just dry stack the sheets, especially in a 30" tall tank.

 

[cabinetman]

I dont know if I mentioned this or not but this is going to be a plywood tank with just one viewing window. So the glass will be suported all the way around by a frame so I dont think I will need to laminate. THink of this...If your were going to build a bridge out of glass. One sheet might not hold you but 3 or four layers would. Basically thats what Im doing except it will also be supported top and bottom as well. Im sure it will work stacking them in a frame. Time will tell. Soon as I get my glass in my 280 Im starting a 375 and Im using 4 layers of this glass for the viewing window and if my glass dont show up tomorow for my 280 Im using it for that one too....(glass is 3 weeks late!!!)and Im sick of waiting. Oh ya the post about trying to save a few bucks...its not a few bucks. For a piece of 15mil 30x96 was over $800 bucks plus tax so Its a huge savings.

 

[Squirtle919]

yes but if one support of that bridge cracks the whole thing will fall I dont have much experience in stacking glass sheets together to make them stronger but I just cant see it working.

 

[David R]

Oh ya the post about trying to save a few bucks...its not a few bucks. For a piece of 15mil 30x96 was over $800 bucks plus tax so Its a huge savings.

not huge compared to lost livestock and the cleaning bill if the window blows while you're not home...


And being supported around the edge may help a little as there wouldn't be the same pressure on the bottom seam as with a conventional all-glass tank, but you will still have the same weight of water pushing on several thin pieces of glass. $800 sounds ridiculous, you'd be better off looking for a cheap 8' tank with 1/2" glass and a cracked panel, probably wouldn't be hard to find something 96x24" at least. If you drop the height of your tank by even a few inches you could safely use 12mm glass, which would probably save you a lot of money...

 

[mustang93svt]

I agree with it not being a good idea for a plywood build even if they are free. My biggest tank has two 1/2" sheets laminated together for the front pane.. Your idea would be iffy with them laminated together, without it is only as strong as one pane even if you put 20 panes. View attachment 2012-11-06 18.39.22.jpg

 

[Psylant]

I'd just build an 8x4x12" or so. I think that would be ok. Would be great for rays or a planted tank if you're into that sort of thing.

 

[paulW]

I remember reading about a build a long time ago (Somewhere else), where the builder built a plywood tank but instead of using a waterproofing "paint" he lined the inside with glass.
You might be able to line the inside of the plywood tank with glass. Not sure if it would save any labor or not..

I'd be too scared to use the thin glass for the viewing window.. As someone else said, a broken tank that big can cause thousands of dollars in damage and lost fish..

 

[Sarertnoc Kram]

This kid is loco it won't work


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[cabinetman]

I think you should try stacking a few sheets of glass together and putting some weight on them before you post any replys. Basically what everyones saying is that no matter how many sheets are together its only as strong as one???That dont make sense. It would be like saying that a stack of plywood is only as strong as one sheet?? Dont make sense. I played around some with this today. One layer of 3/16 2 1/2 x24 long will hold about a pound(just a guess) with it suspended betweem two points. 2 layers will hold twice as much, three layers will hold three times as much and so on. So once I get up to about 4 or 5 layers I can allmost stand on it. And....it doesnt break. Every layer I add makes it that much stronger. Now I could see if there was a space between the glass then It would only be as strong as one layer but when they are stacked tight it a differnt story. And for all of you who think Im going to loose all my fish..come on do you really think Im going to fill this thing up and stock it before Im postive that this thing aint going to leak or bust. Before anything like this comes in my house I'd be pounding on it and shaking the crap out of it before it ever makes it somewhere where it can do any damage.

 

[David R]

Plywood flexes, glass doesn't.....