Hello,
I've referenced the MFK artickes on several large tank builds in planning my build. Thanks for posting!
Am making a 4500gallon and now it's come time to order the glass. I'm no expert so all I know is what can be found online. Here's the various methods I've found. 1inch thick glass attached to steel support beams. 3/4inch acrylic attached to concrete. 1inch acrylic attached to stainless frame. The contractors doing the work dont want the liability that comes with the decision... so here I am.
My plan is to do the 1inch thickness in glass. Question here is tempered or plate/annealed for your set up?
Now the second issue. the plan is to have a smaller tank ontop of the main tank. Upper size is 7.5D x 8W x 2H feet, Lower size is 7.5 D x 10W x 8H feet.
The bottom of the upper tank is the cover to the lower (save a space to get in and out of the lower tank). using glass here to allow natural light and serve as the lid. the lower tank walls (1ft thick) and 1ft thick midway on topside, a bracket made of rebar/cement ties the tank front and rear wall together (1ft thick).
Planing on using the edge of the tank walls + this mid bracket to set in 2 pcs of glass approx 7.5ft x 4 side by side. Planned over lap of glass on mounting surface about 3-6inches.
Online tank glass calculators work out a 13mm thickness for the given volume. however, I don't think its factored in that there will be no support in the middle for the 7.5ft long side. Will it bow? Should I use 1inch instead? and once again tempered or not...?
one last question, is there a formula used to determine over lap glass to mounting surface?
Thanks in advance. I've posted the build details here in this link if interested... http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=242389
I've referenced the MFK artickes on several large tank builds in planning my build. Thanks for posting!
Am making a 4500gallon and now it's come time to order the glass. I'm no expert so all I know is what can be found online. Here's the various methods I've found. 1inch thick glass attached to steel support beams. 3/4inch acrylic attached to concrete. 1inch acrylic attached to stainless frame. The contractors doing the work dont want the liability that comes with the decision... so here I am.
My plan is to do the 1inch thickness in glass. Question here is tempered or plate/annealed for your set up?
Now the second issue. the plan is to have a smaller tank ontop of the main tank. Upper size is 7.5D x 8W x 2H feet, Lower size is 7.5 D x 10W x 8H feet.
The bottom of the upper tank is the cover to the lower (save a space to get in and out of the lower tank). using glass here to allow natural light and serve as the lid. the lower tank walls (1ft thick) and 1ft thick midway on topside, a bracket made of rebar/cement ties the tank front and rear wall together (1ft thick).
Planing on using the edge of the tank walls + this mid bracket to set in 2 pcs of glass approx 7.5ft x 4 side by side. Planned over lap of glass on mounting surface about 3-6inches.
Online tank glass calculators work out a 13mm thickness for the given volume. however, I don't think its factored in that there will be no support in the middle for the 7.5ft long side. Will it bow? Should I use 1inch instead? and once again tempered or not...?
one last question, is there a formula used to determine over lap glass to mounting surface?
Thanks in advance. I've posted the build details here in this link if interested... http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=242389
