Glass thickness for tank build

[NiaCas]

Hi all,

I'm new here and joined because I've become more and more obsessed with the hobby since I got into it just over a year ago. My fish have needs that can't be filled by the crappy stores around here So I've decided to try building my first tank. My local Petsmart and Petco are kinda small and won't sell or order a tank bigger than 75 gallons (which is expensive anyway and I don't have any real glass stores around to sell me glass of an appropriate thickness. Lowes and Home Depot directed me to a custom window store, but the guy Russian guy who makes the windows said "No! I do not sell plain glass to customers! You must buy stained glass window! I am an artist!" Sooo, I thought I'd try a project I found on my favorite youtube channel - The King of DIY: https://www.youtube.com/user/uarujoey

Joey made an awesome plywood tank that I think I can build. I'm pretty handy There's still one glass viewing panel though. The thickest material I can find is either glass or acrylic at .22 thickness. It's a bit under the 6mm minimum (and that's for a smaller tank). For a tank about 30 inches high and 4 feet long, it seems like it might be risky, but I thought I'd see what you guys think. Maybe the acrylic would be ok? If not, does anyone have any suggestions for an online store that has reasonable shipping prices for glass sheet?

I'm not sure if I've made all this clear enough, so please let me know if there's anything you'd like me to elaborate on!

 

[hereticlosmorte]

not sure about your area, but you might have to travel an hr or two away to find a suitable glass vendor.
i got a piece of 3/4" thick, 70" long x 20" tall for my viewing panel for about 170$ near where i am. i had to do a fair bit of looking and pricing, as most places couldn't accommodate my needs.
i wouldn't put my faith in a thickness under the minimum guidelines either, regardless of glass or acrylic, that's a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Phixer]

Joey's got some good DIY advice for most things (except for chillers). Glass Cages out of TN is your best bet for plate glass. Good prices but you will have to meet the truck at a truck stop to take delivery. You will find that most local glass shops fear aquariums , your going to find yourself having to learn much of this on your own. Pet stores are of no help and most local fish / aquarium stores lack fabrication knowledge as well. No offense to the general public but when it comes to aquariums most people are morons and haven't a clue when it comes to fabrication so they will tell you to simply avoid it.


The DIY forums here are a good start for most projects especially plywood/fiberglass tanks when and if you get into building in all glass or acrylic thicknesses over an inch it's a lonely group. If acrylic, make sure your using cell cast and not extruded.

 

[Sarmo]

+1 on Glass cages..... they sell what ever you need/want.
I'd say you need 1/2" glass for a 30" tank. that's what my AGA 210 has.

 

[David R]

30" tall and 6mm glass, I hope you like the feeling of wet carpet!!

I'm not sure if you're from Georgia the country or Georgia the state, but either way I can't offer any specific advice as to how you can source the right thickness glass. But either way, don't skimp on glass/acrylic for a DIY build, either way. This calculator will help you determine the thickness glass you need for a reasonable safety factor; http://www.theaquatools.com/building-your-aquarium

For a 120x75x75cm tank (roughly 4'x30x30") 6mm glass will have a safety factor of 0.7, so even if the glass is perfect in it's composition and completely supported around it's edges, there is a very high likelihood that it won't hold that much water.