Glass Thickness Guide

Drstrangelove

Potamotrygon
MFK Member
Oct 21, 2012
2,693
1,227
164
San Francisco
I picked up panels of 1/2" non-temp glass that was used in a standard 8' long 240g tank. I had the bottom panel that is also 1/2", cut in the middle so I can achieve a 96" x 48" x 24" (480g) size tank. After doing research on the safety facor chart I was between the 3.8 and 4.0 range with bracing via different sites.

A friend has me concerned that the glass is too thin and needs to be 3/4".

Thoughts on continuing with the 1/2" build?

The bottom is going to be either PVC or plywood.

I think your friend is mistaken. 1/2" is the proper thickness of unhardened glass for a 24" tall tank, assuming adequate bracing. 3/4" is appropriate for a 30" tall tank.
 

1MADMAN1

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 14, 2016
16
3
3
There seems to be alot of people on here that keep asking the same old question how thick should my glass be. well i am going to write it up so you all can know and can just look it up here. i build glass aquariums from 24x12x15 to 96x36x24". Now remember folks when calculating that you need to consider the end panel and not the front. Ok so here goes in LxWxH terms

24x12x15 4mm

36x15x18 6mm
36x18x18 6mm
36x18x20 6mm
36x24x24 10mm
36x24x28 10mm
36x36x24 12mm
36x24x36 12mm
36x30x30 12mm

48x15x18 6mm
48x18x18 6mm
48x18x20 6mm
48x24x24 10mm
48x24x28 10mm
48x36x24 12mm
48x24x36 12mm
48x30x30 12mm

60x15x18 6mm
60x18x18 6mm
60x18x20 6mm
60x24x24 10mm
60x24x28 10mm
60x36x24 12mm
60x24x36 12mm
60x30x30 12mm

72x15x18 6mm
72x18x18 6mm
72x18x20 6mm
72x24x24 10mm
72x24x28 10mm
72x36x24 12mm
72x24x36 12mm
72x30x30 12mm

84x24x24 10mm
84x24x28 10mm
84x36x24 12mm
84x24x36 12mm
84x30x30 12mm

96x24x24 10mm
96x24x28 10mm
96x36x24 12mm
96x24x36 12mm
96x30x30 12mm

PM me For Custom sizes or sizes not listed

once again once your end panels are 3x3 15mm is required
3x4 19+mm 3x5 25mm

as a general guide

6mm is 1/4"
10mm is 3/8"
12mm is 1/2"
15 is 5/8"
19 is 3/4"
25 is 1"

If you have a size you like to know post on this thread or Pm me
I wanted build a plywood tank of 96x48x36 inches and wanted 1 front window aprox 88x28 inches so was wondering what thickness of glass should be thanks
 

Amatullah

Feeder Fish
Dec 24, 2017
1
0
6
36
There seems to be alot of people on here that keep asking the same old question how thick should my glass be. well i am going to write it up so you all can know and can just look it up here. i build glass aquariums from 24x12x15 to 96x36x24". Now remember folks when calculating that you need to consider the end panel and not the front. Ok so here goes in LxWxH terms

24x12x15 4mm

36x15x18 6mm
36x18x18 6mm
36x18x20 6mm
36x24x24 10mm
36x24x28 10mm
36x36x24 12mm
36x24x36 12mm
36x30x30 12mm

48x15x18 6mm
48x18x18 6mm
48x18x20 6mm
48x24x24 10mm
48x24x28 10mm
48x36x24 12mm
48x24x36 12mm
48x30x30 12mm

60x15x18 6mm
60x18x18 6mm
60x18x20 6mm
60x24x24 10mm
60x24x28 10mm
60x36x24 12mm
60x24x36 12mm
60x30x30 12mm

72x15x18 6mm
72x18x18 6mm
72x18x20 6mm
72x24x24 10mm
72x24x28 10mm
72x36x24 12mm
72x24x36 12mm
72x30x30 12mm

84x24x24 10mm
84x24x28 10mm
84x36x24 12mm
84x24x36 12mm
84x30x30 12mm

96x24x24 10mm
96x24x28 10mm
96x36x24 12mm
96x24x36 12mm
96x30x30 12mm

PM me For Custom sizes or sizes not listed

once again once your end panels are 3x3 15mm is required
3x4 19+mm 3x5 25mm

as a general guide

6mm is 1/4"
10mm is 3/8"
12mm is 1/2"
15 is 5/8"
19 is 3/4"
25 is 1"

If you have a size you like to know post on this thread or Pm me
Hello I was wondering what would be needed for a custom tank I’m trying to build. The tank size is 120” L x 48” W x 72”H also the equation associated with finding it if you don’t mind.
 

41714049

Gambusia
Nov 12, 2012
1
0
16
Canada
Hello,

I am planning a build of a paludarium am am looking for some advice on glass thickness. Most of the tank will not have water in it so will keep my measurements to the height of the water.

Width = 72" (entire 72" width will be water)
Length = 120" (only 24" of this will have water, remainder filled with soil... but water has more force so lets assume water for safety factor)
Height = 18"

Any help is appreciated. All glass I am using will be tempered low-iron glass.
 

Feezy3000

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Oct 22, 2011
18
2
33
Georgia
Hello all. I hope that this isn't a dumb question but I've decided to get back into the hobby with a vengeance. I currently have a 150 gallon cube aquarium that's housing 1 Chocolate Tang, 1 Kole Tang, 1 Yellow Tang, 2 Clowns, 1 Damsel, 1 Wrasse. I have 4 Jumbo Snails and that's pretty much it. So, I want to build a plywood aquarium for these guys. The size of the tank will total about 388 gallons. I have glass from a tank that was broken down and the glass is 1/2 inch thick and the dimensions are 6 ft x 3 ft. I need to know if the glass is thick enough? I have pics of the tank that I've constructed on Sketchup. Just need to feedback as soon as possible. Tank dimensions are (L) 79" x (W) 25.5" (H) 41.25". I plan to add more fish. More smaller fish like Chromis, Gobies etc. I've built a few plywood tanks before but not one this large. Your help will be much appreciated. Thanks for your time guys.New Tank - New Foundation 4.png New Tank - New Foundation 5.png New Tank - New Foundation 6.png New Tank - New Foundation 6.png
 

Charlie W

Feeder Fish
Mar 13, 2018
1
0
1
51
as a general it does but ply wood tanks have an advantage because it can be 4' high but if the vieing window is 2' high then its only classed as a 2' high tank(plus a lil extra for safety). with tempered glass sometimes the strength is increased by 5 times sumtimes strength isnt increased, so by all means use tempered just dont really on it being stronger.
That would not be quite true. If the viewing window was 2' high, AND was at the top 2' of the tank, it would be true. The deeper down it is, the more pressure exerted per inch.
 

Canadian Fish Keeper

Feeder Fish
Apr 22, 2018
2
0
1
Hello all, after a long time away from the hobby I was inspired by my granddaughter's interest in fish keeping and I decided to maybe get into the hobby so as to share in it with her. My last tank was a 40 gallon fresh water community tank back in the last century and is long gone so I am thinking on building a new tank. The size I am thinking is 60x18x20 6mm or 48x18x20 6mm. My concern is the 6mm glass. Most glass thickness calculators size the thickness for these tanks at 10mm so I was wondering what the safety factor might be for this type of tank construction if I were to brace both ends front to back with 18.5 x 9 6mm with a center brace of 18.5 x 6 6mm? Below is my proposed bracing. Any comments or assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Aquarium bracing.jpg
 

earthen

Feeder Fish
May 17, 2018
1
0
1
42
There seems to be alot of people on here that keep asking the same old question how thick should my glass be. well i am going to write it up so you all can know and can just look it up here. i build glass aquariums from 24x12x15 to 96x36x24". Now remember folks when calculating that you need to consider the end panel and not the front. Ok so here goes in LxWxH terms

24x12x15 4mm

36x15x18 6mm
36x18x18 6mm
36x18x20 6mm
36x24x24 10mm
36x24x28 10mm
36x36x24 12mm
36x24x36 12mm
36x30x30 12mm

48x15x18 6mm
48x18x18 6mm
48x18x20 6mm
48x24x24 10mm
48x24x28 10mm
48x36x24 12mm
48x24x36 12mm
48x30x30 12mm

60x15x18 6mm
60x18x18 6mm
60x18x20 6mm
60x24x24 10mm
60x24x28 10mm
60x36x24 12mm
60x24x36 12mm
60x30x30 12mm

72x15x18 6mm
72x18x18 6mm
72x18x20 6mm
72x24x24 10mm
72x24x28 10mm
72x36x24 12mm
72x24x36 12mm
72x30x30 12mm

84x24x24 10mm
84x24x28 10mm
84x36x24 12mm
84x24x36 12mm
84x30x30 12mm

96x24x24 10mm
96x24x28 10mm
96x36x24 12mm
96x24x36 12mm
96x30x30 12mm

PM me For Custom sizes or sizes not listed

once again once your end panels are 3x3 15mm is required
3x4 19+mm 3x5 25mm

as a general guide

6mm is 1/4"
10mm is 3/8"
12mm is 1/2"
15 is 5/8"
19 is 3/4"
25 is 1"

If you have a size you like to know post on this thread or Pm me
Hi...the information you have shared in this post is very elaborate - covering most of the dimensions. In my country - aquarium shops usually make all glass aquariums with thicker glass instead of using a thinner glass with bracing or trims. They even favor china made aquariums to custom built aquariums.

I have a query, to which I would request you to provide your opinion:

I am planning to build an all-glass aquarium of 72(L) x 15(W) x 15(H) with 6mm float glass, Instead of using braces on it - I wish to use aluminium trims on the base and top of the aquarium. The top trim will have two aluminium braces and the bottom will have one aluminium brace.

Will this provide suitable strength to this lengthy aquarium made with 6mm or should I go for 3 glass braces on the top and another 3 in the base of the aquarium?

Kindly suggest. Best regards /
 

Diydummy

Feeder Fish
May 24, 2018
4
1
1
49
There seems to be alot of people on here that keep asking the same old question how thick should my glass be. well i am going to write it up so you all can know and can just look it up here. i build glass aquariums from 24x12x15 to 96x36x24". Now remember folks when calculating that you need to consider the end panel and not the front. Ok so here goes in LxWxH terms

24x12x15 4mm

36x15x18 6mm
36x18x18 6mm
36x18x20 6mm
36x24x24 10mm
36x24x28 10mm
36x36x24 12mm
36x24x36 12mm
36x30x30 12mm

48x15x18 6mm
48x18x18 6mm
48x18x20 6mm
48x24x24 10mm
48x24x28 10mm
48x36x24 12mm
48x24x36 12mm
48x30x30 12mm

60x15x18 6mm
60x18x18 6mm
60x18x20 6mm
60x24x24 10mm
60x24x28 10mm
60x36x24 12mm
60x24x36 12mm
60x30x30 12mm

72x15x18 6mm
72x18x18 6mm
72x18x20 6mm
72x24x24 10mm
72x24x28 10mm
72x36x24 12mm
72x24x36 12mm
72x30x30 12mm

84x24x24 10mm
84x24x28 10mm
84x36x24 12mm
84x24x36 12mm
84x30x30 12mm

96x24x24 10mm
96x24x28 10mm
96x36x24 12mm
96x24x36 12mm
96x30x30 12mm

PM me For Custom sizes or sizes not listed

once again once your end panels are 3x3 15mm is required
3x4 19+mm 3x5 25mm

as a general guide

6mm is 1/4"
10mm is 3/8"
12mm is 1/2"
15 is 5/8"
19 is 3/4"
25 is 1"

If you have a size you like to know post on this thread or Pm me
122Lx30Hx35W is my plywood tank. I’m using 1/2” tempered, what do you think?
 
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