Glass Thickness Query

[Doc_Polit]

I picked up a custom "cube" tank.

According to the "Glass Thickness Guidelines" posted on this site, the guy built the tank (3/8") about 3.25" higher than recommended.

Is this a huge concern?

Can I somehow strengthen then tank? I plan to add a eurobrace (including center brace).

I really do not want to tear down this tank just to trim the panes.

Your thoughts?

 

[kallmond]

Don't fill it all the way up?

Glass Thickness Guidelines. They're not rules.

 

[Doc_Polit]

Only 1 opinion???

 

[Muni]

What are the dimensions on your cube? 24"? 30"? 67.34520"?

And are there any braces in place now? A picture would also be extremely helpful as we could draw on it in ms paint to show any suggestions people may have.

 

[Rivermud]

Doc, if you are looking for answers you'll need to provide more details. Dimensions help greatly.

 

[Doc_Polit]

Sorry guys....

The tank is 34.75" L x 24"D x 31" H and made from 3/8" float glass (non-tempered).

Here are some pics...

I hope that helps.

 

[Capsaicin]

I think it should be fine as is, but if you want to be on the "safe" side, then get a 1/4" thick piece of glass to put as a brace bar across the top of the tank. I did a 150g rimless with 2 bars that are 4" wide made from 1/4" annealed(float glass). Should run you about $10-$15 from a local glass shop.

 

[greengiant]

personally I would just not fill it right up. I would be scared to run a tank so close to its limits. guidlines add in a safety factor and its wise to do so. likely you would be fine but as you get closer to the limits it greatly reduces the safety of the tank. it cna be the difference between a bump breaking it or someone hitting it with a pool cue. be on the safe side and leave some room at the top. I personally would still add bracing across it for piece of mind. good luck

 

[Rivermud]

Your tank has a safety factor of 1.4, significantly less that the an all glass aquariums recommended 3.8 (base starting point). Adding a cross brace as suggested above will improve the safety factor dramatically (roughly 2.8ish). The main issue you are dealing with is pressure at depth, to be safe you can also fill it only part way, for example if you fill it to 26 inches the safety factor improves to 2.3. The reason these things improve your SF is because each one reduces the deflection caused by pressure over the area of the sides. The brace stabilizes the side, and the lower fill line reduces downward and outward pressure as a whole.

 

[Doc_Polit]

Thanks a million for the replies.

I thought this tank might pose a problem. No wonder the $$ was so good.

Rivermud - If I may lean on your expertise once more......

I am useless when it comes to calculating safety factor. Can I ask the maximum height that you would recommend with the current footprint?

I am thinking I will likely tear the tank down, re-cut the glass and rebuild it at the current footprint rather than chance a flood (and subsequent divorce ).

Thanks again.