Metal Framed/Braced Glass Aquarium?

[Keightley]

So I found this picture of a monster glass aquarium the other day and learned that it was braced by metal. Can this really work?



How would one adhere the glass to the metal frame?

What about this aquarium that is using a t-slot aluminum frame? Is the aquarium part of the frame or do you think it is separate from the frame. Is there a way to use the t-slot aluminum system to build an aquarium? For example the glass can be the panels to the frame? And then seal all the edges with silicone to make it hold water?



I'd love to read your thoughts.

Keightley

 

[Experiment397]

I owned a small tank that was metal braced a while back. had a frame going around all edges of the tank that the glass pieces met up in, then there was a thick bead of silicone on the inside of the braced corner/joint. the metal was like 90º angle iron on a small scale and was welded together at the corners of the tank where 3 pieces came together, also had 2 cross braces welded on across the top and 2 along the bottom. was a super sturdy tank and was water tight as well. i used it for a kangaroo rat for a few years then it got broken in storage after that

 

[Experiment397]

Also as someone with experience working with welded metal framed structures and custom applications of metalwork I would think it would work very well. I would use lots of cross braces along the top and bottom to resist bowing along with 45º bracing across the corners on all 3 exterior faces of the corner. As long as their was enough overlap where the glass went into the corner and was covered by the metal frame it should hold the glass in place. Would be difficult to build though, some joints would have to be bolted or riveted so you could undo it to put the glass in place, unless you could make it sturdy enough with no welded top frame and have the glass slide in from the top. Either way youd want to seal the seams where the glass panels met up with some heavy silicone beads