Most overbuilt tanks?

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Psylant

Fire Eel
MFK Member
May 24, 2011
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Canada
I'm curious who else out there has hilariously overbuilt tanks? 3.8 is the common safety factor that most tanks consider "completely safe" barring a defect in the build or glass. Many tanks out there are only a safety factor of 2. I think my latest purchase has a safety factor of 6 WITHOUT taking into account any bracing. There's a 2.5" eurobrace all around the tank, and two 20" wide strips of glass that run from front-to-back at the one-third and two-third sections of the tank. The dimensions are 96"x41" x28" and it's made with 19mm (3/4") glass, and the bracing is all 19mm too. There's also a 1" thick sheet of marine plywood siliconed to the bottom :screwy:

What are your overbuilt monstrosities like?
 
I doubt that I am the only dummy out there. How do you figure the safety factor? I am building one 72X72X32 of 3/4 glass, 2 sheets thick of 3/4 ply for the bottom. I was going to use 1/2 for the eurobrace. What is my factor and how did you determine it?
 
Try Google "aquarium glass safety factor calculator".

With regards to over built tanks, I've seen plans for a steel framed tank with a safety factor of around 8. The front window is 15mm toughened glass with a safety factor of something crazy like 30!

Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
David R said:
Try Google "aquarium glass safety factor calculator".

With regards to over built tanks, I've seen plans for a steel framed tank with a safety factor of around 8. The front window is 15mm toughened glass with a safety factor of something crazy like 30!

Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Click to expand...

I'm sure the framed aquariums have safety factors in the double digits or higher. They don't require silicone to do anything but not let water pass between the glass panels
 
Exactly. Here is a link to the thread I was talking about, couldn't find it before as I was on my phone: http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=62337&start=31
Here's what I'm considering for the new tank. Now I'm not travelling at all I can think about getting into it again.

It's an AutoCAD design so possibly not so clear as a jpg...

The dimensions are: 1550mm wide x 1568mm tall x 850mm depth.
The internal tank dimesions are: 1546mm x 810mm x 800mm = 807 Litres
The front viewing window is: 1490mm x 710mm x 15mm low iron toughened (safety factor 31.25) - only going this crazy because I can
It also has a lowered bottom area for the gravel - why use up expensive window space!!??

Design safety factor for the tank as a whole is around 8 which means the house will fall down first. It's only this high because the materials are strong for the size of the tank so little to no compromise is required.
The design will use tig welded stainless steel angle for the bulk of the frame and earolam back and bottom panels with a fibreglass sealing coat. Earolam is 12mm thich honeycomb with kevlar on both sides. It's one of the composite products used on America's Cup boats. It's incredible strong for its thickness.
Click to expand...

"Warren" is the guy who did the numbers that this calculator (and others) are based on; http://www.theaquatools.com/building-your-aquarium

I get a 68kg difference in glass weight between that calculator and the one you posted (which is the lighter of the two) with my 240x120x70cm 15mm glass tank. Both say safety factor of 3.6 though.
 
I'm sure the weight of glass changes based upon it's composition. Every company probably has their own recipe. More iron or something perhaps?
 
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