Need Tips 6' x 3' 3/4" Glass

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wishexotics

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 20, 2008
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MLT, WA
I am picking up a free piece of glass this week. It is approximately 6' x 3' and it is 3/4" thick. Would it be safe to build a plywood tank with this piece of glass? According to Garf it isn't suggested to build a tank more than 24" high when exceeding 4' in length. Tips on how to go about this project greatly welcomed! This will be my first plywood tank build, but not my first tank build. I have experience with building glass tanks. Thank you.

On a side note I also have a molded plastic up that is [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] 52"x 29" x19". [/FONT]Any ideas for using it for a fish tank, pond or anything else???
 
You could always have the glass cut down/resized as long as it isn't tempered.
 
There are lots of members on here (me included) with plywood tanks over 3' tall. 3/4" glass will be fine for building a plywood tank, just use your head, and reinforce it with some bracing. GARF's plans are a good starting point, but they are pretty basic. Throw some lumber framing in there, and you're golden. A word of wisdom though... a 3' deep tank is too deep to reach the bottom without getting your head wet in most cases, so maintenance can be a pain in the butt, especially if the tank is up on a stand.
 
Awesome, thanks for the ideas and responses! I pick it up sunday, can't wait! I am thinking for tank size to build one 7' x 36' x 2.5' = 392 gallons. Now if I could find more glass that think I would go bigger with viewing on either side and the front. I do have a way over built cube that is 2 x 2 x 2. It is from the remaining glass of a 200 gallon oceanic that busted. So that glass is 1/2" for the uprights and 3/4" for the bottom. :screwy: I will get picks. I have never water tested it, so I hope it holds! :nilly: I am building a stand for that tank now. Thinking salt reef with fuzzy dwarf or fu-manchu. As for the plywood tank I am going to build I have access to cheap ABS plastic or I also have pond liner.... Or should I just got with the old standbys or epoxy or fiberglass? Also has anyone ever used truck bed liner? Would it be toxic? I fee like it would work work good, since is a rubbery type material.

As for the tank build I am thinking 2x4's for braces and either regular 3/4" ply or marine ply (since I live in the seattle area). Then for the stand it will only be a max of 2ft high and built with 2x8's, possibly 4x4's for the corners since I have one in the garage. This will hopefully be the cheapest, but well built ply tank out there. We will see, it's nice to have access to discount stuff or just plan old free! The hardest part of the build will be finding the time! Wish me luck, and hopefully the wife won't drown me in it when its done! :WHOA:
 
Oh yea forgot to ask. I keep finding large pieces of 3/16" glass. For free, most are at least 5-6' in length and 20-50" wide/high. Would any of this work for a project? Or is this glass just too thin. What if the pieces where cut down and tempered, how would that work? Thanks!
 
wishexotics;2364666; said:
Oh yea forgot to ask. I keep finding large pieces of 3/16" glass. For free, most are at least 5-6' in length and 20-50" wide/high. Would any of this work for a project? Or is this glass just too thin. What if the pieces where cut down and tempered, how would that work? Thanks!
Click to expand...

You could make smaller tanks out of it.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=139898
 
I got the piece of glass it is in pretty good shape minus a couple of chips on the edges from moving it around. People need to be more careful. The glass was a pain to get out of the back of my van with just my wife and I. My plan is to build a tank that is 80" x 36" x 30". One thing I am worried about is equal weight distribution with the glass weighing so much in the front. I figured I would need three 4x8 sheets of ply. Is oak an ok choice? It is not much more than others and seem better. Also any tips/links on sealing it would be great. No the million dollar question. What do you put in a 390ish gallon tank.... The opportunities are almost endless. I would like some of you to chime in with what you would house in it. My mind:nilly: just races with options! I will post pictures of my build in a new thread when I begin. Planning stage is right now. I don't want to F* this up.
 
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