quick glass thickness question

[tknjk]

I'm contemplading building an 8x2x2 is 1/2 glass thick enough, and how many gallons would it be? I have a buddy I work with that used to work for a glass company and he told me he could get me a discount on some glass.

 

[KRUNNCH540]

I dunno. I am not much of a veteran here, but I just bought a 170 gallon yesterday and it has 5/8" thick glass. I would think a 8x2x2 would need thicker glass than mine.

 

[Davey_8313]

It would be like a 240 gallon tank, man... 1/2" might work if you put a brace in the middle and have two 4' pieces....

 

[tunerX]

It depends on the glass type. 1/2" tempered will hold it for sure. 3/8" tempered should hold it as well. Plate glass at 1/2" should be good. The gallons don't matter with water pressure. It is the height of the tank that determines how many PSI of outword force you have to keep contained.

1' of water makes about .43 PSI so you will need to keep about .86 PSI at 2'.

The width of the tank will usually determine how much bracing you will need to stop the bowing; thicker glass will need less cross bracing at the top and bottom.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/aquariumdiy/l/blcustomtank.htm

 

[eh1421]

garf says 3/8 glass is fine

btw 3/8 is good to 24" tall
and 1/2 " is good to 30" tall

http://garf.org/index.html

mike

 

[tknjk]

what do you think about it being 2 foot wide? Think thats too much?

 

[Davey_8313]

what do you think about it being 2 foot wide? Think thats too much?

Nope...

 

[Dr Joe]

garf says 3/8 glass is fine

btw 3/8 is good to 24" tall
and 1/2 " is good to 30" tall

http://garf.org/index.html

mike

Tempered or plate?

 

[Wolf3101]

Thats a standard 240...ours is built from 5/8" starlite but thats just a personal choice. 1/2" tempered would be fine unless you plan to drill it. Any 8' long tank is going to need to be euro braced IMO.

 

[tknjk]

I figured it would need to be braced, and would feel better if it was reguardless. So I guess I'm going to get a quote for plate on the sides, and temperd on the bottom. That seems to be how I have noticed a lot of tanks are made from the factory.