Tank Build Safety Question

AncientMonster

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jul 12, 2014
11
5
18
Illinois
A while back I bought glass panels off Craig's list. I got 13- 96"x18"x3/8". The guy had been breeding cichlids in 22ft long runs with panels as viewing cant rememberthe width or height. My question is what's the biggest tank I can safely build with this thickness of glass.
The 2 tank sizes I'd like are:
96"x48"x18"- All plywood bottom. Open glass top.

96"x24"x24"- This would be all plywood tank in the center of a basement interior wall with 94"x16" viewing window. Giving 1" lip in front panel.

I built this roughly 5 years ago.
48"x48"x18"- 180gallon was suppose to be start for stingrays 20200101_194219.jpg
20200101_194214.jpg
 

M1A1

Piranha
MFK Member
Jun 10, 2013
120
122
76
MN
For a window design - with full 'gasket' support around the entire perimeter of the glass - the bottom edge of the glass should be no more than 19" underwater. This has a safety factor of 4.

For a rimless design - silicone only on the two vertical edges and bottom edge - the bottom edge of the glass should be no more than 15" underwater. This has a safety factor of 8.

So you can't build either of your desired sizes without some design changes.
 
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