Ok, plate glass it is. As far as the dementions, the OS dementions are 96x36x30, the IS dementions are 89x28.5x28.5.......about 312G. I am going 30H because thats all that will fit through my doorway. If I had bigger/wider doors, I'd go taller and wider. When you order glass, do you have them smooth the edges?
Tempered or Plate Glass?
- Thread starter BadOleRoss
- Start date
the reason why fish tanks are made of tempered glass so so that when some keepers get objects to big into there tank and drop it, it wont crack, because it is unlikly that you could smack the edge with enough force to shatter tempered glass but plate glass it is easy to crack the face.
just imagine tossing a ball against a shower door...
tempered is designed to shater on the edges ( to be some kind of safty feature??)
where as if you were to toss a ball into a pain glass window you run the possibility of shattering it.
just imagine tossing a ball against a shower door...
tempered is designed to shater on the edges ( to be some kind of safty feature??)
where as if you were to toss a ball into a pain glass window you run the possibility of shattering it.
1/2" ordinary glass is fine. No need to go tempered. My viewing glass is 96" x 26". Tank depth is 31". Height of the viewing glass is the important factor to consider and not the length.
As for polishing the edges, the glass company I ordered from told me that if it is to be used in an aquarium, the edges should be polished. I think that it is only needed if you plan on making an all glass aquarium since the edges need to line up perfectly to form a perfect seal. Since your glass will serve to be a viewing window only in a plywood tank or something similar then I don't think the edges need polishing since the silicone will be applied to the outer border and not on the edge itself. But I got mine polished anyway so maybe next time if I ever take the tank apart I can use the glass in another aquarium.
As for polishing the edges, the glass company I ordered from told me that if it is to be used in an aquarium, the edges should be polished. I think that it is only needed if you plan on making an all glass aquarium since the edges need to line up perfectly to form a perfect seal. Since your glass will serve to be a viewing window only in a plywood tank or something similar then I don't think the edges need polishing since the silicone will be applied to the outer border and not on the edge itself. But I got mine polished anyway so maybe next time if I ever take the tank apart I can use the glass in another aquarium.
I'd get them to take the sharp edges off. It'll make your life so much better when you're handling the glass and applying silicone. They just grind the end. You can have it polished too. Very much worth the added cost if any.
couple guys here said that length has very little to do with the glass thickness you should use - so you guys are saying that a 30" tall 30 "deep" and 30 long will be same as 30 tall 30 deep and 90 long ? come on, ( every girl will tell you that size 
) length matters But 4 real now, YES length DOES matter especially if you're going to have a very long tank that will also be quite tall ( tall tank to me is over 20" ) From my experience, I had a tank build once it wasn't big at all approx 18tall 18deep and maybe 60 long - at that time I was a little kid, and the dude who made the tank for me (glacier) used a "thin" glass I believe 3/8 with no center brace - I swear after a year the front glass looked like a bow-front aquarium lol so please don't say that the length has little to do with how thick of a glass he should be using ( especially if he IS making the tank that long )
once they cut the glass it doesn't cost them much more than maybe 5-10min to take a belt sander and take the sharp edges out - they should do it anyways it's safety hazard !
Good luck with the build ! Make sure to snap pics !
) length matters But 4 real now, YES length DOES matter especially if you're going to have a very long tank that will also be quite tall ( tall tank to me is over 20" ) From my experience, I had a tank build once it wasn't big at all approx 18tall 18deep and maybe 60 long - at that time I was a little kid, and the dude who made the tank for me (glacier) used a "thin" glass I believe 3/8 with no center brace - I swear after a year the front glass looked like a bow-front aquarium lol so please don't say that the length has little to do with how thick of a glass he should be using ( especially if he IS making the tank that long )once they cut the glass it doesn't cost them much more than maybe 5-10min to take a belt sander and take the sharp edges out - they should do it anyways it's safety hazard !
Good luck with the build ! Make sure to snap pics !
I have decided to go with 5/8 plate glass and I will have them knock the sharp edges donw just to make the glass safer to handle.
As far as pictures of the build, I am taking them and will post everything when it is completed. I am is the same boat as many others as far as waiting on the weather to warm up so I can get my hands on some pond coat.
As far as pictures of the build, I am taking them and will post everything when it is completed. I am is the same boat as many others as far as waiting on the weather to warm up so I can get my hands on some pond coat.
