Help needed building a fish tank

Just need to find out..
Tank size 1450 x 450 x 800mm
how thick must the glass be?
Do I need to brace the tank on the inside?
How long will it take for the silicone to cure?

 

1. yes you'll need a brace to help prevent the sides bowing,
2. silicone could take a day to two to cure, longer is better
3. glass will probably be thicker than 6mm, not sure on that

and
4. Hello and welcome to TASA, please introduce yourself to the class??

 

Thank you!!
I am using 10mm glass (sure it would be fine).
Can I use aluminium (angle iron) 25 x25mm to brace the tank at the bottom?

 

1. yes you will have to brace it.
2. it take about 4 day to be 100% dry, this is what I heard any way and I follow the same rule.
3. I would use nothing less that 8mm glass but it would be better in 10mm - this is my opinion others might say different but this is what I use.

 

10mm will be fine, how do you mean brace it at the bottom? the stand in other words?
dunno how strong aluminium will be with holding the weight of that tank

 

IT would work 100% with angle Iron.

 

I would suggest that you don't go taller than 500mm for the tank. The taller you go, the more powerful (aka- EXPENSIVE) lighting you will need. It's also a pain in the youknowwhat to plant a tank this height. Trust me, mine is that tall, and it's a pain.

If you are going to build it that tall, I would recommend 12mm glass. Especially on a tank that long. It will handle the pressure better than 10mm glass. But hey, that's just my opinion. You would DEFINITELY need to brace a tank that size!!

 

Thanks guys!! I am getting a bit scared now, but hey, if I don't try I'll never know

 

Just as long as you post as you go along...

 

will do

 

Hi Chris, Welcome to TASA.

Don't be scare, just go for it.

Post questions here and you'll get all the help you need.

 

hey hey and welcome .sounds good to me .I used aliminium braces on my arowana hex tank on all corners and 3 accross front to back and its bomb proof solid, no bowing at all, if you go 80 high what water level will you have ? are you planning on putting a light tray in the tank with a water level of +_ 65 or light from above and 70+ water level ?

 

just remember that the higher you go in terms of glass height vs. water height, the thicker the glass. 750mm water height is a huge amount of pressure to put on glass. the bracing will stop the bowing, yes, but you still have that same pressure being exerted on the entire tank walls and could cause the tank to go pop. rather make it 800 wide and 750 high. that way 10mm glass will be sufficient. but if you want the high tank, then i would go with 14mm glass.

brace on the bottom inside along the front and back of glass and then strips of glass on top of the tank running the width of the tank. a tank that long should have a min of 3 braces at the top. the bracing should also be the same thickness as the rest of the tank. you must also remember that if you are going to go planted then you WILL need metal halide lighting or a sh!tload of T5s or PCs. good luck!

 

I will never have a tank deeper the 500 again. I have 2 600's and its a real pain in the ass to do any work on the bottom of the tank. What about 1400LX800WX500H

If it was me building the tank, i'd do a 2X10mm base, which will give you your bottom bracing. Then do euro bracing with 2X10mm along the top front and back panes. Sorted

You going to have the tank drilled for overflow?

*EDIT* You don't mention where you are? If you up in JHB, you're welcome to stopy by and have a look at my setups for ideas, all 3 are drilled tanks, but there builds are vastly different

 

I agree with Small_fry there has to be bracing in side the tank on the floor and the top. Not to change your mind but why dont you go the second hand tank way? I also wanted to build my own tank but the cost of glass and filter and everything it was cheaper just to go the second hand route, but if your heart is set on building your own tank i wish you all the best and will be watching this thread very close. :bigsmile:

 

Hi and welcome
First off 10mm is way to thin for a 800mm tall tank it will break. U need a minimum glass thickness of 14mm and as for the silicon drying time, the best way i found was to stick my head into the tank and if u can smell any silicon its not dry yet i have known bostic to take over a week to dry properly

 

Chris, go to this website www.thinkfish.co.uk/. They will help you calculate the glass and sizes

 

Thanks guys, I think I'm a bit to hasty!!!!!
Started allreay (last night) with the 10mm glass.



will keep you posted.

 

hi

I have a standard 5 foot and it only has two glass braces on top!!

It's held for many years!

hope this helps

 

Hi Aqua Chris
I have a 1900mm x 600mm x 800mm tank and it is 10mm glass all round with a 20mm base (2x 10mm on top of each other) and I have no problems with it so far
Mine is braced on the inside on the bottom and it is braced by the sliders on the top, it is the glass that your sliders run on. (3x 10mm)but I am planning to brace it from back to front on the top just for a bit extra....
Hope you come right with the tank build.