Taller vs Wider tank

Hey all.

Bought this used tank yesterday... it's 122x45x60cm, but... it's all 5mm glass!!! :amazed:



The glass is in good condition, no scratches or chips and all the glass joints are flush with neat silicone work.
The old water line marks are about 45-50cm high and it's got full-length 10cm glass shelves 'bracing' the top,
but I'm still scared to use it, since most glass thickness calculators advise at least 9mm glass for this size.

Now, I'm thinking about chopping it in half, for safety sake(and to satisfy my MTS cravings, ofcourse),
but I'm also wondering whether I should make the two new tanks 45wideX30high or 30wideX45high.

Did find this link too... http://voices.yahoo.com/tall-wide-comparing-aquarium-shapes-549586.html?cat=6

Oh... y'all can guess how much I paid for it... will let you know when someone gets it right. :amuse:

So, should I use it as is(max water level?), fit more bracing, make two taller/wider tanks or...?

PS: It's destined to be a planted, brackish, livebearer(mollies, platies etc.) community tank.

 

Awesome stuff,

Keep us posted!

 

Hi @Immy

IMO I would not use it at the max level of 60cm if the glass is only 5mm, the higher the water level the more the pressure - width does not increase pressure. My 45cm high tank is 6mm glass. For a hight of 60cm I would go with 10mm glass. Others can chime in here . . .

Good luck

 

Go paludarium style! Half fill the tank and have mollies still! Grow some plants emmersed.
R300 including the background 8P

 

100%, I doubt that it is worth trying to chop the tank.

 

I have no clue what the impact of proper bracing is on the glass thickness calculator (seeing that that tank has "sommer ordentlike" bracing, but 5mm still seems very VERY light.....)

Guessing R200 for the tank?

My question with reference with photo 2: What do you with the inside panels of you car doors? :bigsmile:

 

Lol - I think that is where he found the tank..

 

Yeah just turn it into a riparium.

 

R100 for the tank, IMO as stated by others 5mm is a huge risk on that size. Splitting the tank to make two smaller units, a BIG NO GO!!!! Rather opt for a paludarium as suggested by @Firefly, will look great and then you can give us some ideas by posting your pics. That is one of the most important rules of TASA, don't by shy, show us what you've got by posting the pics brother!!!! All of the best with your project and bringing those ideas to reality!!!!

 

No winners, lol. Got the tank for R350(with bg) , which seems too much, considering all the guesses. :tongue:

@PappaBear I performed some weight reduction, so as to not impair vehicle handling characteristics due to fish tank weight.
:alberteinstein:

@f-fish Actually, I found the tank behind the dashboard, haha. :cheesy:


Seriously, it's another one of my DIY projects... I love keeping my plate full.
The car is mechanically 100% sorted.
Just the body, interior and gadgets still need to be pimped, but that's another forum altogether.

Now, as far as I know, a paludarium includes a land mass and riparium doesn't,
so I'm gonna try my hand at recreating a brackish estuary riparium,
in order to accomodate maximum dwelling area for my fin family. Wish me luck. :wink:

Found these pics for inspiration... http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/g...sion/84146-japanese-paludarium-wabi-kusa.html

Only daunting part is 'my short arms vs 60cm' when it comes to gravel vac time. ush:

So, any suggestions for some brackish plants, which are emmersible?

PS: Thanks to all of you okes for your kind input. :love:

 

6mm glass is ok for the standard 4 foot tank and is safe to a height not exceeding 500mm,its what they use in the mass produced 4ft x 450mm(h) the tank i use is one of those i also bought it 2nd hand only to notice the idiot who replaced the front glass did a balls up and put a 5mm glass which was bowing wen i filled it up,so i replaced it with 6mm and redone the bracing, now its fine.anyway id go with dividing it into 2 x 2foots like someone mentioned, rather than have it explode on you .

 

that planted emmersed tank setups top ,u should definately give that a whirl

 

this link is evil ... since I have just managed to negotiate some extra table space on the back stoep I can see myself dreaming about a 500l paludarium 1400x800x450 now to find a supplier of 8 / 10mm not sure I want to do no bracing on 6mm


Yes the 60cm depth would be a killer ..

 

+1 on the paludarium idea. One of my 1.2m tanks is about 55cm tall but it has 6mm glass though.