Building A Large Tank Just A Couple Questions

[darksheep]

Gday all

Just a quick couple of questions.

Im am bout to build myself a large fish tank and stand hood (full unit)

These are the dimensions:

• 160 cm long
• 50 Cm Wide
• 65 Cm High

Now muy questions are these:

is 15 mm Glass thick enough for the sides and 20 cm for the base?

How many gallons would it hold but more importantly how heavy would it be full up with water?

 

[windsor-aquatic]

I think that the glass thickness you suggest is over the top, although from a safety aspect that's not a bad fault. Having built tanks for the last 30-odd years professionally, I would build this in 12mm glass, which is more than adequate PROVIDED the tank is correctly braced. It will have a theoretic volume of 135 US gallons, giving an actual volume of about 100 or so gallons. The water would weigh 1000 pounds, or a little under half a ton.

 

[demonmagus]

I think that the glass thickness you suggest is over the top, although from a safety aspect that's not a bad fault. Having built tanks for the last 30-odd years professionally, I would build this in 12mm glass, which is more than adequate PROVIDED the tank is correctly braced. It will have a theoretic volume of 135 US gallons, giving an actual volume of about 100 or so gallons. The water would weigh 1000 pounds, or a little under half a ton.

better to be safe than sorry

 

[andywg]

But it wouldn't be being safe with that thickness. A 20 mm (I'm asuming the cm was a typo) base with 15mm sides would make the tank extraordinarily heavy and far harder to work with than it has to.

 

[Rodders]

My tanks 145 UK gallons and its only 10mm.
Thats was fooking heavy to lift in place!!!!

 

[Matty]

sounds excessive. why not build it out of acrylic? It would look better, be stronger and weigh alot less. The only drawback is that it would also be more expensive.

 

[littleimp]

My tanks 145 UK gallons and its only 10mm.
Thats was fooking heavy to lift in place!!!!

Too bloody right, 4 people to carry mine safely!!!

I always wonder with these people who have these 8ft+ tanks how on earth they lift them into place??

 

[andywg]

Acrylic will also scratch a lot easier. It will also yellow over age, especially in sunlight.

 

[Aquascaper]

Too bloody right, 4 people to carry mine safely!!!

I always wonder with these people who have these 8ft+ tanks how on earth they lift them into place??

You want to ask Navarre about how much fun we had doing his tank stand and moving the tank into his house

 

[carmichael7587]

For U.S. Gallons Take Your dimensionsin in inches and do this:

Lenght" x Width" x Height" x 0.00433

Ex. 85 x 25 x 25 x 0.00433= 230.0313

To be more specific measure the inner dimensions and live rock or anything for that matter including your gravel hust way it all and subtract it from the eait of your aquarium.