Custom Tank Project

[Craig89]

Hi all, I'm about to set to work on a custom built tank for my spare room. Dimensions are 101cm x 51cm x 43cm (Lxhxw) just wondering if anybody has any tips for holding the glass in place whilst the silicone drys? Would I be best having 2 central bracing bars made from glass or could I integrate them into my hood design?

Any advice is appreciated as this is my first time.

Thanks. Craig

 

[OldMan47]

I have lots of experience with tanks that size and longer. I would say that a single center brace is all that you should need. In one of my 4 foot long tanks, that brace is a piece of glass siliconed across the center of the tank that is about 8 inches long. With that tank as a reference, I prefer the thin center braces that can be used by bracing using the top frame instead. The rather long center brace is really only needed because of the low tensile strength of the silicone used to attach it to the glass. By placing a frame around the top of a tank, I have center braced a 6 foot tank using only a 3/4 inch by 1 1/2 inch piece of soft wood. That makes the inside of the tank far more accessible for routine maintenance.