thickness ideas?

[deftonead]

i was considering building a 40g cube. how thick would the glass have to be?

[deftonead]

ok.... since no one knows that answer my next question is what method would i use to seal corners and make that perfect cube shape?

[deftonead]

size would be 24"x24"x16".

[deftonead]

is there any threads out there on people that have done this?

[sploke]

16" tall tank can use 1/4" glass. For sealing, I would use GE Silicone I for windows and doors. Or just get regular aquarium silicone. I've used both.

[coralnut99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13422603#post13422603 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sploke
16" tall tank can use 1/4" glass. For sealing, I would use GE Silicone I for windows and doors. Or just get regular aquarium silicone. I've used both.

Agree on all counts.

[tazzy695]

heck why not go for a 60 cube at 24x24x24 still can use the 1/4" glass and will look better IMO

for the sealant use the ge I or ge II if you can find it without the mildew resistant additive it works great

[cet98]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13422878#post13422878 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tazzy695
heck why not go for a 60 cube at 24x24x24 still can use the 1/4" glass and will look better IMO

for the sealant use the ge I or ge II if you can find it without the mildew resistant additive it works great forgive me tazzy, but I'm not so sure that is correct info...
is this to be a rimless cube tank?...in all my reading/research regarding glass thickness requirements, the thickness of the glass is determined specifically by the height of the tank as opposed to the width and length...water pressure against the sides of a tank increases significantly as the height increases...

deftonead...here is a link to some info I found regarding your question about glass thickness requirements...
hope this helps!!!

LINK (http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/diy/57295-rimless-aquarium-glass-thickness-calculator.html)

[sploke]

I think GARF recommends 3/8" glass for up to 24" depths.

[sploke]

http://garf.org/tank/buildtank.asp

[JCTewks]

I built a rimless 18" true cube out of 1/4"...no probs with it. I am currently building a 36"x30"x24" euro braced tank and using 3/8" glass and am completely comfortable with it sitting in the living room :D

[kenny77]

i will buildin one soon that is 24x24x20 rimless. the glass that will be use it 3/8" so I can sleep better at night.

[scaryperson27]

I have a 26x24x22T madeout of 1/2

[deftonead]

thanks for the input guys. i have to go with 3/8 on the sides because that is the smallest sized starphire glass i can find... but can i go thinner on the bottom? maybe 1/4?

[cet98]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13429148#post13429148 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by deftonead
thanks for the input guys. i have to go with 3/8 on the sides because that is the smallest sized starphire glass i can find... but can i go thinner on the bottom? maybe 1/4? IMHO, at this point, I would just stay with 3/8" all around...the price savings on one piece of glass will be insignificant...

[deftonead]

thats true...

well im thinking i might go with a center overflow but the thing that concerns me is the lighting. i have a 150watt setup which i would be hanging over the tank. if i were to hang it directly in the center it would be over the overflow. the overflow is going to be clear glass. do you think it would block out light from getting to the corals on the rocks surrounding the overflow box?

[deftonead]

the overflow would be 4"x 4" or smaller if you guys think i could go smaller and it could handle a 700gph pump...

[cet98]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13431243#post13431243 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by deftonead
thats true...

well im thinking i might go with a center overflow but the thing that concerns me is the lighting. i have a 150watt setup which i would be hanging over the tank. if i were to hang it directly in the center it would be over the overflow. the overflow is going to be clear glass. do you think it would block out light from getting to the corals on the rocks surrounding the overflow box? I've heard great things about Glass-Holes.com (http://www.glass-holes.com/main.sc) overflows...they are said to be very quiet and since they are very shallow you shouldn't need to concern yourself with any algae growth since it's so easy to clean if need be...

[deftonead]

??? by center i meant in the center of the tank not touching any of the walls...

[cloakerpoked]

You could go much smaller than a 4" by 4" if you wanted. The question is how big you need the standpipe to be. I know I've seen formula's out there somewhere, but I'd think 3/4" PVC should handle about 700 gallons per houer, especially since if you're using a Mag 7, at that head, you're getting more like 4 to 5 hundred gph. Technically, the overflow box would only have to contain that one standpipe (or 2 if you'd be more comfortable with it) making it a max of 2" by 2". Now if you want to have the return through the bottom and out the center, that adds space too...

[scaryperson27]

I would just have a 2" standpipe with a grate. That'll handle your 700GPH no problem.

"Cutter":
http://glass-holes.com/product.sc?categoryId=7&productId=21
Bulkhead:
http://glass-holes.com/product.sc?categoryId=21&productId=27

You could use Gutter Guard which you can get from your local hardware store.

[scaryperson27]

oh, and 1/2" on the bottom would be ideal.

[8BALL_99]

No way I'd build a 60 Gallon Cube out of 1/4" Glass. My old one was 1/2" I would think 3/8" would be the Min. Just cause it doesn't leak when you fill it up doesn't mean it wont a year later lol

[deftonead]

Ok so ill cut the overflow down to 3"x3" and have a 1" standpipe with gutter guard... sounds good

[scaryperson27]

A 1" stand pipe can only handle about 300GPH quietly. I would just go with a 1.5" or two inch.

[JCTewks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13437374#post13437374 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scaryperson27
A 1" stand pipe can only handle about 300GPH quietly. I would just go with a 1.5" or two inch.

If you read the "Silent and Failsafe overflow" thread (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1310585&perpage=25&pagenumber=1) You will see that a 1" BH can handle MUCH MORE flow under full siphon.

BTW, the general concensus is that a 1" standpipe will handle 600gph...that's why HOB overflows that have 1 1" pipe are rated for 600gph and the ones with 2 1" pipes are rated at 1200gph.

[deftonead]

ok ill bump it up to 1.5" just to be safe...

[scaryperson27]

JCTewks,

He is not running three 1" pipes in series or at full siphon. I guess I should clarify myself, a 1" pipe in his application will only handle about 300GPH QUIETLY. any more flow than that, you start getting slurping, gurgling, etc.

In beans design, the waterflow is pushed past the capacity of one 1" standpipe with a ball valve, and the extra is consumed by the second. The third standpipe being the safety net in case anything goes wrong.

If it were me,I would use SCH80 plumbing with this design. I would put a 1.5" or 2" bulkhead in the bottom with a Female threaded fitting on the inside, run a Male threaded fitting and the 1.5" pipe or 2" pipe out of that, cut notches, line the perimeter of the pipe, gurgle buster, whatever you want, and forget about the glass acrylic overflow around it.

That is unless you want to run wires through the middle of the tank...

[deftonead]

now that i have my plans in order now i need the glass...

i have called every glass place in the tampa bay area looking for starphire but cannot find it anywhere. looks like i may need to order from glasscages.com but they said it would take a month to get it to me...

[scaryperson27]

They provide glass at a very cheap price though.