Chopping 120gal

Djbeasley05 · 03/05/2018, 07:38 PM

I want to cut up my old 120 gal and build a 90 gallon rimless cube with the glass. It’ll be 30x30. I’m wondering with 1/2 glass, could I get away making it rimless or would I need additional support?

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tkeracer619 · 03/05/2018, 08:08 PM

Height determines the bracing. 1/2" glass at 24" tall would likely need bracing. I probably would go with a euro brace.

Having done something like this before myself it has some challenges.

You'll need a new bottom pane and will need someone to cut up the glass for you. Just cleaning the silicone off is a chore on it's own. Getting a glass shop to cut this for you may be an uphill battle. You'll need the edges flat polished as well. Know you will have a ton of elbow grease into the build.

Djbeasley05 · 03/05/2018, 08:37 PM

I’m up for the challenge. At what height could I get away without bracing? Somewhere between 12-18” height?

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Djbeasley05 · 03/08/2018, 06:28 PM

Here goes...
Day 1: breakdown the tank into panes of glass! End goal is a 30x30x18 rimless reef.

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RCS82 · 03/08/2018, 06:43 PM

The tank is a standard 4'x2'x2' 120 gallon that will give you 4 - 30"x18" pieces of glass?

Djbeasley05 · 03/08/2018, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCS82

The tank is a standard 4'x2'x2' 120 gallon that will give 4 - 30"x18" pieces of glass?

Oops. 24x24x18 something else in my mind. Good catch!

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RCS82 · 03/08/2018, 06:56 PM

With 1/2" glass you more than likely can go 24" tall no problem. I'm not a tank builder but we're not talking a huge volume, just a 60g cube

Djbeasley05 · 03/08/2018, 07:24 PM

Tank broken down. Tomorrow I’ll clean and polish the glass.

Side conversation: I have my 29 Biocube I want to move from to this new tank. I want to hook up another 30 gallon tank to my dt to acclimate more live rock and water to avoid the new tank cycling. Any ideas or has this been done before?

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Djbeasley05 · 03/11/2018, 10:32 AM

There are too many opinions on the use of spacers when building tanks! I need thoughts and ideas. The sides with be on top of the bottom. What material can I use to make sure the weight of the glass doesn’t smash the silicone out of the seam?

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Djbeasley05 · 03/11/2018, 06:20 PM

Starting to dry fit tank together! One more piece to cut, then I’ll flat sand edges and clean and polish scratches out of the glass.

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Djbeasley05 · 03/25/2018, 01:27 PM

Alright! Pieces are cut, edges flat polished and I’m ready to assemble! There are a couple of scratches that were too deep to polish out. Would the scratches show up more if they faced the outside or inside the tank?

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royy13 · 03/25/2018, 08:35 PM

Inside scratches will grow algae in them.

Djbeasley05 · 05/02/2018, 06:26 PM

It’s been a while since I updated. Tank is built, stand is almost complete.

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03/05/2018, 07:38 PM	#1
Djbeasley05 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 644	Chopping 120gal I want to cut up my old 120 gal and build a 90 gallon rimless cube with the glass. It’ll be 30x30. I’m wondering with 1/2 glass, could I get away making it rimless or would I need additional support? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/05/2018, 08:08 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Height determines the bracing. 1/2" glass at 24" tall would likely need bracing. I probably would go with a euro brace. Having done something like this before myself it has some challenges. You'll need a new bottom pane and will need someone to cut up the glass for you. Just cleaning the silicone off is a chore on it's own. Getting a glass shop to cut this for you may be an uphill battle. You'll need the edges flat polished as well. Know you will have a ton of elbow grease into the build. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/08/2018, 06:43 PM	#5
RCS82 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Sherwood Park, AB, Canada Posts: 273	The tank is a standard 4'x2'x2' 120 gallon that will give you 4 - 30"x18" pieces of glass? __________________ After about a 16 year break from fish keeping, Wow, how things have changed. Current Tank Info: 90g, mixed reef, I hope haha

03/08/2018, 06:56 PM	#7
RCS82 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Sherwood Park, AB, Canada Posts: 273	With 1/2" glass you more than likely can go 24" tall no problem. I'm not a tank builder but we're not talking a huge volume, just a 60g cube __________________ After about a 16 year break from fish keeping, Wow, how things have changed. Current Tank Info: 90g, mixed reef, I hope haha

03/05/2018, 08:37 PM	#3
Djbeasley05 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 644	I’m up for the challenge. At what height could I get away without bracing? Somewhere between 12-18” height? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/08/2018, 06:28 PM	#4
Djbeasley05 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 644	Here goes... Day 1: breakdown the tank into panes of glass! End goal is a 30x30x18 rimless reef. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/08/2018, 07:24 PM	#8
Djbeasley05 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 644	Tank broken down. Tomorrow I’ll clean and polish the glass. Side conversation: I have my 29 Biocube I want to move from to this new tank. I want to hook up another 30 gallon tank to my dt to acclimate more live rock and water to avoid the new tank cycling. Any ideas or has this been done before? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/11/2018, 10:32 AM	#9
Djbeasley05 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 644	There are too many opinions on the use of spacers when building tanks! I need thoughts and ideas. The sides with be on top of the bottom. What material can I use to make sure the weight of the glass doesn’t smash the silicone out of the seam? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/11/2018, 06:20 PM	#10
Djbeasley05 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 644	Starting to dry fit tank together! One more piece to cut, then I’ll flat sand edges and clean and polish scratches out of the glass. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/25/2018, 01:27 PM	#11
Djbeasley05 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 644	Alright! Pieces are cut, edges flat polished and I’m ready to assemble! There are a couple of scratches that were too deep to polish out. Would the scratches show up more if they faced the outside or inside the tank? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/25/2018, 08:35 PM	#12
royy13 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 131	Inside scratches will grow algae in them.

05/02/2018, 06:26 PM	#13
Djbeasley05 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 644	It’s been a while since I updated. Tank is built, stand is almost complete. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk