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-   -   400 gallon glass tank build (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1976233)

wakesurfdan 02/13/2011 04:18 PM

400 gallon glass tank build
 
Hi everybody
i am in the process of starting my build of a 430 gallon glass reef tank.
The tank will be 120" long 30" wide and 29" tall. i am planning on using 1/2 starfire glass on front and sides and 1/2" plate glass on bottom and back.
it will have euro bracing with 2 layers of 1/2 inch by 3" all around top and 2-3" on ends and 2-6" braces spaced evenly across the top.Im a little worried about the 29" height with 1/2" glass and would appreciate any pros or cons

Thanks Dan

A Reef Scene 02/13/2011 05:39 PM

How much price difference would 3/4 be? And what type of sealent are you using?

jmchzn123 02/13/2011 05:43 PM

IF and thats a big IF I was building a tank I would make it wider. 36" at least. just sayin.

wakesurfdan 02/13/2011 05:47 PM

Price for all glass for 1/2 inch is $1,700 price for 3/4 would be $2,900 so its a big diff and i havent decided on sealent yet

OH GOD 02/13/2011 05:55 PM

At a 120" long i dont know if 1/2 inch will bow but i have a 130 gallon and 30" tall and 58" long and my 1/2 inch glass is like a tank

TampaReefer79 02/13/2011 06:14 PM

I JUST had a large tank built, and anything over 26" was going to require 1" thick material, so I went with a 25.5" tall tank, and 3/4" material. For that size, 1/2" sounds way too thin.

wakesurfdan 02/13/2011 06:42 PM

Water level will be 27" and it will be braced every 33" with a 6" wide 1/2" glass brace along with euro bracing with 2" strips along entire bottom so in theory it is a 36" long 30" wide 29" high tank

BluScrnOdeth 02/13/2011 09:34 PM

would be interesting if it worked that way.

wakesurfdan 02/19/2011 12:29 PM

ok I ordered my glass, I ended up changing my dimensions a little, here's the final
120" long 33" wide and 29" tall. I will be using 1/2" glass everywhere with the front and sides being Starfire. the bottom will have 1/4" strips 2" wide euro bracing. The top will have 1" thick x 3" wide around edges and 5- 1/2"x 6" braces front to back spaced evenly.
I went with 2 overflows 20" long by 7" deep on the back. each overflow has 3- 1 1/2" bulkheads 2 for drains and 1 for returns making a total of 2-1 1/2" returns and 4- 1 1/2" drains. The back of the tank will be painted black. I will be starting the tank next weekend and will post pics and progress along the way

wakesurfdan 02/19/2011 12:58 PM

Correction to tank dimensions 120" long 33" wide and 28" tall with water level ending up at 26-1/2" I calc it out with euro bracing to be a safety factor of 3.4

gods child 02/19/2011 03:28 PM

good luck with the 1/2 glass wiil realy like to see how it works out for you down the road . like a year or so

T Diddy 02/19/2011 11:17 PM

Don't forget to level the stand:thumbsup:

rkaragozler 02/20/2011 08:57 AM

I just fineshed my 450 build, used 3/4" glass for sides and back, and 1/2" tempered starfire for front. only 1 center brace that is 10" wide at 1/2" thick, 6" wide top side supports. 1/2" tempered has the same strenght characteristics as 3/4 regular glass, from what my builder told me.

wakesurfdan 02/20/2011 04:21 PM

What height is your tank?

wakesurfdan 02/20/2011 04:59 PM

Also couple of other questions if you don't mind. I considered having my glass tempered and still can but was told by glass manufacturer that it could distort a little. how did yours come out? also I read in your post that you used 1/16" spacers where you siliconed edges together. This was also my concern because of the weight of each panel would extract all the silicon, was this the reason for the spacers and what did you use as spacers?

Thanks Dan

zenpytho 02/20/2011 06:20 PM

u can use spacers from home depot or lowes that r for ceramic tile and yes it "can distort" some but not likely they just have to say that in case it does so their not liablealso just imo i think u may regret 1/2" for a 10' tank at over 2' tall it is gonna bow

rkaragozler 02/21/2011 05:46 AM

my tank dimensions are 96x36x30. 30 being the height.

wakesurfdan 02/21/2011 04:07 PM

Well made the big decision today!!
I'm going with non-tempered 1/2" mainly because of the bracing I'm using and after finding this thread of almost the exact tank I will be building.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=847516
Glass will be in Friday so here we go!

wakesurfdan 02/25/2011 09:25 AM

Started my stand today I went with 2x2-3/16" square tube I will post some pics tonight

sfsuphysics 02/25/2011 09:32 PM

Man, I hope you know what you're doing because 1/2" would worry me a bit. That said... I hope you know what you're doing, because putting together a tank that size will require some level of skill.

wakesurfdan 02/26/2011 06:38 PM

2 Attachment(s)
Almost done with the stand just a little sanding and then paint.Attachment 140307[ATTACH]Attachment 140308[/ATTACH]

chimmike 02/26/2011 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfsuphysics (Post 18403249)
Man, I hope you know what you're doing because 1/2" would worry me a bit. That said... I hope you know what you're doing, because putting together a tank that size will require some level of skill.



agreed. Even a reputable manufacturer putting together a tank that large in 1/2" would worry me.

wakesurfdan 02/26/2011 08:25 PM

I hope you guys are wrong! But everyone has the right to thier own opinion. I did plenty of research and have been a craftsman for 32 years , trust me I'm worried but confident in my own ability's. I just finished the stand and my glass should be ready next week from the glass edging company.

nyvp 02/27/2011 10:09 PM

Thats My 560/g 120x36x30 was 1/2" Starfire sides and 3/4 bottom and is still up and running 5 years later. Everyone here way over builds everything.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h3...256_edited.jpg

Corners

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h3...p/CIMG8175.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h3...176_edited.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h3...523_edited.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h3...p/CIMG0388.jpg

External overflow

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h3...p/CIMG0386.jpg

dogstar74 02/27/2011 11:54 PM

nyvp, I've always loved your tank. Man thing of beauty!


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