Technical specification for 6 ft braceless tank

[stephen chung]

I want to make a new 6 x 2.5 x 2.5 (ft) braceless tank.

I have call a couple of tank maker about this. Most of them says, even they use 19mm glass they still need to use brace and 19mm glass for a tank that size is about 6-7K. If need to be braced I might as well use 12mm glass which is much cheaper for that matter. But 1 tank maker says 19mm glass can make it for braceless.

So, how? I saw my friend's FGT glass exploded and is not a pretty sight...

[Aeon]

Wow 6ft tank exploded? fully planted with water? Got pic?

[stephen chung]

His tank is a 8ft FGT..and a big piece of the glass fly 10ft and break his fibreglass tank 10ft away...scary..if he were standing infront of the tank..he is dead...

[Shadow]

wow 8ft, how thick is the glass?

[stephen chung]

Can't remember. I think is 12mm...He is going to replace it with tempted glass..

That is why when I want to make my 6x2.5x.5 braceless also a bit scare...

Don't know what to do also...

[tawauboy]

better be safe than sorry.
you wouldn't go wrong with advice from reputable tank makers.
safety should take priority over beauty.

[stephen chung]

yeah, all are reputable tank maker and not those glass shop at Jalan Kelantan road...Don't know who to believe? sigh...

[PeterGwee]

Go with one that has euro bracing to be safe and make tailor make holes for ADA lily pipe outlets if you wish. The weight of the scaping materials needs to be taken into consideration. Safety first....Amano don't sleep with all his tanks...

Regards,
Peter Gwee

[stephen chung]

Peter,

So with euro bracing how think the glass needs to be 15mm? But with brace can't put lily pipe anymore. Even with holes...

[PeterGwee]

Thicker is definitely safer but cost more. Can't they drill holes into the bracing glass for the lily pipes to fit in? I'm not sure since I don't have tanks that large and even if I have, I would go with an external sump setup with a powerful return pump with multiple return outlets. (Good CO2 mixing is a big issue with big tanks. You need multiple canisters with high flow rate to deal with that or just a sump with reduce overflow height and sealed wet/dry sections.)

Regards,
Peter Gwee

[stephen chung]

Peter,

Might be able to do it..I have a custom make canister filter with a flow rate of 3000L/hour... Driving chiller and FR and co2 reactor..

[joeyttk]

I have a 6ft x 3ft x 2ft marine tank with sand, uses 15mm glass without ugly bracing across the width. However there are of course a strip of braces along the edges.

[Shadow]

that another way of strengthen the glass/glue. But you can use lily pipe on it unless you drill the hole on the bracess

[bossteck]

Hi Stephen,

Understand from this thread and another one that you are considering going braceless because one of the reason is you want to use lily pipes.

How about this? Go for 3 cross braces at the bottom of the tank, and have 1center cross brace at the top. With your tank height, 2.5ft, if you use Oyama paper around the top, there shouldn't be a problem concealing the cross brace.

12mm for a 6ft tank is risking it, especially with the added width and height, go for at least 16mm, but this is just my gut feel, a reputed tank maker would be able to better advise you.

You can contact a tank maker that goes by the userid of Lim64 in arofanatics.com, he uses a technique which he termed silicon-in-glass, he might be able to work out something with you.

Unfortunately, the contact I have is for his shop in Balestier, last I heard, he has already shifted, perhaps others here can provide some leads.

Cheers!

[stephen chung]

Hi Stephen,

Understand from this thread and another one that you are considering going braceless because one of the reason is you want to use lily pipes.

How about this? Go for 3 cross braces at the bottom of the tank, and have 1center cross brace at the top. With your tank height, 2.5ft, if you use Oyama paper around the top, there shouldn't be a problem concealing the cross brace.

12mm for a 6ft tank is risking it, especially with the added width and height, go for at least 16mm, but this is just my gut feel, a reputed tank maker would be able to better advise you.

You can contact a tank maker that goes by the userid of Lim64 in arofanatics.com, he uses a technique which he termed silicon-in-glass, he might be able to work out something with you.

Unfortunately, the contact I have is for his shop in Balestier, last I heard, he has already shifted, perhaps others here can provide some leads.

Cheers!

Eric,

I have talked to him about this. He is able to do my using 19mm glass brceless and is going to cost me $7k and later I found out that lily pipe don't look that good in a 6ft tank. So, I might change to 15mm euro brace.

[bossteck]

I support your decision, it will cost less, and frankly, having bracing will give you better peace of mind.

[stephen chung]

Looks like I am going for 15mm euro brace then...

[tcy81]

maybe you can do a tank with top and bottom euro bracing to be safe.
then the euro bracing on top can drill holes to fix on the lily pipes in.
should not be a much problem for lily pipes.

[stephen chung]

Chee Yong,

Maybe I'll do that...