Dixon1990 Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 I have a 1225mmLong x 520mmDeep x 500mmHigh tank. But the glass is in 6mm, Will it be strong enough? The 2 previous owners never had any troubles with it, And is there any extra bracing i can do to make it Stronger? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharronpaul Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 Depends how it is braced now. I had a whole bunch of 4' tanks, 1200x450x450, and a couple of 1200x500x500, and they were fine, They all had euro bracing and a centre brace though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 If it was my tank I would have more bracing put on. But that is because I have a terrible record of breaking tanks Have you worked out the safety factor of the 6mm glass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted July 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 Has 15cm of 6mm bracing at each end and in centre, and 5cm of 6mm bracing along the front and back. Should i have some at the bottom of the tank too? I have had terrible Leaking and cracks in tanks, im a bit paranoid :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 According to the glass thickness calculator here: http://www.fnzas.org.nz/glassthickness.0.html IIRC the spreadsheet assumes a well braced tank, so yours has a safety factor of 1.5, recommended is 3.8, which would require 10mm glass. Basically meaning your tank, full to the top with average glass strengths will probably break if you put 50% more force on the glass. The safety factor goes to 2.0 if you only fill it to 50mm from the top. 3.8 is recommended to account for things like little earthquakes, people bumping into the tank, rocks shifting, fish hitting the glass etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted July 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 Basically meaning your tank, full to the top with average glass strengths will probably break if you put 50% more force on the glass. The safety factor goes to 2.0 if you only fill it to 50mm from the top. I only ever fill most my big tanks to 5cm from the top anyway. 3.8 is recommended to account for things like little earthquakes, people bumping into the tank, rocks shifting, fish hitting the glass etc. Not going to have any big rocks in there just a few big pieces of wood, but they will be partially burried in the sand, and mainly small fish so no smashing into tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 Then you'll be fine as long as noone ever bumps into the tank, the stand is perfectly level, you never lean on it while rearranging things, etc. You said you've had terrible leaking and cracks in tanks. Marginal glass thicknesses will be the major reason for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted July 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 Thin Glaas + Scared Silver Dollars = Screwed Tank and Carpet. Would Bracing inside the tank at the bottom be of any help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 Not really, no. It's already about as well braced as you're going to get it by the bottom pane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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