akaxo Posted September 5, 2011 Report Share Posted September 5, 2011 Hi all, first post but been checking out this forum a while now for advice when i've needed it and it's been really helpful. but can't find an answer to this question any where and thought someone might be able to help. i'm currently building a large tank (1400mm x 620mm x 700mm) with 6mm glass so obviously am bracing it so as to be better safe than sorry. it's for a turtle so the first question, which i've been assuming the answer to is yes but best make sure is that the basking area counts as a brace? it's glass and siliconed to one end and to the two long lengths with other pieces of glass like eurpoean style bracing (i think i've got that name right, this is all a bit new to me) as it was about 8mm narrower than the tank. the next question is the one i registered on here for has any one any experience with, or know of anyone who has braced a tank with driftwood? i'm using the selleys silicone that says it bonds to wood. would a piece of driftwood cut to have two flat ends siliconed to one of the largest pieces of glass and then to the base or to the other large length work as effectively as a glass brace? why would i even want to try such a thing you may be wondering? well it's just that i'm a broke as uni student and have run out of glass before all the bracing is done :oops: and want to get the tank finished as soon as i can so yeah thanks in advance for any advice. feel free to tell me i'm dreaming and being ridiculous even thinking it, i can take it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 5, 2011 Report Share Posted September 5, 2011 What will be the depth of water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akaxo Posted September 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2011 500mm. the 700mm in the tank dimensions is the height of the tank, i'm making a stand for the lights that sits about 50mm above the tank. the length from the end of the basking area is 1010mm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32GOTMLK Posted September 9, 2011 Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 id be making that out of 10mm glass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 9, 2011 Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 Have you got European bracing and a basking area? What dimensions is the bracing? You need enough height above the dry dock so they can't climb out and the depth of water is the crucial measurement for glass thickness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akaxo Posted September 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 yeah i wish i was making it out of 10mm glass but the guy i get my glass from didn't have any. should be OK with bracing though? I think I was wrong in describing it as european bracing around the basking area sorry but it's stuck to the tank sides along three edges and supported by two other pieces along the front and back sides of the tank. I haven't done the bracing for the tank yet, I have got some glass lined up for it now but won't be getting it till tomorrow so any recommendations on the best way to do it would be most appreciated I'm thinking two braces across the top between the front and back at the moment. I've also made a steel frame for it that goes right around all the 12 edges with L shaped pieces and is siliconed to the glass as well as riveted together. not sure if it'll help structurally but I like the look of it, will be painted and looks better than the silicone joins imo. there's 20cm of glass above the basking area and then another 15cm of wood on top around it and then a mesh lid over the basking area so there's no way he'll be able to get out. the rest of the tank is open. thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted September 9, 2011 Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 Hi I can't give much information on bracing, but I also have a turtle tank which is a smaller which is 1200x45(h)x38(w). It is made of 6mm glass. On the top of the tank, it has a centre brace approx 20cm wide, and one brace on each end about 15cm wide On the bottom of the Tank it has end braces and front and back braces. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted September 9, 2011 Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 Hi. Have you read the article on here re: calculating glass thickness etc? http://www.fnzas.org.nz/?p=1732 HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 9, 2011 Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 It is unlikely that the steel frame will do anything other than look good if it is added afterwoods. A steel frame tank will have the glass glued into the frame in order to get support. I would add proper European bracing rather than cross straps. If I was building one that long and with that water height I would have used 10mm glass. Another way would be to alter the ramp so you can drop the water level down to about 300mm. I built one which I gave to Donna and if I recall it was about that size but 10 mm glass and not braced.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akaxo Posted September 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2011 Awesome thanks for all that. I think i know the tank you're talking about, it looks great and was the inspiration behind what I'm doing now. I think I'll go ahead and do all the bracing I can as I'd rather over engineer it than under ha. and will be very careful when filling it for the first time. I'd rather not alter it so as to make the water depth less as I figure the more swimming space he has the happier he'll be, and I want to get a decent sized pleco for the tank too. I'll do some research on the european bracing and go for that if you think it'll be best. Hi. Have you read the article on here re: calculating glass thickness etc? http://www.fnzas.org.nz/?p=1732 HTH and thanks for that link too, just had a good read of it and it helped explain a few things which was great. I'm glad for all the physics and maths I've studied at uni as all the equations just made it look like fun to me haha. Looks like I should be fine, put my mind to rest a bit, cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akaxo Posted September 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 in case anyone is wondering i have a nice looking full tank now and not a massive mess of broken glass and water on the lounge floor. thanks for all the input, info and links. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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