Glass cuts

[Steve-O-]

So i want to create my new tank before i do so just want to ask people who have built there own tanks about glass cuts.
I will be getting the glass company to cut it and drill but i will put it together with my jig i made for it.

My tank will be made from 1/4in glass

16H-20W-20L

so would my cuts be like this
Sides 19 1/2 W - 16H
Front & Back 20 x 16
Base 20 x 20

Now i know sitting on the base would make it 16 1/4 tall that is ok with me. But do i take off 1/4 of each side or is it like 1/4 and 1/16 for silicone

[The Grizz]

You dont want the sides sitting on top of the bottom piece of glass you want a floating bottom. If you want 20 x 20 ID you need sides to be 20 1/8 x 16 (+ thickness of bottom) front and back 20 1/8 (+2x thickness of sides) 16 (+thickness of base)

[Steve-O-]

Oh i was going from this site
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/diy...iyaquarium.htm

Said to place your glass ontop where does the 1/8 come from just curious all new to me.

[The Grizz]

I read the whole thing & it said onto not on top. When putting say the back piece on you silicone the edge of the bottom pane, then align the back piece with it leaning back at an angle, as you bring them together you tilt the back piece upwards to make it 90 degrees to the bottom.

When you build a tank you want to have 1/16" of silicone in-between every piec of glass.

[Steve-O-]

hmm i saw this

We have always constructed our aquariums with the two end pieces of glass fit inside of the back and front panes, and the front, back, and two side panels set on top of the bottom base pane of glass.

But thanks for your help i will do it the way you said.

[Aquarium_Medics]

I read it as the 4 sides are on top of the bottom also, However, I also agree with Grizz. Any tank i have taken apart to reseal, have had the bottom inside the side panes.

[Steve-O-]

Ya that is why i asked just to be sure so thank you guys for your help

[KrazyKuch]

I have a 180 that i made myself sitting on the bottom, and its been fine for 4 years...you can do it either way really, I personally would rather have the seams holding back just water instead of holding back everything!

[LeeR]

it just looks better if the sides are wrapped around the bottom. I've built both and they both work fine one just looks nicer.

[Ross]

The reason to have the bottom floating is that silicone is far superior in tension than it is in shear. A small nick in a seam, can fail catastrophically if it's not in tension.

That being said, I have a 20"Wide x 20"Tall x 7" Thick that is sitting on the bottom pane of glass for over 3 years without any issues.