Making Cube out of 2 x 33G?

[Der_Iron_Chef]

I asked this question in the DIY thread on RC:

Is there ANY way to cut apart 2 36" 33G tanks and use the four "36 sides to make a cube (and have a 3' x 3' bottom piece cut)? If it's braced, would the glass used to make regular 33G tanks be thick enough?

I got one answer so far:

The stength of the glass is a function of its area. If the pieces are already from a 36" tank, then they are suitable for a 36", be it cubic or rectangular.

If this is your first DIY tank, I would do some research on construction techniques and tips.

What do people think? Agree? Disagree?

[Chin_Lee]

i agree it will work. the thickness of the glass used is USUALLY more dependent on the water height.

[Delphinus]

Seems like a lot of work though to take apart two $30ish-value tanks though just to save on the glass? If you had to buy a 36x36 panel for the bottom anyhow, how much more would it cost to have new 36x12 (or whatever your desired height is) panels cut? Then you'd have scratch-less clean panels to start off with.

I dunno?

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Well, that's the thing, Tony. I have no idea where to get glass cut (I posted a thread a few days ago, but no one has replied), and I have two brand new, flawless 33G tanks which I won't be using as 33G tanks!

I guess I'd still have to figure out a place to get the glass cut, for the bottom pane. But hey, a penny saved...

[sphelps]

any glass shop will cut some glass for you, last time I was in Calgary I used Speedy Glass. It should only cost around $60 for the glass you need, might be better just to sell the 33 gallons you have. Disassembling a tank is actually harder than you might think, you'll probably end up chipping the glass somewhere. Plus cleaning off the old silicone can be a pain.

I would personally also use a small Euro Brace, if you run a 2" wide strip in 6mm around the tank you'll eliminate the bow which I'm sure you will get without the brace. Either that or use thicker glass, 10mm.

[Delphinus]

I missed that thread Drew, sorry, I was camping the last couple weeks.

Place I use for glass is called Glass Guild. They're up in the N.E. by the .. um .. I think it's the Port-O-Call hotel. Number escapes me offhand but you can call 411 or check yellowpages.ca or something. I find they're reasonable for prices, and, they have everything under the sun - clear float, smoked, tinted, Starphire/low-iron, etc. etc.

Agreed with sphelps - I'd put a Eurobrace on the tank.

Hope this helps!

[Zylumn]

drew You are going from glass rated for 33 g to putting it on 100 g, I have not seen an eighty + g tank that had less than 1/2 " glass and you want to try close to 100g with 1/4". Dont add salt when testing(save you a little $) and test it on your porch (you can tell the neighbors below you were just putting out a fire) LOL. Now on the other hand if you still itching to try I have a bottom, front and a side of a 33g you can have.

Kevin

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Kevin:

Hey--I know what you're saying. Those were my exact concerns! But I was also told by a tank builder that, as long as you keep the tank 18" and shorter, 1/4" glass will suffice (garf.org also agrees).

Does this make sense to anyone else?

[Johnny Reefer]

Are there any 36" cubes at any of your LFS's right now? If so, take a tape measure and see what they are made of.

[sphelps]

If you keep the tank below 20" tall and do not increase the the length (36") your tank will be fine provided you brace it.

Actual volume has nothing to do with glass thickness, only height increases pressure (m*g*h), however the hydrostatic force created by this pressure will create a bending moment (deflection) and the longer the tank the larger the bending moment, but 36" is fine for 6mm.

No point going overkill on glass thickness, you just loose clarity and add weight.