Tempered VS Regular glass (1 Viewer)

[HorseyStripe]

OK, so i'm thinking about making a glass 40g cube...

i did the calculations and found that i'd need between 1/4 and 3/8" glass on the sides to make the tank...with 1/2" glass on the bottom..

i called to get a quote from my local glass shop and for the pieces i need it was $200 to get the glass NOT TEMPERED..with 3/8 sides and 1/2 bottom...

HOWEVER, if i do it all in tempered 1/4" the quote is only $70...

i'm highly doubting that 1/4" tempered glass will work for the bottom...but i figured i'd get ya'lls opinions on this...i can't seem to find a "tempered glass thickness for aquariums" calculator...only regular glass...

 

[gabe_j]

hey ed don't forget you can't drill tempered glass so if you want it drilled you're going to have to have atleast 1 panel that is non tempered glass.

 

[Llama]

Can you mix? Tempered front and sides, regular back and bottom.

 

[HorseyStripe]

hey ed don't forget you can't drill tempered glass so if you want it drilled you're going to have to have atleast 1 panel that is non tempered glass.

Yeah...binswanger said they can drill THEN temper it....it will be drilled...ill pop 200+ for regular glass if they can't do it with tempered...and I suppose I could mix...I feel like a idiot for not thinking of this beforehand...guess ill call em after I get home

 

[gabe_j]

@ llama yea you can mix them several tank makers use tempered for the bottoms. so long as its all glass. you couldnt mix acrylic and glass that just doesn't bond strong enough to maintain a tank long term. in a sump it works good enough because there is water on both sides of the pane.

 

[steveb]

not to get off topic but how do some of the manufacturers (DAP?) bond the glass sides to a plastic base?


Horsey, if the glass company will drill your holes for low cost it might be worth it to let them and then have them temper the glass to save $ and weight.

 

[HorseyStripe]

i know they'll drill it...i'm just wondering if 1/4" tempered will hold the weight of a 40gallon tank...i don't know..maybe i'll just mix...i didn't get a chance to call em before they closed today

 

[gabe_j]

DAP mfg... who knows how they glue it together. all i know is i wouldnt trust a DT with a mixed construction of glass and acrylic. but thats just me.

 

[steveb]

Def. not glass and acrylic - I think they use PVC sheets but I dunno for sure and no clue how they bond.

Horsey if your holes are gonna be in the bottom maybe go regular glass there and then tempered for the sides? Are you gonna have them polish and bevel the edges?

 

[soymilk]

Age and dap use PVC bottoms. They look good. I'm not sure how long they will last but I wouldn't hesitate to buy one from these two mfg.

I thought you were doing an external overflow box.

 

[steveb]

Hey Horsey check this out.. http://www.marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=50528&highlight=

 

[r_jay]

The construction of the tank isn't going to be a mix of acrylic and glass though right? just the overflow will be built into the back of the tank using silicon glue (pref black) and probably pvc sheeting (also black).
The Aqeuon RR tanks have drilled bottoms that are then tempered. I am guessing that ed, you'll have to pay extra for the piece cause they'll take regular glass then drill then temper it, but then you can get tempered glass for everything else. Why risk 1/4" for the bottom if you are unsure go BIGGER! you don't want to risk your bottom dropping out with the bare minimum.

 

[HorseyStripe]

Dear Ronaldo,

yes, BUT as much money as i've spent in this damn glass shop, (i walk in and they say "hi ed") they shouldn't have a problem drilling a hole before they temper it...and according to the chick on the phone they do all their tempering in house...

problem is, they can't temper anything bigger than 1/4"...i'd love for them to be able to temper 3/8" and just do that...i still haven't got the quote for 1/2" bottom and the sides tempered...

i was workin on my piece of ************ truck last night...

 

[HorseyStripe]

also, i'm gonna talk to Brian (chewy) about his builds...

 

[r_jay]

Dear Ronaldo,

problem is, they can't temper anything bigger than 1/4...
i was workin on my piece of *censored* truck last night...

sounds like info that would have been useful AT BEGINNING OF THREAD, . Anyway looks like you need to contact a different glass shop for that piece cause you're gonna want thicker.

hope you get yer truck working