Glass thickness for a 4 ft x 2 ft x 20 inch sump?

terror

terror

AC Members
May 23, 1999
1,235
1
38
Manila, Philippines
I'm planning to add sump tank fto my 300 gal tank, but don't have much money to spend on a sump. can i use 1/4 inch glass for a 4 ft x 2 ft x 20 inch sump tank? or will it break? thinking of 1/4 inch glass since sump tanks don't get filled 100% with water?

or maybe i can get away with using 1/4 inch glass on the sides and 3/8 glass on the base?
 
Last edited:
You could use 1/4 on the sides just fine. You could also consider adding a couple euro braces in the center of the tank if your sump design will allow. Perhaps add two 6" braces 12" up from the bottom and 16" in from either side for example. If you added a couple of those That would effectively make it a 12" tall tank and you could probably get away with it.

Also, as you said the sump won't be filled completely. Check this site http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/aquariumdiy/l/blcustomtank.htm

If, for example, you only filled it to 15 inches you'd need 6mm glass which is a hair thinner than 1/4. This would give you a 2.92 safety rating. Anything over 3 is golden. Add a few braces and you should be good to go.

All that being said, if you can afford 3/8 get it but if you can't 1/4 should be fine as long as you brace it correctly and don't fill it to the top.
 
kj5kb said:
mmm...would it not be cheaper/easier to just buy a 75G...preferably used? 48x18x18????

or not convenient in the PI???
Click to expand...

yup its a lot cheaper :) but i'm not sure if a 75 gallon will be big enough?
My 8 ft tank will eventually house 7 adult asian arowanas, and some black bar and red hooks. so would like to get a big sump as much as possible :) problem is the budget :)
 
3/8" would be my minimum recomendation, but why not use Acrylic if this is only going to be a sump? Cheaper & stronger...?
 
For my current project I used two plastic totes for sump, each 33g. But I fill them to the top minus what I need for a safety margin (no wet/dry). You have to use bulkheads and connect them, but I am using an external return pump anyhow so they just Y into the pump intake. You could make an additional wet dry chamber thats above the sump and drains into the sump if you need more water volume in the sump... BTW I'd be nervous as heck with 1/4 glass. I personally would use glass that would hold up to it being 100% full just incase, with a sump you need to be prepared incase things accidently backflow, leak, etc. flooding the sump.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom