All Glass 40g Breeder - Safe for substrate and rocks?

[echoofformless]

After finding a 36x18" stand in the trash (lucky me!) I decided to purchase an All-Glass 40g breeder tank with the intention of making it a Malawi tank. But while searching for a hood in that size, I happened upon the All-Glass website and found that this particular tank doesn't have a tempered bottom. (Assuming of course that this is for the purposes of a tank with no substrate.)

Naturally I planned on a thick layer of sand and a good amount of rock caves, so now I'm nervous that the bottom wouldn't be able to handle that weight. Or am I just being paranoid?

[YuccaPatrol]

Wow! I didn't know that about the non-tempered bottom! Good thing since I was planning on buying 2 of these.

Maybe we should both check out the 50 gal tanks that share the same footprint?

[UncaBret]

I think the 'Critter Cage' versions may be the ones without the tempered bottoms.

[YuccaPatrol]

Ok, I've seen both the critter cage and the other one that looked like it was an aquarium and not a reptile habitat.

I'll check the aquarium one next time I see it. I noticed that the critter cage had a metal screen that slid out, and figured it might not be suitable for holding standard aquarium tops and such.

Thanks for the info on that!

[echoofformless]

It's not a Critter Cage, it's a proper aquarium - originally meant for breeding fish.

[echoofformless]

bumparumpatump

[UncaBret]

Maybe we should both check out the 50 gal tanks that share the same footprint?
The 65 has the same footprint and might not cost anymore. I can get one here for less than the 40 because its a 'standard' size.

[beblondie]

Actually none of their tanks have tempered glass bottoms until the 75 gallon tanks-Anne

[Slappy*McFish]

I had a 40g breeder tank with over 50 lbs of stones in it(not including gravel). You'll be fine, just be careful with pressure points and don't place any rocks right on the bottom glass.

[echoofformless]

Actually none of their tanks have tempered glass bottoms until the 75 gallon tanks-Anne

Actually, that's incorrect. It starts at the 37g. Check out the technical information on their site:


http://www.all-glass.com/services/index.html

[echoofformless]

The bump

[beblondie]

Seems they changed it from my last catalog thanks-Anne

[Aqualung]

I've had my All-Glass 40 BR for two years (and during three moves) with no problems. I've got plenty of gravels, rocks, and driftwood and have never worried about it.

[fishisme]

are you sure you found 36x18" stand in the trash? not in the neighbors house lol

[echoofformless]

are you sure you found 36x18" stand in the trash? not in the neighbors house lol


hehehe the really funny thing is, I found after dropping a friend off really early in the morning and for some reason I decided I wanted to just drive for no reason. I went in the complete opposite direction that I would have normally gone. And there, in the distance was an old school wrought iron tank stand in near perfect condition. I'm still smiling about it.

[UncaBret]

One of my friends has a 40 breeder with subsrate and a couple of rocks. The only inhabitant is a 14 year old 17 inch long pleco.

[zmazza]

I've got about 30lbs of gravel and several pieces of driftwood and rocks in there. I haven't had any trouble. It's a great tank and I highly recommend it to anyone. If you check out the the stats on most tanks, you will find that most don't have a tempered glass bottom. Some do, some don't. I think you will be OK.

[Soulcoffr]

I think even if it doesn't have a tempered bottom, then All-Glass is just going to increase the thickness of the bottom glass. I don't think there's a problem with filling it with substrate and rocks.

Plus, non-tempered, you could drill the bottom if you wanted to. Theoretically. :)

[terry64]

I think even if it doesn't have a tempered bottom, then All-Glass is just going to increase the thickness of the bottom glass. I don't think there's a problem with filling it with substrate and rocks.

Plus, non-tempered, you could drill the bottom if you wanted to. Theoretically. :)

Seems to me that drilling holes in the bottom of the tank will allow the tank to drain dry, you might as well keep your aquatic creatures in a bird cage

[pavemike]

I'd suggest putting an eggcrate in the bottom of the tank. Those things are usually only a couple of inches deep, so you can cover it with sand. There will be no pressure points from any big rocks you decide to include in your display.

Here is a picture for anyone confused about what I'm talking about...

http://www.collins-consulting.org/orchids/eggCrate.jpg

[vanillarum]

I was going with the 40 breeder for raising zebra plecos, bare bottom with lots of slate and caves. Is this going to be a problem ?

[Jester]

I'm getting ready to move my 20 gallon setup into a 40 gallon breeder (just purchased yesterday) and was simply going to move my existing gravel (to keep the bio matter) mixed with about 20 more pounds of new gravel. It sounds like that shouldn't be a problem, but if anyone thinks otherwise, please let me know.

Thanks much!

[echoofformless]

The only thing that ever worried me (and why I started the thread) is the fact that the bottom isn't tempered glass and being 18x36 there is a lot of area that will be supporting all the weight of substrate and rocks.

[pavemike]

I wouldnt worry about the weight of the rocks/substrate. As with all tanks, just make sure there are no pressure points at any point around the bottom made by big rocks. This can be accomplished simply and cheaply with a lighting eggcrate from Lowes/homedepot. I've used my breeder as an african cichlid tank in the past (large rocks/sand), and now its a ram tank with 50lbs of Eco complete and numerous pieces of driftwood.