Building a tank

[Ozymandias]

just wondering but i'm planing in building a rim less tank (about 4 gallons) and wondering if i need some special type of glass. just thought i would as as this is the first time i've done this tank is going to be about 18"x9"x9" al any suggestion are welcome.

 

[Ozymandias]

bumpity bump thinking i might go down to the glazers some time tomorrow and get some glass cut so would like to know about glass types and quality i need.

 

[odinthejd]

How thick of glass are you thinking?

 

[Cory Keeper]

3/16th should be good enough.

 

[Ditka]

4 Gallons is a pretty small tank so i am not sure it will really mater for you but i have read that some of the best silicone for aquarium assembly is RTV103 or RTV108. 103 is black and 108 is translucent. scroll down to the bottom of the link to find the stuff. You may only need a small tube for your limited use.

I am about to build my first tank only i am going 20 gallons as opposed to 4... i guess i have a little more on the line.

Good Luck!!!

 

[jbradt]

You might want to think about going thicker or even tempered for the bottom.

 

[Ditka]

Is tempered glass really a good idea for use in an aquarium?

I seem to remember reading that tempered glass is a no no no no no no for aquariums due to the way it fails, no cracking and eventual failure, "tick" and woosh... the contents of your aquarium is on the floor. There is no warning.

i have never built a aquarium nor do i have personal experience with tempered glass "detonation" but from what i know about tempered glass i don't think i personally could use it for an aquarium.

 

[bored4]

I remember reading a thread on here, the guy builds custom tanks for people and he just lams two pieces of glass together on the bottom. with the top piece being 3/16 or 1/4, whatever glass thickness your using, smaller all the way around, so it creates a ledge for your walls going up.

 

[Ozymandias]

bored4: i've actually read things like that just not certain that it would be necessary for this tank.

Ditka: thats one of the reasons why i was asking about if there is a special glass i need to use ecause i remberd some discussions on it but can t be sure. also i was just planing on using GE I seeing as i have a tube of it around already would it make any difference?

 

[Cory Keeper]

You don't want to use tempered glass anyway cause it will be excessivly expensive for non standard pieces. When I got a quote for a 29g made out of tempered glass, it was well over $100.