some help...

I am having trouble finding a place that makes frames for tanks.

I blew the bottom out of my 150 and I am going to make it more shallow and wider... the new dimensions are around 72" long x 32" front to back and 18" deep (top to bottom). I am basically laying the 150 on it's side but I need new frames. The glass is 1/2" non-tempered so I was thinking of extra support.

Is there a way to support the seams w/o a frame? I see glass tanks just adds more glass???

 

>bump<

logging off real quick and want to be able to find it when I log back on...

Anyone know if I can reinforce the tank with more glass? Should I get a plastic frame made?
I was thinking of 32" x 72" long non tempered glass, with all that weight on it, sagging and snapping.
A frame would lift it off whatever surface it would be sitting on. If I did all glass, I could sit the biggest sheet (being 32x72) flat on the surface of the stand... but then what about the seals??? won't they stress???

Thank you in advance for your replies.

 

Optimist

Im not fully sure I understand the question but just in case I do here is my reply to the question I think you are asking

all glass tanks have braces from front to back in order that the water pressure does not force the glass outwards
the larger the tank the more braces it requires
so a 2ft all glass normall has 2 lenghts of glass maybe 2 inch wide running across the front and the back and then 2 pieces 2 inches wide running from front to back at the sides - a 2ft has no centre brace IME

A 3ft tank is the same as above but with the addition of 1 more brace running front to back across the middle

a 4ft tank has all the above except instead of 1 single centre brace it has 2 - to divide the tank into 3 sections

a 5ft tank has 3 braces IME along with the 2 at each end

Never had a 6ft all glass but I imagine principles are the same

if thats nothing like the question your asking - sorry, Ill get me coat

Steve

 

I know All Glass Aquariums, now Aqueon will sell the pressure molded plastic for tank, BUT they are only stock sizes... Perfecto on the other hand might make a custom mold but it will cost you a pretty penny. Your best chance would be to look for some lesser known aquarium manufactor and see what they will do... You could always use glass as a center brace like many of the Oceanic tanks do...
The only tanks I have seen with out frames have seriously THICK glass!!

Good luck

 

Thank you for the Reply Steve. I want to take my 150 (72x33x18) that blew out the bottom glass and flip it on it's side. That front glass that's 1/2" thick will now be my bottom sheet. The bottom glass that blew out, which would now be my front, I was going to get a piece of starphyre glass and reseal it.
I am basically taking the 150 and laying it on it's side.
I didn't like how tall it was before and I am more into shallow water stuff anyway... my problem is finding a frame custom to 72x33 or I'll have to cut it down and lose 9" just to make it fit a 72x24" frame that is readily available.
I was wondering if I didn't use a frame, could I make a tank like glasscages.com and do it all glass (not allglass/ aqueon like the manufacturer). glasscages uses a glass brace like oceanic, which is still a 1/2" sheet of class but I don't know how they keep the whole tank from blowing apart without a frame. It looks like they just silicone another piece of glass in the corners...
Let me know if that helps you a little bit. Check out the website if you get time. They have sweet tanks.

 

Thank you Dr. I was waiting for Steve, Tangster, Otty, you... one of the big dogs on this. I've been reefing for a while and I am pretty handy but you guys seem to have a bit more experience then me. I didn't want to PM all of you guys so I figured just throw a thread up.
Thank you... I pretty much knew I could get a "stock" frame. I am needed one made but didn't know if they would custom make one or if it would be "cost vs quality" beneficial if I did it like glass cages and made it all glass (not all-glass/ aqueon). I just can't see how a tank nearly 3 feet wide and 6 feet will hold together from a seam of silicone... I just don't but they do it. I know that Oceanic uses a 1/2 thick glass brace... I actually have a 5' 100 something gallon in my garage now with that brace but it has a plastic frame on the top and bottom too.
I was thinking if the frame costed too much, if I could do like glass cages and make a glass frame? I know people have had bad luck resealing tanks and I am actually really handy but should I just take the loss and can the 150? It costed me like 6-700 bucks... I really don't want to throw it away.
A starphyre 220 or so gallon (48Lx24Dx36W) from Royal is like 13-1500 bucks.

 

Got you now Optimist

on some all glass tanks I had in UK , the MFG had siliconed a ledge all around the inside of the bottom glass and side walls to re enforce those areas , it was about 2 inches wide I recall ( and interfered with my UG back in the day)

they then repeated that about 1 inch from the top of the tank - a 2 inch shelf all around the top and then siliconed brace bars again about 2 inch wide across the top of the ledge from front to back

they finished the tank with a simple plastic extrusion or trim so that the water level could not be seen and you did not have to view the ledge and braces - it was cosmetic and not like the frames you see around modern tanks that have the braces pre molded in

my only concern in this project is the worry that your new tank base, which was a tank wall, may not the thick enough to bear the load of the sand and rock placed on it?

Steve

 

I was going to place the (now) bottom sheet flat on the stand. The stand would be a definite reinforcement because I would build it like an outside deck. The Glass is a little under rated if it were to be put in a frame. I know the tempered bottom piece was only 1/4" compared to the 1/2" sides but I've seen 5/8's and 3/4" on the bottom of smaller tanks then a 150. I believe by reinforcing the bottom and laying it flat on the wood/ stand will help... only my belief though through common philosophy.
My concern is the seams... like you said, they re-siliconed 2" enforcements around every joint. That may get a little tedious or even tacky... I don't know. I just can't bring myself to throw money away.

Do you think I should try the 33" wide idea or cut it to a known size like 24"?
Then I could do it (72L x 18D x 24W) OR (72L x 24D x 18W)... I like shallow but wider (front to back).

 

Hi Optimist - your comments on the load bearing on the base make sense

does nobody in your area make all glass aquariums these days? if so, this might be a project worthy of some proffesional input as you dont want to sacrfice space and volume if you dont have to IMO

I would not want to advise you to do anything that could result in gallons of salt water on your carpet

I feel sure its acheivable , just need to find someone who can quote you a price for doing it

Steve

 

I totally understand. I just wanted some input and you guys helped me alot. I can do some really good stuff but when it comes to my own stuff I always second guess myself and then I keep fumbling because I guess my guess. When I do other people's stuff I do it with ease and it always comes out right. I want to keep it as big as possible like a 33" foot print (cuz why waste it if it's there?) but just unsure about framing it. I think I am just going to stick with what I know and cut it down to 24" and buy the "already made" frames.... just gotta find out if 1/2 is enough for the bottom in a frame now.
Thank you for the help!