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DIY tank 20 x 20 x 14


streamline.by.design

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streamline.by.design

I am in the process of planning a diy tank. I am planning on going with the final dimensions of 20 x 20 x 14 high and figured I would pick some brains around here.

 

My current plan is to use 1/4" annealed glass. The top rim will be polished as well as the exposed side ends and bottom drilled for return and overflow.

 

Where I am unsure is if I need to add eurobracing for this size tank. If so I will add a 2" strip down the left and right side either at the rim or along the inside base. If it isn't needed though, I would prefer to do without do to it adding another $25 to the glass order.

 

I recently saw a Biocube29 and it was not braced and it uses less than 1/4" glass, so I am hopeful that the bracing is not needed.

 

Any words of wisdom?

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There's a lot of glass tanks I see that do not have bracing at all. I don't know myself, but I'm sure there is an epoxy or and sealant out here much better than Tetra tanks might have. I'd personally look for the highest quality glue you can find and go from there.

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streamline.by.design

I have the silicone sealant. Just wondering more so about tank bowing from the water weight. I did ask for a quote for 1/2", if the price is right I will go that direction.

 

Surprised I'm not getting more answers here.

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I'm building a tank with similar dimensions (24x24x12) and 1/4" glass gives a safety factor of 7.6, which is what is recommended for rimless tanks. I was going to go with 9mm (3/8") glass for ease of mind, but apparently it's going to be three times as much as the 1/4" glass =[

 

As for the silicone, you want to use an adhesive silicone and not just a sealant. From what I have seen and read, Momentive RTV103 or RTV108 seem to be the most popular. Both 103 and 108 are the same just black or clear respectively.

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A 20" tank is small in the grand scheme of things, I doubt you'll need any form of bracing on it. I'm using 6mm glass on my setup and it's more than fine.



I'm building a tank with similar dimensions (24x24x12) and 1/4" glass gives a safety factor of 7.6, which is what is recommended for rimless tanks. I was going to go with 9mm (3/8") glass for ease of mind, but apparently it's going to be three times as much as the 1/4" glass =[

6mm is more than enough.

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6mm is more than enough.

Yeah, its my first time doing a custom build, and just wanted peace of mind. Then I got the quote for 3/8" glass, and it was a pretty clear choice.

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Yeah, its my first time doing a custom build, and just wanted peace of mind. Then I got the quote for 3/8" glass, and it was a pretty clear choice.

Yep, the price difference for a jump in thickness is crazy. Between 6 and 10mm here is double the price I believe. 10mm looks nicer but not that much. Haha.

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streamline.by.design

Thank you everyone for the replies. I think I will stick with the 1/4". Hopefully I can make myself do a build thread.

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As for the silicone, you want to use an adhesive silicone and not just a sealant. From what I have seen and read, Momentive RTV103 or RTV108 seem to be the most popular. Both 103 and 108 are the same just black or clear respectively.

 

Like he said, definitely use an adhesive silicone not the sealant crap they sell at pet stores.

 

6mm will most likely be fine at 14 inches as thats really not that deep, and you really only fill the tank to about 13. Derimmed 20g longs work fine and they use 5mm glass (or atleast mine does) at 12 inches high and a 30 inch span.

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