DarkDep's Ultimate DIY: 8 Foot 300 Gallon Tank

[kennyman]

Are you gonna glue any rocks to the back of this one?        

[darkdep]

Oh HELL no!  Never again.  It looks really cool but I'll never be the same after carrying that tank out of the house with all the extra weight of the rocks.

[bitterman]

Oh HELL no!  Never again.  It looks really cool but I'll never be the same after carrying that tank out of the house with all the extra weight of the rocks.

How heavey can it really be? I lifted 1 end of my 180 pretty easily.

[speckledmind]

Hey Dark,

I have one recommendation to make on your glass.
Ask that each piece of glass be laser cut ( and special order from the manufacturer ), this will ensure that there will be no imperfections on the cuts.

Most glass shops usually order as need be such thickness of glass, and in the quantity your requesting, so there should not be a problem.

[darkdep]

Anyone ever looked here:  http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=saltaquarium&cdn=homegarden&tm=26&f=11&su=p284.8.150.ip_&tt=29&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.fnzas.org.nz/uploads/media/GlassThicknessCE_02.xls

These calculations seem very precise and scientific as opposed to "opinion".  They seem to suggest that 1/2 in glass for my tank would not need any bracing.  Which seems counter to everything I know, but still

I'm starting to rethink the eurobracing.  Thinking it might annoy me at cleaning time...

[bitterman]

Anyone ever looked here:  http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=saltaquarium&cdn=homegarden&tm=26&f=11&su=p284.8.150.ip_&tt=29&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.fnzas.org.nz/uploads/media/GlassThicknessCE_02.xls

These calculations seem very precise and scientific as opposed to "opinion".  They seem to suggest that 1/2 in glass for my tank would not need any bracing.  Which seems counter to everything I know, but still

I'm starting to rethink the eurobracing.  Thinking it might annoy me at cleaning time...

Put bracing on it....... PLEASE!! My Miracles 180 had 2 cross braces. They used to make the tanks out of thicker glass to not use bracing. They are a manufacturer and they must put the bracing on for a reason. After the tank blow out I had, I'd go on the side of safety. My 180 is 72"x24"x24" and has a very strong black trim with 2 braces. So for a 8' tank I would use 3 braces. Additionally your tank is 30" wide so that is a slightly more outward pressure on the tank.. I'd go on the side of safety.. I learned my lesson already. Myself I think the Euro bracing is more of a PITA then a few cross braces.

My observations when looking at larger tanks for glass thickness:
72x24"x24" tanks used 1/2" glass on the sides with braces
Some 72"x24"x24" tanks  used 3/4" glass with no, or only 1 brace
72"x18"x22" used 3/8" glass and cross braces

My 195 60"x24"x31" tall is 3/4" and has not bracing, but I am going to install one center brace.
My buddies old 90 was 1/2" glass and had no bracing, but it bowed over 1/4" in the center if not 3/8"

I've been looking closely at tanks since that crappy Flinton one exploded.

Bruce

Bruce

[darkdep]

Oh don't get me wrong, I will still use bracing, but I'm rethinking the EURO bracing...probably do as you suggest, go with three crosses.

[bitterman]

Oh don't get me wrong, I will still use bracing, but I'm rethinking the EURO bracing...probably do as you suggest, go with three crosses.

Kewl!! Fehhw!!!!!

This is a cool overflow setup.
http://www.cyphos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16663

[darkdep]

Quote is in!

I asked them to forget the euro bracing components for now as I'm rethinking it, and to just quote the box.  Price comes out to $1,481.80 (before tax).  This includes the Starphire front pane, as well as the holes drilled in the bottom as per my specs.  ~10 day lead time, and they will deliver to my house for FREE.

...She also asked if I'd invite them over to see the finished product

[darkdep]

Ok, google scares me.  Google for "8 foot aquarium" and this thread is the third link.

[busdriver]

Chris, are you recording everything, building a 300 galllon tank would make a great topic at one of the future OVAS meetings.

[darkdep]

There will be a significant amount of recording, yes.  I'll hope to put up an article as well as maybe do a talk.

Plus it will be a building experience for a lot of people.  So many have offered to help (and big thanks to all of you).

Ok, so next steps:  Have to do the stand.  It will be logically framed, likely built with double 2x4's throughout, with vertical supports every 24".  I'll likely have a door in the side as well for sump insertion.  Thinking I'm going to make the stand higher than average.

[dan2x38]

Quote is in!

I asked them to forget the euro bracing components for now as I'm rethinking it, and to just quote the box.  Price comes out to $1,481.80 (before tax).  This includes the Starphire front pane, as well as the holes drilled in the bottom as per my specs.  ~10 day lead time, and they will deliver to my house for FREE.

...She also asked if I'd invite them over to see the finished product

They delivering it to your basement?

[sniggir]

wow Chris that is a great price..and dilivery..I think when I go to do my basement project I will have toget  teh name of the company off you

[freshwater]

Anyone ever looked here:  http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=saltaquarium&cdn=homegarden&tm=26&f=11&su=p284.8.150.ip_&tt=29&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.fnzas.org.nz/uploads/media/GlassThicknessCE_02.xls

These calculations seem very precise and scientific as opposed to "opinion".  They seem to suggest that 1/2 in glass for my tank would not need any bracing.  Which seems counter to everything I know, but still

I'm starting to rethink the eurobracing.  Thinking it might annoy me at cleaning time...

The "Beta" values for Length to Height ratio of 4 (96"/24")  is not shown on the table, if you interpolate Beta = 4.2ish instead of 3.7 they told you to use. The new Beta value increases the thickness a bit to about 14mm

The concepts discussed seem to be right, but the equation is very iffy, not sure where they got it from.
Plus, no author or reference, wouldn't be able to put this in any technical report.

Sketchy

[dan2x38]

Oh don't get me wrong, I will still use bracing, but I'm rethinking the EURO bracing...probably do as you suggest, go with three crosses.

For bracing how about on the bottom build a skirt then add some dense foam to take up the gap. On the top make an acrylic skirt... this would allow for easier cleaning then the ero-bracing and give a little more insurance of support... could get Canus to glue the top skirt togeather...

[darkdep]

What do you mean by a skirt?  Not visualizing...

Not sure if they'll deliver direct to the basement, but definitely to the driveway.  The plan will be to have everyone here when they arrive so we can all haul it off and down. 

We can bring the bottom down and put it right on the stand; the other pieces we can just lean against the wall until we're ready for them.

I'm almost wishing I could get a normal black plastic bracing piece like on most standard tanks now

[audioslave_36]

I'm almost wishing I could get a normal black plastic bracing piece like on most standard tanks now

Call Mike or Roch at Plastech on Iber road they can make that for you (613)831-4640

[dan2x38]

I'm almost wishing I could get a normal black plastic bracing piece like on most standard tanks now

That is just what I meant by a skirt. Get some black acrylic at Canus then have them weld or glue it togeather for you. A bottom skirt or lip could just be built around your stand top to fit the tank base... then had some dense foam to take up any gap... or another acrylic skirt like the top for the bottom...

[bitterman]

That is just what I meant by a skirt. Get some black acrylic at Canus then have them weld or glue it togeather for you. A bottom skirt or lip could just be built around your stand top to fit the tank base... then had some dense foam to take up any gap... or another acrylic skirt like the top for the bottom...

For a Tank this large and only 1/2" thinck glass on the bottom pain it will be a disaster using a traditional frame on the top. I advise sitting the bootm of the tank on a flat surface on syrofoam. Thats alot fo weight fo rth ebotm of a tank especially when you consider the rocks I know APW will add to the tank. Secondly I see no need for a bootom skirt as you call it seing the stand would most likely hid it anyways.

Chris there are places you can purchase extruded plastic to make proper tops for big tanks. My 195 is a custom tank and it has a black plastic trim (Glass is 3/4" thick, so no slealing mine eh...  ).

Bruce