Habitat - Indoor :: New tank question

[Deezer]

I'm planning the new tank and I need to know how thick glass should I use? I'm wondering between 6mm, 8mm and 10mm. The RES is old and big. I haven't measured him but he's at least 20cm in diameter. He's currently living in a small tank made of 5mm thickness of glass but the new tank will be 70cm/50cm/50cm and I need to be sure those 175 liters won't get on the floor because of a bump of shell in glass

[steve]

You are building this yourself?

[Deezer]

No, but I have a special idea so I need a custom made tank

[industrial_girl_2000]

I don't know the exact thickness of the bigger tanks of glass, but I can tell you that my 90-gallon tank (approx. 360 Liters) has very thick (*at least* 1/2 inch or about 1.25 cm) tempered glass & there was a label on the tank that said not to drill into or cut into the glass. Most larger tanks are made of tempered glass (same stuff they make into car windshields).

Maybe if you tell us your idea, we can help you find a way to make it happen? There are some people on this board that have built/designed some cool stuff.

[steve]

There are many DIY aquarium sites, you can find a lot of info if you search. My custom made 125 gallon tank uses glass that 3/8" thick.

[Deezer]

I consulted 3 aquarium builders and they said 8mm is enough and 10mm is to be sure that everything is OK.
I wanted it to be kind of a surprise but it's gonna take time to be done so here's the idea.
The tank's bottom is 70/50cm and I put a separating glass in it so that it becomes like 2 tanks in one. So I'll have a 105 liter tank (with bottom 70cm/30cm) for the turtle and the back tank will be with plants and fish just as a decoration of the turtle tank

[Aqua8]

Sounds Awesome!! And creative!! Your turtle may get frustrated though considering he/she may want to eat those fish and won't be able to get to them!! But it sounds interesting...

[DavidY]

If you can, make the back fish and live plant section share the same water as the turtle section. That way the live plants will help to filter the water too.

[Deezer]

Aqua8 - That's how I'll make him do some sports - trying to chase the fish
DavidY - It's a good idea. I thought about it but it's gonna be harder to get done and I'll 100% need an above-tank basking spot.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Silly question, but I will ask it anyway: can you just buy a stock tank, then retrofit it with slots on the sides (glue them on the inside walls of the tank with aquarium-silicone) where you can slide-in a large piece of plexiglas/acrylic to separate the 2 parts of the tank? That should make it fairly easy to clean too. You won't need *real* glass if you do it this way.

[Deezer]

I find it more unsafe this way And I prefer glass... Buying a stock tank will be more expensive for me. And I have the stand which limits the size of the tank. So I'll have to stick to the original idea