is plastic frame important on tank?
- Thread starter gerry45
- Start date
drew2005
Active Member
Originally Posted by gerry45
I am looking at having a 120 gallon 48x24x24 built for me but he can`t put the black plastic frame on this size.
does the frame help hold tank together or just for glass tops?
They are added support braces. I have never seen a tank without them. Why cant he put them on?
I am looking at having a 120 gallon 48x24x24 built for me but he can`t put the black plastic frame on this size.
does the frame help hold tank together or just for glass tops?
They are added support braces. I have never seen a tank without them. Why cant he put them on?
drew2005
Active Member
Originally Posted by gerry45
apparently 48x24x24 is an odd size and he can`t get this size.
I hope he used some seriously strong silicone. Id be a little worried about overall strength of the tank without those braces. Im not expert so maybe someone will chime in and help you further.
apparently 48x24x24 is an odd size and he can`t get this size.
I hope he used some seriously strong silicone. Id be a little worried about overall strength of the tank without those braces. Im not expert so maybe someone will chime in and help you further.
phixer
Active Member
Part of being a good fabricator is knowing how to effectively overcome challenges like this and produce a professional result. The MFG should not be telling you this. Tell him to make one for it and dont settle for some a peice of crap ghetto job, it should look as if it was meant to be there not an add on especially if your paying for a custom aquarium. The frame is structurally beneficial to a glass tank. Where are you located?
gerry45
Member
I live in winnipeg and yes the tank will be glass.
I will stick with a pet store tank with the frame.only bad thing is then I can`t drill bottom if tempered.
would drilling side and using side overflow work just as good?
I feel safer going tempered bottom anyways with a big 120 gallon tank.
I will stick with a pet store tank with the frame.only bad thing is then I can`t drill bottom if tempered.
would drilling side and using side overflow work just as good?
I feel safer going tempered bottom anyways with a big 120 gallon tank.
phixer
Active Member
It has been done before and is not impossible, its just a little bit trickier drilling glass. Read some of the previous posts, Squidd is pretty knowledgeble when it comes to overflows and there is lots of good information on this subject. Just remember to use a sharp holesaw and let the saw do the cutting dont force the holesaw into the material. Good luck.
wilsonreef
Member
By holesaw it is meant either a carbide tipped hole saw or a diamond hole saw. I hope I didn't offend anyone here but it will take either of these, with water as a "coolant/lubricant". And as stated let the saw do the work. Go very slowly letting the weight of the saw be the only weight on the cut. It would be preferable to have drill mounted in some kind of drill stand. Drilling by hand almost always leads to disaster. Partly because you cannot hand hold the drill for that long and be as steady as need be.
saltfan
Active Member
The top is not a problem. What you need to do is cut a piece of glass to fit the top, and have the openings cut like you would have a glass flip top on it. Silicone it together, Silicone bonds the glass to glass, you will not be able to pull the top off even if you tried to after its been siliconed. It actually imo looks alot better than having the plastic rimming.
murph145
Active Member
they make tanks without the plastic frame...
they are usually nicer custom tanks that are of a higher quality
heres a pic of my 180 when i first got it its all beveled adges and flat polsihed glass i think it looks cleaner without the framing especially if ur going to get a nice tank dont skimp on things like that IMO
they are usually nicer custom tanks that are of a higher quality
heres a pic of my 180 when i first got it its all beveled adges and flat polsihed glass i think it looks cleaner without the framing especially if ur going to get a nice tank dont skimp on things like that IMO
acrylic51
Active Member
Yep Murphs' right......Glass tanks can be built without the plastic bracing, but the tanks are eurobraced like shown in the pic........The size mentioned 48x24x24 isn't an uncommon size so the manufacture of the proposed tank should do his homework.....AGA and Perfecto and Oceanic can be purchased in this dimension......
murph145
Active Member
its the extra glass braing around the top perimiter of the tank it gives it its strenght so it doesnt fall apart it makes it very sturdy
look at my pic the extra 8" of glass around the top thats the euro bracing tanks with plasitc framing dont have that and are usually cheaper in construction
this tank was made by Lee Mar out here in so cali
look at my pic the extra 8" of glass around the top thats the euro bracing tanks with plasitc framing dont have that and are usually cheaper in construction
this tank was made by Lee Mar out here in so cali