Glass for a sump tank?

tideshark · 06/25/2010, 01:13 PM

Im about to make a sump out of a 20 gallon long tank, but im looking into the glass pannels to put in it, which glass is best for this? Regular glass, double strength glass or should I get tempered made? If anyone can help me out with this I would greatly appreciate it. Also if you know a silicone brand that is good for this that is aquarium safe, thanks!

dragenfire0 · 06/25/2010, 01:19 PM

Regular glass will be good enough for a sump ,snd for the silicon ,lfs should have some in stock .iuse all glass braND

chimmike · 06/25/2010, 01:19 PM

I just went to my local ace. They only had one thickness of glass there, so I had 'em cut me pieces to my lousy measurements. Doesn't need to be anything special, in a 20g sump there's not a lot of volume or flow to need thick or tempered glass.

der_wille_zur_macht · 06/25/2010, 01:32 PM

"Window glass" cut at a hardware store will likely have sharp edges and be thin enough that a gentle bump from a piece of equipment might crack it. Sure, it'll work fine, but IMHO, it's not ideal. If you have glass shops in the area, give them a call. They might have stuff in their scrap bin that's big enough, and they'll be able to knock down the sharp edges for a few bucks.

Or, just use acrylic.

Sharpie_ · 06/25/2010, 05:01 PM

I just made my 65 sump with some 3/8" baffles, The tallest one is only 14" tall and I used GE silicone II windows and doors. I prefer using glass in a glass tank because it is not olnly cheaper but stronger size for size. If you can only get one thickness of plate glass cut, try to laminate two together with silicone.

uncleof6 · 06/25/2010, 11:20 PM

Minimum glass thickness for baffles is 6mm (< than 1/4" = 6.35mm) anyway, anything less is too rickety, and as wille said, will break easily. Although shame on him for suggesting acrylic baffles in a glass tank

Glass baffles for glass tanks, acrylic baffles for acrylic tanks.

Using acrylic in glass tank, is the same as glass in an acrylic tank. No one does that........

Best silicone to use is Momentive RTV108. Works everytime.

Jim

iamwrasseman · 06/26/2010, 12:34 AM

5/16" glass ,regular pane will be fine and you can gently sand the edges with a vibrating sander or by hand with 220 grit sand paper or emery cloth and it will sand them easily so you wont get caught . have the glass cut at least 1/8"short of the dimension as the glass needs a bit of space so it wont splinter . silicone with aquarium sealer and put in use in 24 hrs .
simple and very effective !

06/25/2010, 01:13 PM	#1
tideshark Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Avon, Ohio Posts: 152	Glass for a sump tank? Im about to make a sump out of a 20 gallon long tank, but im looking into the glass pannels to put in it, which glass is best for this? Regular glass, double strength glass or should I get tempered made? If anyone can help me out with this I would greatly appreciate it. Also if you know a silicone brand that is good for this that is aquarium safe, thanks!

06/25/2010, 01:19 PM	#3
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	I just went to my local ace. They only had one thickness of glass there, so I had 'em cut me pieces to my lousy measurements. Doesn't need to be anything special, in a 20g sump there's not a lot of volume or flow to need thick or tempered glass. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

06/25/2010, 01:32 PM	#4
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	"Window glass" cut at a hardware store will likely have sharp edges and be thin enough that a gentle bump from a piece of equipment might crack it. Sure, it'll work fine, but IMHO, it's not ideal. If you have glass shops in the area, give them a call. They might have stuff in their scrap bin that's big enough, and they'll be able to knock down the sharp edges for a few bucks. Or, just use acrylic. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

06/25/2010, 11:20 PM	#6
uncleof6 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: AWOL Posts: 12,013	Minimum glass thickness for baffles is 6mm (< than 1/4" = 6.35mm) anyway, anything less is too rickety, and as wille said, will break easily. Although shame on him for suggesting acrylic baffles in a glass tank Glass baffles for glass tanks, acrylic baffles for acrylic tanks. Using acrylic in glass tank, is the same as glass in an acrylic tank. No one does that........ Best silicone to use is Momentive RTV108. Works everytime. Jim __________________ "Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." (oft attributed to Einstein; most likely paraphrasing by Roger Sessions; compactly articulates the principle of Occam's Razor) Current Tank Info: 325 6' wide Reef

06/26/2010, 12:34 AM	#7
iamwrasseman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: syracuse Posts: 7,003	5/16" glass ,regular pane will be fine and you can gently sand the edges with a vibrating sander or by hand with 220 grit sand paper or emery cloth and it will sand them easily so you wont get caught . have the glass cut at least 1/8"short of the dimension as the glass needs a bit of space so it wont splinter . silicone with aquarium sealer and put in use in 24 hrs . simple and very effective ! __________________ This hobby certainly can put you in some weird positions ! Dave Current Tank Info: 40 freshwater,25saltwater 2000 gallons ,enough tanks for an army ?

06/25/2010, 01:19 PM	#2
dragenfire0 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: moncks corner sc Posts: 68	Regular glass will be good enough for a sump ,snd for the silicon ,lfs should have some in stock .iuse all glass braND

06/25/2010, 05:01 PM	#5
Sharpie_ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Southern Ontario, Canada Posts: 363	I just made my 65 sump with some 3/8" baffles, The tallest one is only 14" tall and I used GE silicone II windows and doors. I prefer using glass in a glass tank because it is not olnly cheaper but stronger size for size. If you can only get one thickness of plate glass cut, try to laminate two together with silicone.

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