Ghetto Shallow Tank Question

Clue · 02/08/2010, 09:28 PM

Ok well I have been seeing all the shallow tanks on here I think I might want one. The problem is I am a university student and lack the funds to buy custom tank nor would I want to spend the money to find out I really dont want a shallow tank. So here is my proposition can I cannibalize my 55g (48Lx12Wx20H) and make a shallow tank with the dimensions of 48Lx20Wx12H. The glass appears to be 1/4" (7mm).

So is this do-able and also will I have to brace it some how or will I be ok with it be rimless?

Thanks

MrRyanT · 02/08/2010, 10:49 PM

If it has a rim on it then I would keep the rim on it. If the glass is not tempered then yes you should be able to get it cut down. Probably have to take the glass panels apart and then resilicone them back together after cutting though.

poolkeeper1 · 02/08/2010, 10:57 PM

Not worth the trouble IMO, You can buy a custom 36L x 24W x 15H for around 250-300 from Lighthouse corals I think?
Bill

poolkeeper1 · 02/08/2010, 10:59 PM

Rims on most tank are for decoration not support, And can be safely removed If you desire to do so. JMO
Bill

gar732 · 02/09/2010, 09:31 AM

The top center brace on my 55gal dried rotted and broke once causing the front and rear panels to bow to the point that it was scarry. I replaced it. I believe the brace does help to support the tank. rimless tanks use thicker glass. That being said the fact that you would be cutting it down to 12" you might be able to get away with it but I'm not sure. Another thing to keep in mind it the silicone does not adhere to silicone so you have to make sure you get every bit of silcone off the glass before you resilicone everything back together. IMO your best bet would be to sell or trade the 55 for a 30gal breeder or a 33gal long(the latter has the same exact dimentionans as you want to make). hope that helps

coralnut99 · 02/09/2010, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gar732

The top center brace on my 55gal dried rotted and broke once causing the front and rear panels to bow to the point that it was scarry. I replaced it. I believe the brace does help to support the tank. rimless tanks use thicker glass. That being said the fact that you would be cutting it down to 12" you might be able to get away with it but I'm not sure. Another thing to keep in mind it the silicone does not adhere to silicone so you have to make sure you get every bit of silcone off the glass before you resilicone everything back together. IMO your best bet would be to sell or trade the 55 for a 30gal breeder or a 33gal long(the latter has the same exact dimentionans as you want to make). hope that helps

+1

The one-piece rims with center bar were invented for a reason. It let them make the tanks with thinner glass, reducing the cost if the glass, and making them lighter and cheaper to ship. Money is the root of most changes.

Dismantling, cutting and reassembling is just a MUCH bigger task tha your picturing.

As suggested, a 30 Breeder will save you days of time, aggravation, and will actually cost about the same in the end.

username in use · 02/09/2010, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poolkeeper1

Rims on most tank are for decoration not support, And can be safely removed If you desire to do so. JMO
Bill

If it is just your opinion as stated at the end of the line than dont make a sweeping statement that encompasses all tanks as if its a fact, especially when its wrong.

The plastic trim absolutely serves a purpose, do not remove it unless you are prepared to add euro-bracing with glass strips.

ycrazyy · 02/09/2010, 10:05 AM

The 1/4" glass should be fine rimmed, it is a little thin for rimless (calls for 6.44mm, 1/4" glass is about 5.6mm thick).

As per username, the rim absolutely does serve a structural purpose so do not just dispose of it thinking you will not have an issue.

Those things aside, if you are going rimless, you will soon realize that the edges of your current tank are almost definitely not polished so it would leave a very ugly tank. You'd probably be better off buying the glass and DIYing the tank as it would be less work and you can get exactly what you want.

You will also need proper silicone, Momentive RTV108 is the best choice or SCS1200 series silicone. These are both FDA approved and have the strength necessary for building a tank.

Clue · 02/09/2010, 10:16 AM

Thank you all for your suggestions, I will probably give a glass shop a call to see how much I am looking at for the panels. It would be possible to keep the rim on the tank since the top and bottom dimension of the tank will be different then the original tank. The glass is close to 7mm thick I just took a guess at saying that would convert over to 1/4 of an inch, it is in fact thicker then that. Also ordering online isnt to convenient since we dont have many Canadian companies making custom tanks other then Miracles, but I believe they are expensive and shipping would be brutal on it. As well the breeder doesnt interest me it wouldnt have the look that I am looking for.

Thanks again everyone

eznet2u · 02/09/2010, 10:47 AM

Call around to several shops. Glass shop prices can differ up to 500%.
I built a 44g sump. One place in town was 5 times the price I ended up paying.

gar732 · 02/09/2010, 11:06 AM

The dimensions on an aqueon 33gal long are 48x13x12. I'm not sure what the cost of this tank is but I would deffinetly take it into consideration when you are pricing things out.

Clue · 02/09/2010, 11:10 AM

Its really the shallow as well as the depth I am looking for at 13" just isnt deep enough.

username in use · 02/09/2010, 11:15 AM

Ive looked into those 48", 33g tanks. They are a pretty cool size, I may try one at some point.

gar732 · 02/09/2010, 11:15 AM

Oh, my bad. I just went back and read the original post. I thought you just wanted to cut down the 55.

Clue · 02/09/2010, 11:31 AM

No Worries

ycrazyy · 02/09/2010, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clue

The glass is close to 7mm thick I just took a guess at saying that would convert over to 1/4 of an inch, it is in fact thicker then that.

Just an FYI if you do order new glass, if you ask for 1/4" then you will receive 5.6mm glass, 5/16" would be closer to 7mm while 3/8" would be around 9.5mm. The stuff doesn't straight convert unfortunately, just industry standard names.

darkdruid · 02/09/2010, 10:48 PM

You can get a 33 gallon extra long, that has the footprint of a standard 55 gallon, just not as tall for about $125.

Clue · 02/09/2010, 10:57 PM

I am looking for shallow as well as deep not just a shallow tank so a 33 wont work, but thank you

02/08/2010, 09:28 PM	#1
Clue Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 66	Ghetto Shallow Tank Question Ok well I have been seeing all the shallow tanks on here I think I might want one. The problem is I am a university student and lack the funds to buy custom tank nor would I want to spend the money to find out I really dont want a shallow tank. So here is my proposition can I cannibalize my 55g (48Lx12Wx20H) and make a shallow tank with the dimensions of 48Lx20Wx12H. The glass appears to be 1/4" (7mm). So is this do-able and also will I have to brace it some how or will I be ok with it be rimless? Thanks __________________ Matt

02/08/2010, 10:49 PM	#2
MrRyanT MrRyanT Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,731	If it has a rim on it then I would keep the rim on it. If the glass is not tempered then yes you should be able to get it cut down. Probably have to take the glass panels apart and then resilicone them back together after cutting though. __________________ We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle Current Tank Info: 30 gal display

02/09/2010, 10:16 AM	#9
Clue Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 66	Thank you all for your suggestions, I will probably give a glass shop a call to see how much I am looking at for the panels. It would be possible to keep the rim on the tank since the top and bottom dimension of the tank will be different then the original tank. The glass is close to 7mm thick I just took a guess at saying that would convert over to 1/4 of an inch, it is in fact thicker then that. Also ordering online isnt to convenient since we dont have many Canadian companies making custom tanks other then Miracles, but I believe they are expensive and shipping would be brutal on it. As well the breeder doesnt interest me it wouldnt have the look that I am looking for. Thanks again everyone __________________ Matt

02/09/2010, 11:10 AM	#12
Clue Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 66	Its really the shallow as well as the depth I am looking for at 13" just isnt deep enough. __________________ Matt

02/09/2010, 11:15 AM	#13
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	Ive looked into those 48", 33g tanks. They are a pretty cool size, I may try one at some point. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

02/08/2010, 10:57 PM	#3
poolkeeper1 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Spring Hill, TN Posts: 4,674	Not worth the trouble IMO, You can buy a custom 36L x 24W x 15H for around 250-300 from Lighthouse corals I think? Bill

02/08/2010, 10:59 PM	#4
poolkeeper1 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Spring Hill, TN Posts: 4,674	Rims on most tank are for decoration not support, And can be safely removed If you desire to do so. JMO Bill

02/09/2010, 09:31 AM	#5
gar732 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CT Posts: 1,813	The top center brace on my 55gal dried rotted and broke once causing the front and rear panels to bow to the point that it was scarry. I replaced it. I believe the brace does help to support the tank. rimless tanks use thicker glass. That being said the fact that you would be cutting it down to 12" you might be able to get away with it but I'm not sure. Another thing to keep in mind it the silicone does not adhere to silicone so you have to make sure you get every bit of silcone off the glass before you resilicone everything back together. IMO your best bet would be to sell or trade the 55 for a 30gal breeder or a 33gal long(the latter has the same exact dimentionans as you want to make). hope that helps

02/09/2010, 10:05 AM	#8
ycrazyy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New York Posts: 327	The 1/4" glass should be fine rimmed, it is a little thin for rimless (calls for 6.44mm, 1/4" glass is about 5.6mm thick). As per username, the rim absolutely does serve a structural purpose so do not just dispose of it thinking you will not have an issue. Those things aside, if you are going rimless, you will soon realize that the edges of your current tank are almost definitely not polished so it would leave a very ugly tank. You'd probably be better off buying the glass and DIYing the tank as it would be less work and you can get exactly what you want. You will also need proper silicone, Momentive RTV108 is the best choice or SCS1200 series silicone. These are both FDA approved and have the strength necessary for building a tank.

02/09/2010, 10:47 AM	#10
eznet2u Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,135	Call around to several shops. Glass shop prices can differ up to 500%. I built a 44g sump. One place in town was 5 times the price I ended up paying.

02/09/2010, 11:06 AM	#11
gar732 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CT Posts: 1,813	The dimensions on an aqueon 33gal long are 48x13x12. I'm not sure what the cost of this tank is but I would deffinetly take it into consideration when you are pricing things out.

02/09/2010, 11:31 AM	#15
Clue Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 66	No Worries __________________ Matt

02/09/2010, 10:48 PM	#17
darkdruid Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 520	You can get a 33 gallon extra long, that has the footprint of a standard 55 gallon, just not as tall for about $125. __________________ Get all the fools on your side and you can be elected to anything. Current Tank Info: 46 gallon bowfront and 35 gallon mixed reefs, several 10 and 20 gallon frag tanks, beginning a 125 build

02/09/2010, 10:57 PM	#18
Clue Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 66	I am looking for shallow as well as deep not just a shallow tank so a 33 wont work, but thank you __________________ Matt