Hi
Ive been lurking for a while, doing lots of reading for the past few months.
Im at a point with my diy build where its worth showing to people now and if anyone would be interested, i hope it would be people on here
My plan is to build an optiwhite cube type tank for my first planted aquarium. i have a couple biorbs (dont shoot me!) with guppies in. but they got me in to this fish keeping thing, the planted aquarium will be taking it to the next level.
so ive been planning the tank for a while and everything else to go with it. ive got into the engineering side of this quite heavily and made some gear to try and get a finish which i hope will be as high as possible. ADA tanks are the aim here, minimal silicon seams etc.
this is what i have so far
it's in a state of being partially done and ready to build with. using an old table I bolted down on the left a jig with a wooden plate, which to that i clamp the glass to. I used some soft wood so when clamping, the wood would compress before the glass, saving any potential disasters.
so the glass is clamped to the wood, i then lay a seam of silicon and lower the glass down and press it firmly. this gives the right amount of gap without the glass going any further and pressing it too much.
it can then be left to set for how ever long i want and the glass wont move. the pic below shows how it holds above the base sheet of glass.
i made the wood on the right hand side of the top pic to clamp to the table and then clamp to the set pieces of glass - this allows them to be dead firm and can use the lowering jig on the next side of glass. The right angle bits of orange perspex are just there to do a similar job from the inside should they be needed, held with double sided suction cups. the old lamp is there to light the workspace, its yet to be wired up...
I am just trying to keep everything as firm and rigid as possible with perfect right angles. it appeals to me more than the method of sticking the edges up with masking tape and holding it that way.
This is where its starting to take shape, lots of ideas and this is what i settled on.
im using pilkington optiwhite glass for the sides and pilkington dark glass for the base. it is 4mm. this first tank is 50x50x40. i know this height is risky on 4mm glass but i want to see how far i can push the first build. i got hold of a big stack of glass so have plenty to play with. the next few i expect will be safer sizes, around 30cm high. although i am in 2 minds about trimming the glass down to 50x50x30, i think the shallowness and depth could look pretty cool.
any input/constructive criticism i am certainly open to it! even support, so far everyone ive spoken to about this has made :? faces at me, apart from a few people that get it, so would be nice to see some enthusiastic comments on this!
cheers!
Andy
Ive been lurking for a while, doing lots of reading for the past few months.
Im at a point with my diy build where its worth showing to people now and if anyone would be interested, i hope it would be people on here
My plan is to build an optiwhite cube type tank for my first planted aquarium. i have a couple biorbs (dont shoot me!) with guppies in. but they got me in to this fish keeping thing, the planted aquarium will be taking it to the next level.
so ive been planning the tank for a while and everything else to go with it. ive got into the engineering side of this quite heavily and made some gear to try and get a finish which i hope will be as high as possible. ADA tanks are the aim here, minimal silicon seams etc.
this is what i have so far
it's in a state of being partially done and ready to build with. using an old table I bolted down on the left a jig with a wooden plate, which to that i clamp the glass to. I used some soft wood so when clamping, the wood would compress before the glass, saving any potential disasters.
so the glass is clamped to the wood, i then lay a seam of silicon and lower the glass down and press it firmly. this gives the right amount of gap without the glass going any further and pressing it too much.
it can then be left to set for how ever long i want and the glass wont move. the pic below shows how it holds above the base sheet of glass.
i made the wood on the right hand side of the top pic to clamp to the table and then clamp to the set pieces of glass - this allows them to be dead firm and can use the lowering jig on the next side of glass. The right angle bits of orange perspex are just there to do a similar job from the inside should they be needed, held with double sided suction cups. the old lamp is there to light the workspace, its yet to be wired up...
I am just trying to keep everything as firm and rigid as possible with perfect right angles. it appeals to me more than the method of sticking the edges up with masking tape and holding it that way.
This is where its starting to take shape, lots of ideas and this is what i settled on.
im using pilkington optiwhite glass for the sides and pilkington dark glass for the base. it is 4mm. this first tank is 50x50x40. i know this height is risky on 4mm glass but i want to see how far i can push the first build. i got hold of a big stack of glass so have plenty to play with. the next few i expect will be safer sizes, around 30cm high. although i am in 2 minds about trimming the glass down to 50x50x30, i think the shallowness and depth could look pretty cool.
any input/constructive criticism i am certainly open to it! even support, so far everyone ive spoken to about this has made :? faces at me, apart from a few people that get it, so would be nice to see some enthusiastic comments on this!
cheers!
Andy