• I need advice...

  • Christopher4108

Preparing for the fall, launching a sea tank of 160 liters + a sump of 50 liters! I need advice on the aquarium; the dimensions are 800x400x500mm. Should I use 8mm or 10mm glass? Do I need braces and reinforcement ribs? I also want to drill holes; I have a diamond crown of 26mm, but I'm hesitant to drill it myself! Maybe someone can help with the fabrication; I will provide all the materials!

Susan

Eight is more than enough, even without the ribs for stiffness, although they help in terms of protection against water splashing. No ties are needed at all.

Rachel9060

Will the bottom not break from the weight??? After all, there will be 10 kg of live rocks and 10 kg of dry reef rocks lying there...

Daniel

And what can't be done with a double bottom? At one time, I had 25 kg of Black Sea stone (which is three times heavier than what you will be using) and 25 kg of live rock in a 250-liter aquarium (100x50x50) for almost a year, totaling 50 kg, with an 8 mm bottom and a stand. The bottom of the aquarium will not break from the weight of the stones but from an improperly installed aquarium.

Omar3497

Can you glue the ribs to the bottom? Or is it better to use double glass?

Tiffany5069

You have 160 kg of water pressing down on the bottom, so 20 kg of stone is not a factor. The only thing that can affect it is the point load from the stones, so I recommend placing a sheet of PVC at least 3 mm thick under them.

Joshua8425

The ribs on the bottom increase the contact of the bottom with the walls, and few people know how to make a sandwich.

Melissa3200

My opinion is different; there’s no need to put anything on the bottom. We don’t need dead zones; if you just place it there, water will definitely get in, and there won’t be any circulation, so the water will stagnate. This could lead to serious problems for the reef later. Just add a second layer of glass or make the bottom thicker; it’s not that difficult.

Justin9867

Maybe it would be better to put the 10 on the bottom then???

Alexandra

I observe three aquariums live, ranging from one to three years old: two freshwater and one saltwater. All have PVC placed under the sharp edges of the stones. There is no stagnant water anywhere. However, I did notice stagnant water under the stones with a large surface area, which were placed on a layer of sand. Speaking of substrates and stagnant water: here is a photo of our forum member's aquarium. Without these substrates, the structures would have simply collapsed. Here is a photo of the aquarium from April. If this grew in stagnant water, I am "for" such water. You can even use a 10-gallon tank for extra precaution.

Nancy758

Everyone has their own way of doing things; some will succeed while others won't. You have been observing for three years, and I have seen quite a bit in my 30 years as well. I've witnessed how an aquarium can crash at a very high cost, and I have no desire to repeat such an Armageddon in my aquariums or those of my friends. Why tempt fate when everything can be done easily and simply? Why advise someone on a bomb that might explode or might not? My job is to give advice and warn, but the choice is up to the aquarium owner. As for the stones on the sand, I always place the stones directly on the bare glass and then add sand underneath them, not the other way around.

Jeffery

I believe that after getting burned, you blow on something cold for a long time, but there is a common practice. At the reef center, almost everyone uses substrates (whatever works for them) and nothing happens to the reef. The main thing is to know and think about what you are doing, and most importantly, why you are doing it in your aquarium. The presentation of information and the argumentation seem one-sided (bomb, mine, it will spoil) - 100 people use it and it's fine, one person has a problem - "maybe something needs to be adjusted in the conservatory" (c) Zhvanetsky.