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TetraGuy72
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« on: November 05, 2009, 09:58:05 AM » |
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I am curious about what kind of glass people use for their home made lids. I went to a glass store yesterday and was quoted $30 each for two pieces of 1/8" tempered glass for my tank. Would I be OK using non-tempered glass? Should I go thicker than 1/8" if not tempered? I read somewhere here that the commercially available lids (perfecto, all glass, etc) are tempered glass.
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20 g tank
7 Lemon Tetras
1 Dwarf Flame Gourami
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tntfox
Gender: 
Tanks: 46 gal. 1 bl. heart tetra, 10 glolight tetras, 5 panda cories, 5 otos, 2 calico plecos; 5 gal QT 1 N. brichardi, 40 gal. 5 N. brichardi; 45 gal. sitting empty
Posts: 708
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« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2009, 10:05:03 AM » |
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I have glass lids on both tanks and they're both tempered glass. I think I'd be afraid to use anything non-tempered because of the heat and shatter factor. Maybe that's unrealistic, but that's my fear. Good luck!  |
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If there is one spot of sunshine spilling onto the floor, a cat will find it and soak it up.
J. A. McIntosh >^..^<
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TetraGuy72
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« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2009, 10:51:46 AM » |
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Are yours ones you can buy? Or did you have yours cut? I am trying to find out if the brand names ones are tempered. I can not find anything that states it.
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20 g tank
7 Lemon Tetras
1 Dwarf Flame Gourami
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Shaner
Gender: 
Tanks: I suffer from MTS.
Posts: 1,035
uh, i broke the box thing
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« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2009, 12:08:37 PM » |
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I use 1/4 plexi glass for a couple of my tanks, dont have to worry about anything that way  plus you can get it from Menards, Home Depot a good hardware store, and must places will cut it down for you too |
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There are some things which possess form but are devoid of sound, as for instance jade and stone.Others have sound, but are without form, such as wind and thunder.Others again have form and sound, such as men and animals, lastly there is a class devoid of both, namly devils and spirits. ~Han Dynasty
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TetraGuy72
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« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2009, 12:12:20 PM » |
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I thought that the heat would cause the plexi to degrade over time. Has that been an issue for you at all?
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20 g tank
7 Lemon Tetras
1 Dwarf Flame Gourami
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TetraGuy72
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« Reply #5 on: November 06, 2009, 02:06:33 PM » |
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OK. the guy at the lfs says that the ones they sell are not tempered. But I have talked to glass people at a few hard ware stores and a glass shop. They have all told me not to use non-tempered glass. One guy said that if the glass is hot from the light and get splashed with water from below, it could shatter the glass. Is that true? Maybe the hinges provide enough support for the ones from the lfs so they don't need to be tempered??? What I would like to do is make one side a solid piece of glass. The other side of the lid would be the side where the filter would go, so I'd leave space in the back. I would also make that side two separate pieces so that I can have an easy to open "hatch" for fedding and stuff. I like this idea because there would be no hinges to block light coming in.
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20 g tank
7 Lemon Tetras
1 Dwarf Flame Gourami
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Shaner
Gender:
Tanks: I suffer from MTS.
Posts: 1,035
uh, i broke the box thing
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« Reply #6 on: November 06, 2009, 02:30:28 PM » |
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nope I have not had a problem with the heat
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There are some things which possess form but are devoid of sound, as for instance jade and stone.Others have sound, but are without form, such as wind and thunder.Others again have form and sound, such as men and animals, lastly there is a class devoid of both, namly devils and spirits. ~Han Dynasty
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TetraGuy72
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« Reply #7 on: November 06, 2009, 02:55:01 PM » |
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Cool. i'll have to look at the plexi next time I go to Lowes.
Does anyone have any opinions/experience with tempered vs. non-tempered glass?
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20 g tank
7 Lemon Tetras
1 Dwarf Flame Gourami
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gomezaddams
Gender:
Posts: 4,978
Mysterious and spooky
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« Reply #8 on: November 06, 2009, 11:47:47 PM » |
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Regular glass breaks into large pieces of incredibly sharp jagged and little splinters.
Tempered glass explodes in a pile of not quite as sharp little uniform size pieces.
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Waiting will fill
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TetraGuy72
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« Reply #9 on: November 07, 2009, 09:58:55 AM » |
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I understand that part. But isn't tempered glass also stronger and more resistant to heat, etc. What I am trying to find out is which I need to use for the lids. I have not been able to find a definitive answer anywhere I look.
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20 g tank
7 Lemon Tetras
1 Dwarf Flame Gourami
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gomezaddams
Gender:
Posts: 4,978
Mysterious and spooky
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« Reply #10 on: November 08, 2009, 01:18:04 AM » |
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As far as I know none of the commercially made glass lids I have are tempered.At least not the ones I dropped.
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Waiting will fill
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