Reptile to saltwater???

[little fishes]

I found a tank with a 60x24 footprint like I have been looking for, however it has been used to house a boa for quite some time. Anyone know if this would be incompatable with saltwater conversion?

It is 32 inches tall and 1/2 inch glass- anyone know the minimum thickness for a 60Lx24Wx32T tank?

Last question- how do you tell if the bottom pane is tempered/ can be drilled?

Thanks in advance for all responses!

Cheers,
Tracy

 

[mmkeeper]

As long as you clean it well it should be ok, however alot of tanks become reptile tanks because they leak. I know there is a way to tell if it is tempered glass but I don't know. Do a search.

 

[matts125]

Tracy my 125 is about 54x18x30 and it is 1/2'' glass it has done fine for me so I imagine yours should be okay at those deminsions...

Matt

 

[liveforphysics]

Polarized sunglasses will quickly tell you if the glass is tempered.

For a tank 60" long and 33" tall, a 5/8" glass indicates a saftey factor of ~2.5. 3/4" glass results in a saftey factor around 4.

Knowing the real world is brutal and unforgiving, I wouldn't want to go below a saftey factor of 4. However, if your stand is very well done, and you installed some exellent braces in the top, it could be possible, but its too close to be something I would advise useing.

 

[DonW]

If it has bracing and /or a frame the safety factor will be higher. 2.5 is frameless with no bracing. If its a manufactured tank I'd say you fine, just leak test it or maybe replace the inner silicone.

Don

 

[liveforphysics]

No, 2.5 was with 5/8" glass, not 1/2". 1/2" had no saftey factor, which means explosion the first time somebody stomps next to it, assumeing just filling it doesnt find a stress riser and burst it.

If you wana use it, before filling it, I would highly recomend having some 4" wide by 59"(or whatever the exact inside legnth of the tank is) strips of 1" glass siliconed in along the top laying horizontal. Then run a few strips of 3/8" glass connecting the 2 sides as braceing, because I've never seen a reptile tank that had functional top braceing.

 

[little fishes]

OK- Thanks everyone I am going to pass on the tank- as Liveforphysics said the world is unforgiving and seeing as I am looking for a tank because my acrylic tank split, I dont want to take those kind of risks. Thanks everyone for the responses.
Cheers,
Tracy

 

[DonW]

No, 2.5 was with 5/8" glass, not 1/2". 1/2" had no saftey factor, which means explosion the first time somebody stomps next to it, assumeing just filling it doesnt find a stress riser and burst it.

If you wana use it, before filling it, I would highly recomend having some 4" wide by 59"(or whatever the exact inside legnth of the tank is) strips of 1" glass siliconed in along the top laying horizontal. Then run a few strips of 3/8" glass connecting the 2 sides as braceing, because I've never seen a reptile tank that had functional top braceing.

Your right, misread my grid. fwiw a friend has a 220 aga made from 1/2 thats probably 15years old with 200lbs LR and 30,000gph flow. Give AGA a call maybe they can determine if its a aquarium or a reptile habitat.

Don

 

[steve-s]

Be sure the tank is bleached before you use it, not just a regular cleaning. Reptiles are well known for carrying Mycobacterium and it can be transfered through to your SW set up. Bleach is the only way to be sure it's dead. Use at a rate of 5:1 (water/bleach).

Cheers
Steve