Tempered Glass

[FishEnthusiast]

Hi,

My desk top is made of tempered glass about 1/2" thick. What I am wondering is how much weight can I safely put on it? The base is made of steel. I currently have a 5G, 2 1G and a 2.25G on it. I think it is ok right now, but I would like to add more. The desk is L shaped, and now that I am done school I would like to line up some 2.5G minibows. I don't have the directions anymore so I can't check.

Thanks

 

[SPLiSH]

Are there any logos or anything on it? Like from the desk manufacturer company? If there are, you could go onto their website (assuming they have one) and check the stats for your desk.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

The desk is from Staples, so I could probably check thier website. Thanks, I never thought of that.

 

[freddyk]

tempered glass is strong as steel. There is no amount of weight you can put in the tank that would fit and break it - unless you smash it of course.

 

[BigC]

I work in a glass factory where we temper glass at very high temperatures. Although tempered glass is strong it is weak at the corners. A very hard bang on the corner will cause the glass to explode/shatter. As for you question I don't think that there is a hard and fast rule as to the load bearing qualities of a particular thickness of glass and if there was this would also be related to size. I would exercise caution and not add anymore weight.

 

[SPLiSH]

The desk is from Staples, so I could probably check thier website. Thanks, I never thought of that.

You're welcome.

 

[Synirr]

I got my desk at Staples too... is yours a desk like this one?

If so, well.... you can see how much weight mine is holding at the moment

 

[FishEnthusiast]

That is the exact same desk. My fish are positioned in almost the same places too. I have a 1G beside my monitor, the 2.25G is in the middle peice, and another 1G and my 5G are on the side that isn't being used. I am more worried about the frame as I said. But I see that you are doing almost the same thing that I want to do, so I guess I can risk it. Are all your betta's boys on there? I have all boys and I try to keep them close together, they love to flare and posture for eachother. Then when they are sick of it, they swim off to their respective corners.

Do you ever hear any strange noises, like the sound of the frame buckling I know I sound paranoid, but, well....I am

 

[Def]

tempered glass is strong as steel.

That would be the really weak kind of steel that can still shatter, right?

wtf...

Windshield glass for cars is tempered, I believe it's about 5 times stronger than regular glass. And last time I checked, all those windshield repair firms are still in business...

 

[mlee0332]

tempered glass is strong as steel. There is no amount of weight you can put in the tank that would fit and break it - unless you smash it of course.

he's sayin' his desk is tempered glass, and he wants to put an aquarium on it.

The way I tested my coffee table before I put my 29 on it was I jumped up and down a few times! But I wouldn't try that with your desk...

Remember that water weigh 9lbs per gallon. Then you have to add the weight of decor and rocks, so I just figure the weight at 10lbs per gallon.

 

[Synirr]

Are all your betta's boys on there? I have all boys and I try to keep them close together, they love to flare and posture for eachother. Then when they are sick of it, they swim off to their respective corners.

Do you ever hear any strange noises, like the sound of the frame buckling I know I sound paranoid, but, well....I am

Oh no, I couldn't fit ALL my boys on there *lol*
The 5 gallon on the right has two dwarf puffers (I know, it's not the recommended size, but surprisingly they get along,) and the one on the left is Mini's tank. Each of the other bowls has one male betta, and there's another bowl out of view to the left of my monitor... the rest are either in the split 10 gallon or in groupings of bowls in my bedroom.

Anyway, no, I never hear any disturbing sounds coming from my desk. The tanks are all at the edge of the desk so there's a metal support under them rather than right in the middle of the glass, just to be safe. I was worried too when I first put a 5 gallon on the desk, so i filled it up very slowly to make sure the weight would hold... but yeah, it has been like this for months and everything seems fine

 

[FishEnthusiast]

My tanks are all along the metal supports too. I did the same thing when I added the 5G as it was the first one I put on there. I would like to add one more 2.5G. I guess I will try it and see what happens. There are lots of other places I could put it.

 

[mlee0332]

Synirr

I just noticed and thought i'd say, "DUDE, you have a dell!"

 

[Synirr]

Synirr

I just noticed and thought i'd say, "DUDE, you have a dell!"

Haha, that I do! It has been a great computer so far