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Tank strength?

Posted:
Sat Jan 27, 2007 5:39 pm
by Pizza
Just wondering, this hasn't happened yet, but lately I've seen my turtles swim faster at times and bash into the glass of my tank with their shells, it's not an aggressive hit, but I do hear clunking against the glass occasionally, can turtles be strong enough to crack the glass if they rammed at it hard enough?
I currently have a 90G tank where the thickness of the glass is about 1 cm.
My turtle shell lengths are 10, 8, 8, and 7 (in inches).

Posted:
Sat Jan 27, 2007 5:46 pm
by Kallistos
Same thing with my turtles, but I doubt that it'll ever crack. Although my turtles are only 5 inches, I'm sure a 10 inch turtle could do some pretty nasty damage. Maybe if you put a border around the tank they won't hit it at full speed? Actually I'm thinking of doing that...I'm curious what other people have to say.

Posted:
Sat Jan 27, 2007 7:18 pm
by scripta_elegans
I don't think a turtle hitting the side with it's body would break the glass, but if they like shoving river rocks around I could see a big turtle maybe chipping the glass. I think most glass tanks are built with thick enough glass to withstand a fairly good hit.

Posted:
Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:04 am
by Hardip
10mm is pretty thick, but if you are that paranoid, get it rebuilt with 18mm glass and a 25mm double base.


Posted:
Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:54 am
by Starchick
Yeah, I dont see it happening. I work with picture glass, and you would be shocked at how hard it is to break, unless it has some inherent weakness. Although, RESowner34, I have also been thinking about putting something on the glass so Napoleon can see where it is, he swims his face into the sides all the time and I feel bad for him!

Posted:
Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:26 pm
by SpotsMama
I put a couple of little stickers on the outside of the glass in Spot's tank so he can see where the glass is. I think it's helped a whole lot since he no longer crashes into it. It's like the stickers people put on clear glass windows and doors to keep birds from flying into them.
Here's what I mean. See the little green smiley face?


Posted:
Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:01 pm
by Pizza
Haha, very clever.
Thanks for all the help from all of you on this matter of mine.

Posted:
Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:35 pm
by rocketright
Hehe, Definetely not, even from a 12 inch turtle it wouldn't....

Posted:
Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:19 pm
by scripta_elegans
Aren't there two green smiley faces in that picture?

Posted:
Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:22 pm
by rocketright
Wow, How did you see that!! LOL

Posted:
Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:28 pm
by SpotsMama
Ha! Scripta, you're just too much!