How to tell tempered glass

[B4tney]

Alright looking at buying a tank I need to know how to tell if the bottom is tempered or not the easiest way. Please and thank you.

 

[MikeG]

Easiest way is if there is a sticker on the bottom saying Tempered glass Do Not Drill

Sorry not really sure, I know there is something about using a polarized lens and looking at a monitor screen or something like that. Hopefully someone will have some idea. What size tank and who makes it if you know? Sometimes that is enough info to find out.

 

[B4tney]

It's a 75 gal, and I am not 100% sure it's a girl that I went to high school with her mom had a tank, so it is kinda old but it is in good con and not tempered then I will pick it up

 

[MikeG]

Most 75's are tempered on the bottom so you would need to check. Again hopefully someone will know how.

 

[littlefish09]

easiest way is to drill it. if it shatters its tempered.

 

[MikeG]

Here ya go
http://www.salt-city.org/showthread.php?9542-How-to-tell-if-glass-is-tempered.

 

[B4tney]

hmmm... one prob my comp died lol. Think and Iphone would work?

 

[B4tney]

Any other Ideas?

 

[tran]

if the glass is tempered, usually should have been labeled.

 

[Departed]

if the glass is tempered, usually should have been labeled.

This. If it doesn't have a sticker on it and you can find out the manufacturer; you could always call the manufacturer to check if you have doubts.

 

[tran]

I like with what Deep blue does to all their tanks. If any glass side on the tank is tempered, they engraved with "tempered" on the glass.
Aqueon/AGA usually have a sticker on the bottom. Like Departed said, if you could find out who manufactured the tank, you could search online or perhaps calling them up to find out just to be sure.

 

[Royalty]

there a thread on the forum that tells you how to find out if it's temp Im at work so I dont have time to post the link but do a search on it in the advance search I'm sure it's there somewhere.

 

[Departed]

I like with what Deep blue does to all their tanks. If any glass side on the tank is tempered, they engraved with "tempered" on the glass.
Aqueon/AGA usually have a sticker on the bottom. Like Departed said, if you could find out who manufactured the tank, you could search online or perhaps calling them up to find out just to be sure.

I didn't know they did that! That's a great idea. I also found this quoted on RC: "If you have a pair of polarized sun glasses (usually sold as fishing glasses to kill the glare on the water) and look through the glass at an angle with a light behind it, it will show a rainbowing effect. Non-tempered glass won't show the rainbowing effect."

Keep in mind I can't vouch for this! I have never tried it. Please use it at your own risk.

My other suggestion for you would be to take the tank to a glass shop. Good luck!

 

[tran]

what is the size of the tank?
Tempered glass usually found on tank 55g or higher (always the case with 55g tank).

 

[MikeG]

I didn't know they did that! That's a great idea. I also found this quoted on RC: "If you have a pair of polarized sun glasses (usually sold as fishing glasses to kill the glare on the water) and look through the glass at an angle with a light behind it, it will show a rainbowing effect. Non-tempered glass won't show the rainbowing effect."

Keep in mind I can't vouch for this! I have never tried it. Please use it at your own risk.

My other suggestion for you would be to take the tank to a glass shop. Good luck!

That is what I posted a link to above but using an LCD screen such as a laptop or phone. They do mention polorized sunglasses as well. Just has to be any polorized lens. I wouldn't really call it a rainbow effect, you will either see lines running accross the glass or a black screen when viewing LCD or a sheet of white paper with polorized sunglasses.

As for manufacturer, I asked that in my first post as well since as people have mentioned there are lists online that can tell you if it is tempered or not based on manufacturer. Unfortunately they are unsure of manufacturer as well.

 

[JohnK]

IIRC you can test the polarized glasses/LCD screen thing on car door windows which are supposed to always be tempered. (ie try it and if you can see the lines, then that will give you an idea of what you would expect to see if the tank is tempered)

 

[pallobi]

IIRC you can test the polarized glasses/LCD screen thing on car door windows which are supposed to always be tempered. (ie try it and if you can see the lines, then that will give you an idea of what you would expect to see if the tank is tempered)

thats a great idea... good call as always Mr John

 

[jamesdong009]

Here's an older thread

http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums...tell-if-glass-is-tempered.&highlight=tempered