TEMEPERED or NOT??

Question

Ok simple question...how can i tell if my 40 Gallon tank is made with Tempered glass or not...???

Answer 1

If you have a pair of polarizing sunglasses, you can look through them at the tank. It's best to have sunlight passing through or shining on the tank when viewing it. You should also be looking at the tank at an angle rather than straight-on, also I think it would be best to do this test while the tank is empty. Hold one lens close to one eye and slowly rotate it. If the glass appears to have a patchy, quilted, rainbow appearance and as you rotate the lens (this pattern will fluctuate during rotation), then you know that the glass is tempered or heat strengthened (it could be either). On many automobile rear windows, you will see this kind of rainbow/checkerboard pattern with the naked eye. This is a result of stress patterns being locked into the glass during the tempering process as jets of air quickly cool the glass surface in the tempering ovens.

Answer 2

One clue would be the thickness of the glass. If it's near a half inch thick and is easily scratched it's not tempered. Another way to get an idea would be to get some Polarized sun glasses,a tempered tank will have patterns and waves that will be amplified by polarized light. The tank may need to be partially empty for these to show. Also tempered glass has more of a"ring" to the sound of tapping on an empty tank. The softer glass of an untempered tank will have a duller sound.
Sorry for the lack of a definitive test,look around at large pet stores,and you will see the differences. Most "Oceanic" brand tanks are made with untempered glass, Perfectos and most "All Glass" tanks are tempered. Be careful going around tapping on pet stores empty tanks,a little discretion will go a long way. Good luck.

Answer 3

Test it! HA HA HA HA!