| Bill of Materials (BOM) | Qty | Engineering Spec / Material |
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Professional Engineering at Your Fingertips
- Precision Engineering: Automatically calculates glass cut lists including 1mm silicone gaps for bottom-enclosed assembly.
- Safety First: Smart logic recommends glass thickness and dynamic Eurobrace (One-piece) for tanks over 600mm.
- VIV Overflow Systems: Full support for Internal, External, and 2cm Extremely Narrow overflow designs.
1. Why does VIV Aquarium exclusively use Optiwhite™ glass for custom tanks?
Standard aquarium glass contains high iron levels, which creates a visible green tint—especially noticeable in thicker glass (12mm to 19mm). At VIV Aquarium, we exclusively use Optiwhite™ (low-iron) glass. This premium material offers over 91% light transmission, providing crystal-clear edges and ensuring the true colors of your aquascape, marine fish, or coral reef are displayed without any color distortion.
2. How thick should the glass be for a custom rimless or Eurobraced aquarium?
Glass thickness is primarily determined by the height of the aquarium and whether it is rimless or braced, as water pressure increases with depth.
Rimless Tanks: For heights up to 450mm, 10mm glass is standard. For heights up to 600mm, we use 12mm to 15mm glass to prevent bowing and ensure maximum safety.
Eurobraced Tanks: Adding a Eurobrace (a glass perimeter bonded to the top edges) adds massive structural integrity. This allows us to safely use slightly thinner glass (e.g., 10mm instead of 15mm for a 600mm tall tank), offering a sleeker look and reducing the overall empty weight. Our 3D Design Lab automatically calculates the safest recommendation for you.
3. What are the advantages of an Aluminum Extrusion Cabinet over a wooden stand?
Traditional wooden or MDF aquarium stands are prone to water damage, warping, and swelling over time in high-humidity environments. VIV’s custom cabinets are built with an industrial-grade aluminum extrusion frame.
Zero Warping: Completely rust-proof and waterproof.
Extreme Load-Bearing: Designed to effortlessly support massive systems (such as 6ft/1800mm tanks weighing over 1000kg when filled).
Smart Aesthetics: Features easily removable, moisture-resistant panels (available in Matte White, Space Gray, or Obsidian Black) for 360-degree access to your sump and filtration.
4. Why choose Sintered Stone for the aquarium back or bottom panels?
While a black painted glass background is a classic choice, VIV offers premium Sintered Stone (such as Xuanwu Black or Glacier White) for the ultimate luxury aesthetic. Sintered stone is fired at extreme temperatures, making it highly scratch-resistant (perfect for stacking live rock or hardscape), zero-porosity, and completely safe for aquatic life. It adds a deep, architectural texture that flat vinyl backgrounds simply cannot match.
5. How does VIV handle international shipping for large custom B2B orders?
Shipping a heavy, large-scale glass aquarium requires expertise. For our global retail customers and B2B partners, we ensure 100% safe transit. All custom systems are secured in heavy-duty reinforced wooden crates. For the best shipping rates and zero hassle, we highly recommend purchasing through our authorized local distributors. If a distributor is not available in your country, we offer competitive factory wholesale pricing for consolidated local freight or palletized bulk orders.