Is a 120g euro brace tank made of tempered glass?

[bryanmc1988]

so I recently got a 120g tank that has a euro brace on it and wanted to see if anyone had any idea if the brace is tempered or not? I need to drill a 3/4" hole into it for a sea swirl. any help would be nice.

[FreshSaltH2o]

If you try to view tempered glass in sunlight with a polarized pair of sunglasses, you will see dark, shady spots or lines stretching across its surface–a prime indicator that the glass is toughened. These lines were formed by the machine rollers during the tempering process

[bryanmc1988]

Unfortunately the tank is filled with water already and is unable to move into the sun to inspection. Is there any other way to detect if the glass brace is still drill-able?

[FreshSaltH2o]

(Googled it copied and pasted) her ya go buddy
To the untrained eye, tempered glass may seem to look the same as any type of glass. In order to identify it, many people would joke around and say, “Whack it! If it shatters into tiny, bite-size pieces, then it’s definitely tempered.” But, in all seriousness, how do you tell if a glass is tempered (without a hammer involved)?

Below, we give you less destructive ways to identify whether or not your glass is toughened.

Examine Its Edges

Normally, tempered glass has completely smooth edges due to the extra processing it goes through, while other types of glass usually have scuffed or ridged edges.

If the edges of the glass are exposed, run your fingers along them. Provided that the roughness is not the result of abrasion, any impression of roughness likely means that the glass isn’t tempered.

Keep an Eye for the Bug

We don’t mean the insect. In the construction trades, a bug is a tiny label etched or sandblasted in the glass’s corner. Along with the manufacturer name and the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) standards, this stamp indicates whether the glass is tempered or not.

If you got the glass directly from the manufacturer, you’ll easily see the marking. But that isn’t always the case, especially when the glass has frames concealing the stamp. So you have to watch out for other clues.

Look for Imperfections

If you notice any warping, bending, or dimples on the glass, then it is most likely toughened glass. These imperfections typically occur during the heating process. Because the glass undergoes extreme heat, the tongs used to handle it often leave a slight impression on the surface that you may be able to identify if you look closely enough.

Some tempered glass may also have surface scratches that are typically caused by the small particles from the machine rollers that melted and fused to its surface. This leftover debris gets dragged around during normal cleaning, producing light scratches.

View the Glass Through Polarized Lenses

If you try to view tempered glass in sunlight with a polarized pair of sunglasses, you will see dark, shady spots or lines stretching across its surface–a prime indicator that the glass is toughened. These lines were formed by the machine rollers during the tempering process.

Score a Line (Only If You Plan on Cutting It Away)

If all else fail, consider scoring a line on the glass surface using a window-cutting tool. If it creates an uneven and flaky line, it’s tempered. If you plan to cut the glass, take it to a specialist so that it can be cut without causing cracks or chips.

[russ13]

If you can get your phone in between the brace and the water you can used polarized sunglasses to find out. There are a bunch of videos on YouTube about it. I just blew up a ten gallon tank this week because I didn’t check it.

[bryanmc1988]

I tried using the iPhone XR screen to test on all white but nothing changes, just rainbows show up. even tried this method on a tempered glass that I know it is and same thing happened.

when using my MacBook Pro screen on the temp glass I can easily id the temp glass. I haven't tried it on the brace as a 2k laptop is worth more then a hole in a glass if you know what I mean lol

[bryanmc1988]

ended up drilling the brace and all is good.