I have a question about a large 2600 Gallon DYI tank build Please.

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INTHECOWBOYSWETRUST

Candiru
MFK Member
Mar 13, 2013
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TOLEDO OHIO
Hello everyone, I am in the process of building a large Plywood and fiber glass tank and have a question about the viewing window and was hoping some of you awesome people may be able to help me..
So the tank is going to be about 2600 Gallons, 14 feet long x 5 feet tall, and 5 wide with a viewing window that is 8 feet long and about 40 inches tall, the question is will 1 1/4' Acrylic be thick enough for that?

I have a old Acrylic Tank that is 8 feet long 4 feet tall but only 20 inches wide, And all inch and a quarter thick Acrylic, I want to cut this tank up and use it for the viewing window for the big build.. I could cut it down to 36" or so Tall if I need to!!!
I would so Greatly appreciate any help anyone can give me with this... Thank you so much!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!!!
 
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That's one big tank! Wish you best of luck :)
 
Id go for 4' tall and fill to around 40" or so... 1" acrylic can support 4' height in a 4'x4' sheet... If needed, and if u dont mind, u can get away with using ur material with 1 front brace in the middle sheet to hold it back from bowing at the full 5'. All depends if u want to sacrifice ur 8'x4' viewing frame for essentially 2 4'x4' windows. If you want to have the 8'x4' window it will most likely work fine but may bow alot. No way the acrylic would break IMO at that thickness tho... Most people do a 2" surround for the window seal... doing a 4" surround/window frame/ silicone will also help to secure it better and give you a bit more strength against bowing. I recommend sanding the acrylic with a rough grit paper and using 3M5200 for the bond. Hutton products "gold label aquarium sealer silicone" is by far the best adhesion for acrylic but its hard to find in the states. Ive used both brands with sucess for windows to pond liner. You will have a much easier time adhering it to epoxy/resin as you propose tho. a good brand reg. silicone like RTV would be my 3rd choice.
 
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When building tanks it’s the depth that plays the larger part in deciding viewing window thickness.
The length does effect the window but this can easily be overcome by adding more bracing along the top.
As you increase the depth the pressure that will impact the window goes up.
So if you are set on the depth being 5’ and the acrylic is only 40” you can increase the safety by installing the window toward the top of the tank.
Keep in mind that the fish may be able to drop down below the window and be harder to see at times.
 
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First of all i'm not surprised you're cutting that tank up. 8' length x4' height is impressive, but only 20" wide...WTF!!! What a waste of acrylic. A monster tank that isn't suitable for the vast majority of monster fish.

Secondly, that is one big build you're planning. The thing that sticks out like a sore thumb for me however is the planned size of your viewing panel in comparison to the overall tank size. Even if you used a whole 8'x4' sheet the 14' length of your tank would mean it'd leave you with limited viewing, and you're considering cutting it down to 36", which would be even worse.

Have you considered this, or are you planning on multiple viewing windows using other sections of that acrylic tank?
 
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esoxlucius said:
First of all i'm not surprised you're cutting that tank up. 8' length x4' height is impressive, but only 20" wide...WTF!!! What a waste of acrylic. A monster tank that isn't suitable for the vast majority of monster fish.

Secondly, that is one big build you're planning. The thing that sticks out like a sore thumb for me however is the planned size of your viewing panel in comparison to the overall tank size. Even if you used a whole 8'x4' sheet the 14' length of your tank would mean it'd leave you with limited viewing, and you're considering cutting it down to 36", which would be even worse.

Have you considered this, or are you planning on multiple viewing windows using other sections of that acrylic tank?
Click to expand...
I definitely have thought about that, gonna leave about 3 feet on each end I won't be able to see, I have also thought about the way most fish like to hide they will probably hide down there in the blind spots... But then I have also thought about the fact I am building this tank for the fish just as much as myself so I think it will be well worth it just to have a 14 foot long Tank for them to swim around in!!! Honestly I think the fish will Love having that hiding room, they will come out to swim around and eat...

Thanks for bringing that up but I really think it will be worth it!!
 
BIG-G said:
When building tanks it’s the depth that plays the larger part in deciding viewing window thickness.
The length does effect the window but this can easily be overcome by adding more bracing along the top.
As you increase the depth the pressure that will impact the window goes up.
So if you are set on the depth being 5’ and the acrylic is only 40” you can increase the safety by installing the window toward the top of the tank.
Keep in mind that the fish may be able to drop down below the window and be harder to see at times.
Click to expand...
Okay I will definitely keep this in mind, I really appreciate your help and thank you for the Information!!
 
ReApEr666 said:
Id go for 4' tall and fill to around 40" or so... 1" acrylic can support 4' height in a 4'x4' sheet... If needed, and if u dont mind, u can get away with using ur material with 1 front brace in the middle sheet to hold it back from bowing at the full 5'. All depends if u want to sacrifice ur 8'x4' viewing frame for essentially 2 4'x4' windows. If you want to have the 8'x4' window it will most likely work fine but may bow alot. No way the acrylic would break IMO at that thickness tho... Most people do a 2" surround for the window seal... doing a 4" surround/window frame/ silicone will also help to secure it better and give you a bit more strength against bowing. I recommend sanding the acrylic with a rough grit paper and using 3M5200 for the bond. Hutton products "gold label aquarium sealer silicone" is by far the best adhesion for acrylic but its hard to find in the states. Ive used both brands with sucess for windows to pond liner. You will have a much easier time adhering it to epoxy/resin as you propose tho. a good brand reg. silicone like RTV would be my 3rd choice.
Click to expand...
Yeah I really am set on the 5 feet tall, I actually wanted to make it 6 feet tall and 7 feet wide, But after measuring everything and figuring out my filtration I realize that won't work, I really really don't want any kind of brace in the middle of the window, If that's the only way it would work I would do it but I would Rather have a 4 to 6 inch contact area for the window to be glued to then to have a center brace!!!
But hay Thank you Very Much for all the information and help, I really appreciate it!!
 
Sounds like you've done a lot of work on this, so I'm guessing you've already considered it, but I'd work out a way to have a small viewing window on the sides or on both the left and right front, unless you've worked out another viewing solution. Even a 1'x1' window might work. (A submersible camera might work as well and might be more fun.)

Being unable to actually see parts of the tank might be fine until a fish is ill, tries to mate, or begins attacking other fish, or even some part of the tank or decor needs maintenance. At that point, being able to see it all might be important to you.
 
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