Acrylic needs more support?

[BarbaraClark]

What exactly does that mean?

Sometime within the year I will be ordering an almost 400 gallon acrylic tank. I will be building the stand and canopy myself. I have read several times that to prevent bowing, acrylic requires more support. What exactly does that mean? Support where? How exactly should an acrylic tank stand and canopy differ from a glass tank stand and canopy?

Thanks for all responses.



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[Bderick67]

Depending on design glass tanks can be supported just around the perimeter of the tank. Acrilic tanks need additional support for the entire tank bottom. The builder of my 96x36x30" tank recommended at least a cross support every 12". I chose to just go with a solid 3/4" plywood to support the entire bottom.

 

[bOOsteN aUdI]

When your building your stand, the part of the stand were the bottom of your tank is going to sit on, you need to reinforce to prevent the bottom from bowing out. I placed 2x4s ever 10 inches and then placed plywood on top of them for the tank to sit on. For a 400 gallon tank you may want to use wood the next size up. 4x6''s?

Here is an example so you get what I'm talking: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?187312-DIY-180-Gallon-Tank-Stand

 

[BarbaraClark]

Ah, okay. No reinforcement is needed for any other parts?


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