Acrylic thickness

[BensBurms]

What are the guidelines for plexiglass thickness?

I want to build a 90”x30”x30” plywood aquarium with a single front viewing panel. I can buy 3/8” plexiglass for about $325 or 1/2” for about $400, versus $1200+ for 1/2” tempered glass.

 

[wednesday13]

What are the guidelines for plexiglass thickness?

I want to build a 90”x30”x30” plywood aquarium with a single front viewing panel. I can buy 3/8” plexiglass for about $325 or 1/2” for about $400, versus $1200+ for 1/2” tempered glass.

1/2” will work and bow a bit… 3/4” will be better and not bow. Id recommend at least a 2” seal/gasket of support around the perimeter of the glass. I built a 650g at 29.5” height and the acrylic is 3/4”… i also have 450 and 500g full acrylics built in 1/2”. They work but bow. Most acrylic does over time. If u want to save $$ 1/2” will work, esp with the extra support from the plywood. 3/4” will be better. 24” height is the “recommended” max for 1/2”.

Neither will fail IMO even if they wernt supported by plywood. They make that tank size in full acrylic in both 1/2” and 3/4” material thicknesses commercially

 

[Alicinser]

What are the guidelines for plexiglass thickness?

I want to build a 90”x30”x30” plywood aquarium with a single front viewing panel. I can buy 3/8” plexiglass for about $325 or 1/2” for about $400, versus $1200+ for 1/2” tempered glass.

For a panel that size, most builders lean toward thicker acrylic because bowing becomes significant. I’m not aware of anyone recommending three eighths at ninety inches. You might check standard acrylic tank calculators so you can verify the minimum safe thickness before committing.