glass front pond ideas

[rotccapt]

hi all i am doing research for another tank build. we have deemed that our turtle might not live well with his old tank mates since he has been by himself for almost a year. so he will need a new tank.

so doing some research i found a tank design that i want to try and replicate.
View attachment 864319

so with this in mind i want to try and do a plywood build for the tank its self and do a foam and concrete facade to give it the look of being a pond, with a dry land area behind and above the tank. i would like to build a 72"x24"x24" tank that will have a water level of about 20 inches. so my biggest question is do you think that my design will be strong enough with the rimless front panel? from my searching i think i will need 1/2 inch glass for the front. the frame of the tank will be a 2x4 and 2x6 front panel and 2x4 sides and back with a 1/2 inch plywood skin on the inside of the tank. to seal the plywood i will use max acr epoxy and fiberglass. i know this tank construction works with a single center brace on a 300 gallon tank with a water level of 27 inches.

here is a quick sketch of the tank


as a though i could use thinner glass and add a 1-2 inch glass brace across the top of the front panel. this would still give the look but be stronger. what do you think? is this doable?

the tank pictured has a 2 inch acrylic front

 

[KAWAMIKIE]

Seems like a lot of work and expense for those dimensions. I would use a 180 gallon tank, take the trim off, silicone in a center brace, and build your scape around it.

 

[rotccapt]

i know i can get the front glass for about 150 and i already have the epoxy and fiberglass. i bet i could have it built for about 200. cheapest i have found a 180 for is about 5-600 before shipping. also i like the project.

 

[DIDYSIS]

You will need allot thicker glass on the front not having support at the top. That's why that tank as 2 inch acrylic when a tank that size would have 3/4 inch thickness, I am thinking the same but no matter what you have to think double the thickness or more to make up for the extra pressure and load of flex possibility because of the lack of support

 

[rotccapt]

the tank pictured is 8foot long 3 foot wide and 2 foot tall

 

[rotccapt]

do you think 3/8 would be ok if i were to add a 2 inch wide glass brace across the front?

 

[rotccapt]

well after doing more searching i have decided the rimless will be too costly to do. i found that a brace less tank of this type was built with 3/4 inch glass. also to do a euro brace i would need 1/2 inch glass with 3 inch bracing. so i have started looking at other options. so my thought is to use 3/8 glass but i am toying with using a strip of 3/4 inch steel angle iron coated in epoxy/powder coated to prevent rust. this would give me a low profile brace.

do you think this would work?