Ideas for PE tank build

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wednesday13 wednesday13 I've never seen a round PE tank with a large (1/4 inch polycarbonate) window. I have seen them with small windows, like 2ftx1ft. What I had in mind is a PE tank say 8ft-14ft in diameter with a window of say 3ft-6ft long by 3ft-4ft tall. Has this been done?

The metal cage tank might as well be built with one wall - the viewing wall - of appropriately thick acrylic panel and the other 4 of thin acrylic "skin" like 1/2" or 3/8" or even 1/4" thick acrylic panels. No need for PE welder. Can eurobrace all the seams to improve strength and waterproofness.

I think the thread's focus is as cheap as possible and as easy as possible but functional and lasting.
Zoodiver Zoodiver posted some of his local “behind the scenes” shark tanks with rather large windows here yrs ago. Ive most def. seen “stock tank windows” larger than 1’x2’… You could easily do 2’x4’ windows with 1/4” poly carb IMO… most people are working with smaller tanks to begin with so i think its more so it just hasn’t been done much or seen often. Most of the stock tanks available are short to begin with restricting the window heights. Sure there going to bow pushing the limits with a 3’x4’ or 3’x6’ window but, i think its very plausible. 4’x4’ miiight b pushin it… 2’x8’ or 3’x6’ would work fine. Another thought is poly carb is expensive so that is another reason why people may only be using smaller windows. Honestly ur proposed window dimensions may work fine… poly carb is 250 times the impact resistance of glass where as acrylic is only 17… pretty crazy… ill leave u with this very crude example for now while i search for better pics… this dunk tank window has to be 3’x3’ at the least lol… there also mass produced so u know they “work”… with glass calculations always going by height alone for material thickness, u really can push the limits to the extreme with 1/4” poly carb. Id do it in a heart beat if a reasonably sized stock tank fit in my basement ?… more “food for thought” is stacking two 1/4” sheets together. I bet u can do a 4’x8’ window span that way. Only reason to stack them is to curve the thin material easily while also doubling ur strength against bowing ??

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Commercially available dunk tanks...with a window???

My gosh...here's another thing I've always wanted but didn't know about until now...

This is all I need...yet another MFK thread that gets the "I wonder if I can make a fish-tank out of that!" juices flowing...:) My biggest concern with that would be how to remove the "Easy Dunker" decal. :)
 
Commercially available dunk tanks...with a window???

My gosh...here's another thing I've always wanted but didn't know about until now...

This is all I need...yet another MFK thread that gets the "I wonder if I can make a fish-tank out of that!" juices flowing...:) My biggest concern with that would be how to remove the "Easy Dunker" decal. :)
Ive come across them for sale on FB/craigslist… always high priced being a “dunk tank” ? lol… and they dont fit through my door ??… agree tho… def a “must” for any MFK
 
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The white circular tank on left is 2.2m deep and the window is approx half the diameter. I use this to teach friends scuba and test hookah gear but it has a few fish. As previously mentioned, I've got some bigger round tanks with viewing panels.

Many of these threads never come to fruition. Far too many dreamers or lack of resources, determination, desire, etc. Half the problem is perception. Compared to twenty years ago, prices, technology, information, materials have dramatically improved. The ability to build much much bigger for the same or lower cost yet people still complain or seek cheaper.

I'm happy to help someone convert a round tank if they want to message me privately. They make terrible display tanks IMO.

Alternatively a complete cylinder of acrylic 2m water depth only needs to be 6mm thick regardless of diameter. Still a crap display but bit nicer.

If your looking for DIY large fish tank ideas, look to Glass Pool Fencing. 12mm toughened glass with no holes is being mass produced to building code standards (should have a certification stamp) and readily available at various lengths. A 1200mm x 1200mm x 12mm panel is approximately $100. A 1200mm x 2000mm x 12mm only $200. Join together as many panels as you want. Already seeing lots of second hand - used fencing getting sold much cheaper.

Add a 50mm x 50mm x 4mm angle steel perimeter frame at top and bottom if you want to fill to 1200 depth. Being toughened glass, all the edges should be protected against knocks regardless.
 
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I looked briefly into the Glass Pool Fencing availability. Very limited (2 entries) and pretty expensive in Google shopping.



Seems the prices you cites are from China but will have to import or hire an importer to get into the US.
 
My prices are Australian retail prices from several different places. We have a small population with little manufacturing and situated a long way from most other countries so I'm sure the cost would be comparable to most other countries. Not sure about the USA but there are plenty of international members here.

Yes, importing directly from China is a good option if you want thicker or bigger custom sizes or specific glass - laminate requirements. I've had to build some larger tanks with a franna crane and glass slab lifter which gets stressful.
 
Well curiosity got the better of me along with the desire for a bigger tank so i ordered up one of these from pentair. Design and construction pretty much exactly like everyone suggested here, except that pentair chose to use 1/8" polycarbonate for the 2'x2' window. This ones 60" diameter-410 gallon, about as large as i can manage in my garage.
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Well curiosity got the better of me along with the desire for a bigger tank so i ordered up one of these from pentair. Design and construction pretty much exactly like everyone suggested here, except that pentair chose to use 1/8" polycarbonate for the 2'x2' window. This ones 60" diameter-410 gallon, about as large as i can manage in my garage.
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what was the damage on buying one of those?
 
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Well curiosity got the better of me along with the desire for a bigger tank so i ordered up one of these from pentair. Design and construction pretty much exactly like everyone suggested here, except that pentair chose to use 1/8" polycarbonate for the 2'x2' window. This ones 60" diameter-410 gallon, about as large as i can manage in my garage.
View attachment 1522032
View attachment 1522035
:headbang2
 
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