I am looking at building my 3rd acrylic tank. Everything I have built so far has been 1/2" tanks. I am currently running a 72 X 27 X 24 tank that I built 2 years ago. My question is I want to build a corner tank that will be a triangle. The two back sides will be 36" long and 24" tall while the front will be approx 51" x 24" tall. Can I get by with 3/8" cell cast as long as I brace the top really well? I have always used the guide of 1/2" acrylic up to 24" inches tall but this guide is for rectangular tanks.
Question for Acrylic experts
- Thread starter FishDog
- Start date
Im sure you could get away with it... but half inch will probably be a safer bet.
If you do go 3/8", I would cleat the bottom as well as bracing around the top. Doesn't have to be wide though right? 2.5" wide should be fine. I've built a couple tanks out of 3/8" cell cast myself, so im speaking from my own experience. But its just my opinion from what I see and how I feel about it.
I'd say go half inch if you can afford it right? Peace of mind.
Cheers,
Chris
If you do go 3/8", I would cleat the bottom as well as bracing around the top. Doesn't have to be wide though right? 2.5" wide should be fine. I've built a couple tanks out of 3/8" cell cast myself, so im speaking from my own experience. But its just my opinion from what I see and how I feel about it.
I'd say go half inch if you can afford it right? Peace of mind.
Cheers,
Chris
Okay, to be honest the only reason I am considering 3/8" is because I am toying with the idea of making it a bow front. The first tank I built about 8 years ago was a bow front out of 1/2" but the front of the tank was 7' 6" long so the bow was easy to make. This tank with a shorter front piece would tank a lot of heating and bending to get the curve I would want. Maybe build the tank with a 1/2" body and do just the front in 3/8" with gussets in the back corners? If I can't get the bend to work then it will be a triangle or even a hex front.
The problem with doing the front in 3/8" is that is where the longest span would be. This panel would be the most likely to fail IMO.
My only concern is not the strength of the front... but the quality of the joints from the ends/bottom/top to the front piece. You'd have to be bang on for line-up and angles, especially the one where the vertical ends of the bowed piece join the end pieces of the tank. You have to hit the angles just right to get a full bond. IMO thats the most likely place to see failure.