I am planing on building my own acrylic tank and I was looking for some advise. I would like to make it 72" x 36" x 30" tall or 337 gallons. I was just wondering if 1/2" acrylic would be thick enough for this tank. I was also wondering if anyone knew about what a 4' x 8' sheet of 1/2" acrylic would run me. I'm from western Wisconsin not to far from Minneapolis. Any help and advise would be much appreciated.
tank building
- Thread starter those1
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http://www.sdplastics.com/aquaria1.html
According to this thickness calculator you need 1 inch thick acrylic. I have questioned this calculator as being a little too "over engineered" Of course this calculator is produced by an acrylic supplier. Maybe a little extra is better for them
I have a 6 foot long tank by 44 inches deep, 360 total gallons and it only has 3/4 inch acrylic. The top of the tank is also 3/4" and has very small access holes giving the tank a lot of support. I bought the tank used, not sure how old it is but I have had it full for two years now with no issues, no bowing or anything.
According to this thickness calculator you need 1 inch thick acrylic. I have questioned this calculator as being a little too "over engineered" Of course this calculator is produced by an acrylic supplier. Maybe a little extra is better for them
I have a 6 foot long tank by 44 inches deep, 360 total gallons and it only has 3/4 inch acrylic. The top of the tank is also 3/4" and has very small access holes giving the tank a lot of support. I bought the tank used, not sure how old it is but I have had it full for two years now with no issues, no bowing or anything.
Yes 1" is recommended for a tank that deep. You might be about to get away with 3/4" but I would just stick with 1". The price difference shouldn't be that much.
so i went to the local glass shop and they told me it would cost about $150 a sheet i was curious to no tho is regular plexiglass the same as acrylic
Two types of acrylic to look out for extruded and cell cast. You are going to want cell cast acrylic. It is much stronger and what most calculators are based on.
I have 3 tanks that are 72x36x24 and they were constructed of .5" cell cast acrylic. I think due to the height of your intended tank (30") it'll have to be .75" acrylic at least. Mine was designed on the cusp of using .5" verse .75".... in either direction. But going by what Egon stated... some manufacturers will only construct the tank out of that recommended thickness (C.Y.A). SeaClear and ClearforLife suggested 1" on my tanks.
so it looks like Plexiglas is just a brand name a manufacture uses for their acrylic. i also found this link and thought others would appreciate it.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_acrylic_aquarium.php
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_acrylic_aquarium.php
Update: I finally got a price proper quote from my local glass supplier. His initial quote was $150 a sheet for 3/4" acrylic. He finally got back to me yesterday to let me know that there was " a slight increase in price" its now ganna be $869 a sheet. so it looks like it shall be some time before i graduate to a monster tank.
so after much reading and research im ganna put an acrylic tank in the past. I plan on spending my summer building a 500 gallon plywood tank. 96"x42"x30"tall( outside dimensions). Will up date once I move to my new house (good old college living) and start the build.