8'x1'x1' Tank

J

jcgd

New member
I'm considering building a tank with the dimensions of 96"x12"x12" or close. I may jump to 15"x15", this is all just an idea at this moment.

I was thinking of building this myself and I was wondering what you guys think the best material would be in terms of easiest to use and also most economical price wise.

I'm thinking acrylic would be easier, but I don't know about the cost.

Thoughts?
 
Why so narrow? Are you using it like a trough style prop tank? Any material is going to be expensive because of the 12' length. I would try acrylic first, but plywood and resin would be more practical.
 
akunochi said:
Why so narrow? Are you using it like a trough style prop tank? Any material is going to be expensive because of the 12' length. I would try acrylic first, but plywood and resin would be more practical.
Click to expand...

Oh, not 12', just eight feet. It's gonna be a freshwater tank, but this site has some of the most experienced people and traffic, so I thought I'd ask advice here.

I want to go rimless or eurobraced at most. No trim and viewable from all sides. I'll either run a sump or a close loop with a one way current, like a stream.

I'm planting the tank and want to essentially have a field of grass with a school of fish.

I figure 8 feet would be the largest easily attainable size. Maybe I'm wrong?
 
Sorry I totally read it wrong. My bad. At 8 feet your options are pretty good. I think that acrylic will be cheaper obviously but will need the eurobrace. I would still go at least 18" wide but that is imo.
 
I might go wider than 12", but I have to keep the size to under 100 gallons for sure. I live in a tiny basement appt and the landlord is only so forgiving. I also just don't have the room for another deep tank, and I really want the length. Panarama is the whole point of this thing. Really, 16" should be plenty of depth for my look. I do understand that 12" is really pushing it.

Would I need cross braces or would the eurobrace be enough? Calculators say I need around 1/8" think acrylic which seems ridiculously thin so I am hoping 1/4" will be thick enough??
 
1/8" acrylic is way too thin. I'm not even sure I'd go the 1/4" route with Eurobracing. You can go rimless with 1" acrylic(maybe 3/4") but you will have a bow. For an idea, here's my 96x25x24 tank- rimless 1" acrylic.

000_0031.jpg
 
From what I understand from my discussions with James, it's the length and the height that matter most. So in actuality the demands of your tank dimensions would be very similar to mine. Keep in mind too the builder does matter. Also, my tank bows probably a good 2 inches dead center with 1" Polycast Acrylic. I could have had the tank invariably wider if I remember correctly, but going just 2" higher would have put me in the realm of heavier Eurobracing, or much thicker acrylic and out of the realm of something we were willing to try.
 
One more thing. Since my tank was built almost 3 years ago, I think acrylic has gone up another third in cost. Eight feet will be our absolute limit for length, because after eight feet you get into custom sheets and the overall cost triples or even quadruples.
 
InsaneClownFish said:
One more thing. Since my tank was built almost 3 years ago, I think acrylic has gone up another third in cost. Eight feet will be our absolute limit for length, because after eight feet you get into custom sheets and the overall cost triples or even quadruples.
Click to expand...

Okay, thanks for the heads up. Any idea what I'm looking at approximately? I'll have to call around for quotes but I'm just trying to ballpark it and see if I should even bother.
 
Ball park cost for 1/2'' cell cast Plexi-Glas is $22-$26 per sq. ft.
IMO I would use nothing less than 1/2". As for your bracing James would be your best bet for info.
 
glass will be far cheaper, and easier to build, and it doesnt scratch near as easily. you will only need 9mm glass compared to 1" plus acrylic...

you have to remember that a euro brace on a 12" deep tank will only leave you about 6" of access through the top...and you will likely need centre braces too..
 
Sounds good guys. I figured acrylic would be easier to assemble, but I would prefer glass. Especially if I can go rimless. A eurobrace would be a pain.

Thanks for the help,
 
ludiNano said:
You dont have to go 8' all in one sheet. Calvin made a 12' x 15'' x 15'' acrilic tank using 3- 4' pieces put together. It was an amazing build, he did take down/sell tank i think because he got tired of cleaning 24' viewing window... here's a link to the build and a Pic thread he started of the build too.

Build
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1399104&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

Pic thread
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1628998
Click to expand...

Calvin's was made from an 8' piece and a 4' piece for the three long pieces, and the front and back panels had the seam on opposite ends...but granted it was an amazing build...but for a tank under 8' there is no need to complicate things with multipiece viewing panels..
 
Personally, I'd recommend glass on such a build, but I'd go a little thicker than 9mm..
Acrylic can work in the 1"+ thicknesses, but not really recommended, esp if DIY. And a euro-brace just kills access on such a narrow tank.

James
 
Hmm... So 9mm is about 3/8", should I go to 13mm? 13mm seems really think for such a short height tank. How would 9mm with a center brace, or two braces evenly spaced? I may make the tank wider, maybe 16" but 12" will be the total height. I don't want to get above 100 gallons or so.
 
at an LFS there is an 8'x1'x1' glass tank with plastic trim. Im not sure of the glass thickness but i have a 4'x1'x1' with 1/4" glass so id think the 8 footer is 3/8"s. I believe the bracing is just one in the middle but id take it safe and go with 2 braces evenly spaced out. HTH
 
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