acrylic question

[bmcelhinn]

Ok this may sound stupid here, but I have a few sheets of 1/4" acrylic that is 8'x4' and I want to make a rather large, yet shallow display tank for a fish only system that would allow a lot of swimming space.

I wanted to make the tank 7' long, 18" deep, and 3' wide which would give 21 sq ft of swimming space. Is 1/4" acrylic thick enough for those demensions if it was well braced? Or should I do 1/2" sides with a full top and bottom?

 

[Acrylics]

1/2" side with the full top & bottom IMHO. 1/4" may hold water but would deflect badly.

HTH,
James

 

[bigfalcon36]

First off, what type of acrylic is it? If it's anything other than cell cast I would forget about making a tank out of it. Secondly, I would recommend 3/8" all the way around for something that size. Last, I would throw a Euro-brace on that bad boy too.

If you got anything else on your mind shoot me a PM.

Travis

 

[bmcelhinn]

Thanks, it is cell cast... I bought a bunch of it on a project and didn't use it. Now I was hoping to build this setup for my football sized puffer and a porkfish I want to get.

Actually, the design I want to follow would be a double decker style tank with a 125 gallon tank framed into the front fascia of the stand and a sump behind it. I wanted to light the top tank with pendant lights. I think it would be pretty cool.

 

[bigfalcon36]

That would be pretty sweet. You should cut the height to 15" and call it a day. Then you could make and post pictures