Acrylic thickness on 8 ft tank?

[FrankB1]

Was looking at a 300 gallon acrylic tank (96x30x24 in height) made with 1/2 inch acrylic. Is this acceptable thickness all around to prevent bowing of the 8 ft panel?

 

[dave.m]

Only if there is a plate welded on top with cutouts so that all sides are braced. Otherwise I would say this is too thin.

Dave.M

 

[albano]

Only if there is a plate welded on top with cutouts so that all sides are braced...

+1...had a similar tank in 1991, sold it in '94, 2nd owner still has it in use today... 1/2" is fine with a 24" tall tank w/ full top

 

[FrankB1]

Ok thanks for the info

 

[Raoul5Duke]

I have a similar tank, 96"x36"x24" and its 3/4"

 

[albano]

I have a similar tank, 96"x36"x24" and its 3/4"

If it has a full top, it's overkill on a 24" tall tank... My 96"x40"x27"h 450g is not even 3/4", and it's fine...my new 72"x72"x27"h will not be 3/4"

 

[lhm nole]

mine is 1/2inch with full top no bowing at all had it for 6 years now

 

[FrankB1]

Thanks for the replies.
The tank I'm looking at is from Fish Tanks Direct, they are in Venice Florida right down the road from me in Sarasota. Tsunami builds the acrylic tanks for them. Its the 300 short at 96x30x24 so I was just concerned about the thickness but it does have full top bracing.
Was also considering eurobraced glass from Reef Savvy but it would be approx 3x the cost.

 

[Raoul5Duke]

If it has a full top, it's overkill on a 24" tall tank... My 96"x40"x27"h 450g is not even 3/4", and it's fine...my new 72"x72"x27"h will not be 3/4"

Possibly and I'm not sure what the cost difference would have been, but I enjoy the piece of mind given the amount of water that could end up on my basement floor.

 

[albano]

Possibly and I'm not sure what the cost difference would have been, but I enjoy the piece of mind given the amount of water that could end up on my basement floor.

Quite frankly, IMO/E there is more of a chance of a seam splitting/separating and causing a flood than the panel itself splitting..and this can happen regardless of the acrylic thickness.
For real 'piece of mind' I'd prefer all inside seams to have additional 1/4 round acrylic pieces welded in.

 

[Raoul5Duke]

Quite frankly, IMO/E there is more of a chance of a seam splitting/separating and causing a flood than the panel itself splitting..and this can happen regardless of the acrylic thickness.
For real 'piece of mind' I'd prefer all inside seams to have additional 1/4 round acrylic pieces welded in.

Good point. I know with mine they were originally going to do a eurobrace top but realized it wasn't going to work so they ended up going with a full top and didn't charge me extra for it.