Is this possible?

[TheCoralReef731]

Has anyone ever seen a large sphere as a tank? I thought it would look very cool, with just a little distortion. Here is the link to a diagram of what I have imagined. Would this be possible to make out of acrylic, or would it be impossible?

 

[mhurley]

Your link is not working...There's no slide there to view.

But sure, there are sphere tanks. Ever been to the Shedd? They are typically used for jelly fish tanks.

I doubt it is something you could make out of acrylic but they can be made by professionals.

 

[TheCoralReef731]

Okay, i just saved the slide as a gif, and re-edited it. You should see a picture now.

I, myself, will not be making this. I was wondering if it is feasable for a professional to make (I guess it is). Does anyone know what the costs are and how distorted it would be.

 

[mhurley]

Google is your friend

http://www.customaquarium.com/spheres.htm

 

[Highlander]

That's some fancy goldfish bowl

 

[TheCoralReef731]

The cost is 1000 for a 45, including the equipment. So what would a 75 without equipment cost? 500 or 600?

 

[mhurley]

" What's included? light, canister filter, UGF system, plastic plant"

Figure that's about worth $20 :lol:

Seriously, I'm banking on a grand for a tank of the dimensions you are looking for.

Shoot a message to Tenecor with the dimensions and see what they say.

 

[TheCoralReef731]

okay

 

[TheCoralReef731]

Why are they so expensive? Difficult to make or extra thick glass?

 

[mhurley]

It would have to be acrylic in the first place and it probably requires some very special talent to bend it that way. Not like bonding flat sheets of acrylic together to make a rectangular aquarium.

 

[dalbrecht]

Notice that the tanks in the link aren't proper spheres. I would imagine that it would be almost impossible to build this tank without a pretty noticeable seam.

Procedure as I envision it. Heat 2 sheets of half inch or thicker acrylic, shape them over the mold.

Cut and bevel the two half spheres to fit then seal them together.

Your diagram actually may be with 3 sheets (1 for the bottom). Also, the distortion is probably stronger than you want to admit.

 

[TheCoralReef731]

You bring up a good point. It just wouldn't be nice to look at. I'm just gonna scrap this idea.