builing a 40x40x18 acrylic

[nightmarepl]

so ive always been into lagoon style tanks and been considering on building my own tank for quite some time since its really hard to find one like this
ive been thinking on buying some 1 inch thick acrylic and building a 40x40 tank thats 18 inches high reason i want it on the shallow side is to make more a lagoon style tank with rock work almost sticking out of the water maybe 2-3 inches from surface.
on those rocks would be mangroves and such roughly 3-4 inch sand bed so realistly you only have 15 inches of swim room
the tank would have a 2 inch thing border on the top all around the tank to help with stability and i was thinking of putting triangle like acrylic cuts on the bottom portion to help with support

what are your thoughts would 1 inch work or would it bow out eventually?

 

[Tenecor Aquariums]

One inch will be fine. You can save a bit of money by making the bottom from as thin as 1/2 inch if you like. As long as it is completely supported by a solid top stand.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

My acrylic 48x48x24 has 1/2" top and bottom and 3/4" walls.
At 1" id be worried about magnets. Cleaning. Flow pumps sticking at that thickness. Ect.
D

 

[Tenecor Aquariums]

My acrylic 48x48x24 has 1/2" top and bottom and 3/4" walls.
At 1" id be worried about magnets. Cleaning. Flow pumps sticking at that thickness. Ect.
D

1/2 inch top and 3/4 walls? I don't understand why it is built like that. At only 24 tall all you would need is 1/2 inch for the walls. What keeps acrylic tanks from bowing is the top and the bottom. the 48/48 top is rather large so a thicker top of perhaps 3/4 with only perimeter bracing would be sufficient. We build a lot of tanks like this. For a reference, our selling price for a 48x48x24 with 1/2 walls, bottom and top would be approx. $1,000 plus shipping. OP is going to spend close to that in acrylic alone if he makes it out of 1" cell cast.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I agree. Mine was made by a person a city away in his back house shop. I opted for thicker acrylic cuz the sheets didn't cost me that much difference. Lol.
D

 

[Tenecor Aquariums]

For OP's tank 48x48x18, we would build it from 3/8" inch all around and add a thicker top perimeter top and the cost before shipping would be about $900.

 

[nightmarepl]

For OP's tank 48x48x18, we would build it from 3/8" inch all around and add a thicker top perimeter top and the cost before shipping would be about $900.

WOW really... could you please send me your info

 

[biecacka]

Mine was built with 3/4 in all the way around. GEO let me help and watch so I didn’t quite pay full price either so we went up a size in thickness.


corey