Glass/Acrylic thickness calculations

[TKoontz37]

I’m wanting to build a 500 gallon tank but I’ve been having a hard time gauging the thickness of my tank material. I feel like there are so many variables because I’ve heard that the taller you go, the thicker the glass needs to be. Is there something or somewhere someone could refer me to? I need to figure out where to get started and where I could find the materials I need.

 

[lapin]

I built my own tank 600gal
5x5x3 ft tall
1” acrylic with top
There are many variables to figure out
Maybe do a search here in the DYI section

 

[albano]

You could get some advice from Glass Cages and/or Tenecor

 

[lapin]

Even your LFS could get you a quote. Then you could use those specs

Then your skill will be put to the test.

 

[oreo54]

I’m wanting to build a 500 gallon tank but I’ve been having a hard time gauging the thickness of my tank material. I feel like there are so many variables because I’ve heard that the taller you go, the thicker the glass needs to be. Is there something or somewhere someone could refer me to? I need to figure out where to get started and where I could find the materials I need.

There are a few glass thickness calculators floating around. I played with this one.
30" deep 500-ish gallon dimensions.
Height is the critical factor..
From 30" depth; 18mm sides or say 3/4" to 24" (610mm) depth; 12.9mm, 1/2"
Now this is free standing with no cross bracing.
Basically bracing will divide a big tank into 2 smaller tanks so you can use thinner glass.

For my little example you could probably go 3/4" for the bottom if you get it tempered.
YMMV.

FOR DISCUSSION ONLY.. :)

Retail:

Tsunami 543-Gallon 96"Lx48"Wx30"H Rectangle Aquarium Setup - Aquariums Direct USA

Availability:This product is not able to be shipped via UPS Weight:0.00 Ounces Shipping:Free Shipping Model:BF245 Gallons:245 Tank Length (Inches):72 Tank Width (Inches):30 Tank Height (Inches):30 Style: Fish TankShape:Bow Front Tank Material: Acrylic

aquariumsdirectusa.com

Out of curiosity I priced 96x30" piece of 3/4 glass...' $1091.81
One piece.

Glass Price Calculator

 

[oreo54]

Even your LFS could get you a quote. Then you could use those specs

Then your skill will be put to the test.

Nice build.. But the million$ question.. Did you save some,lot, no, or it cost more $$"s?
Granted things like this have good amount of $'s delivery and labor and much depends on if you cut/polish the panels yourself. Oh yea and drilling.

 

[lapin]

I was quoted about $20,000 to build this tank by 2 different vendors. It cost me about $6,000 to build. Around $5,000 for the acrylic then CNC cost plus wood to build jigs and 2 part bonding adhesive. I had the local acrylic supplier CNC the panels. I am not set up to do that on anything bigger than 3/8”. I figured if I screwed up I could build a second tank and still save money.
The costs were 10 years ago. I’m sure prices have gone up like everything else.

 

[piranhaman00]

Well first decide acrylic or glass. Both have different requirements.

 

[oreo54]

I was quoted about $20,000 to build this tank by 2 different vendors. It cost me about $6,000 to build. Around $5,000 for the acrylic then CNC cost plus wood to build jigs and 2 part bonding adhesive. I had the local acrylic supplier CNC the panels. I am not set up to do that on anything bigger than 3/8”. I figured if I screwed up I could build a second tank and still save money.
The costs were 10 years ago. I’m sure prices have gone up like everything else.

Thanks.

 

[TKoontz37]

I appreciate all of your inputs! I'll be using them to move forward with my process

 

[BeanAnimal]

Do you have direct experience working with glass or acrylic? If not, a 500 is certainly not something I would cut my teeth on. What looks "easy" is actually both an art and and skill. Neither process (bonding acrylic or adhering glass) has room for error. Both have a very specific cadence (timing) in assembly procedures.

1 - acrylic - forgiving in the fact that you can do one panel at a time. Unforgiving in the fact that mistakes are permanent and hard to fix and working time is extremely small. The difference in a good joint and a bad joint is about timing and consistency. You will have a fortune in clamps.

2 - glass - forgiving in the sense that you can start over if you screw up, albeit with one heck of a mess to clean up. Unforgiving in the sense that you have to do the entire thing in one continuous go and timing is live or die. You will be juggling bead size, preventing the bead from gelling over and at the same time setting all 6 sides in pace and ensuring their positions, seam thickness, etc. The weight of the panels is going to be a big problem to overcome without special equipment and clamping materials.


In either case, given the size of the tank this is a large gamble.