Acrylic thickness?

[Justin_Reef]

I have a quote from a builder for a 84"x30"x18" tall tank. Water level will only end up at 16" though. This is with one piece solid top brace (3 cut outs). They said 1/2" is fine and the deflection was very minimal. I wanted 3/4" thick for aesthetics but the price is about 40% higher!

So two questions, is the price jump normal? Is 1/2" enough?

 

[CMMorgan]

Who is the quote from? Reach out to American Aquariums.
I have one being made 72 x 24 x 19.
3/4" sides x 1/2" bottom.
[email protected] Adam Moroz

LOVE the long shallow tanks.... looking forward to yours.

 

[Justin_Reef]

Who is the quote from? Reach out to American Aquariums.
I have one being made 72 x 24 x 19.
3/4" sides x 1/2" bottom.
[email protected] Adam Moroz

LOVE the long shallow tanks.... looking forward to yours.

I am in Canada and shipping from the US is way too high right now

So is that 1/2" for bottom and top?

 

[Feet4Fish]

I have a quote from a builder for a 84"x30"x18" tall tank. Water level will only end up at 16" though. This is with one piece solid top brace (3 cut outs). They said 1/2" is fine and the deflection was very minimal. I wanted 3/4" thick for aesthetics but the price is about 40% higher!

So two questions, is the price jump normal? Is 1/2" enough?

At that height and being fully braced at top then 1/2” would be sufficient

 

[CMMorgan]

I am in Canada and shipping from the US is way too high right now

So is that 1/2" for bottom and top?

American is in Pennsylvania, so not too many miles to Canada, eh?
I honestly did not ask the thickness of the bracing.

 

[ca1ore]

It’s the height that determines wall thickness. At 18” tall, with eurobracing, 1/2” is probably more than you need. Thickness of the bottom and top matters even less.

 

[Justin_Reef]

It’s the height that determines wall thickness. At 18” tall, with eurobracing, 1/2” is probably more than you need. Thickness of the bottom and top matters even less.

That is what the tank builder says.

Then I keep having people tell me that even at just 18", it will bow and look ugly. No idea what to do.

 

[Justin_Reef]

Anyone else have experience with a 7' shallow tank at 1/2" thickness?

 

[fade2black]

Cyro thickness calculator says 1/2" should be fine. It's right on the boarder, but this calculator is very conservative.

 

[Thaxxx]

I've seen 24" tall tanks that same size with mostly 1/2" thick from different manufacturers. 3/4" price jump is normal.

 

[Justin_Reef]

Cyro thickness calculator says 1/2" should be fine. It's right on the boarder, but this calculator is very conservative.

Hmmmm so on the border... that mean it will have some deflection?

Is there always deflection? If so, is it usually noticeable? I would prefer not to see a tank bowing at all haha.

 

[Justin_Reef]

I've seen 24" tall tanks that same size with mostly 1/2" thick from different manufacturers. 3/4" price jump is normal.

Did you see them full? Was there any bowing?

 

[Justin_Reef]

At 84" long and with a 4" wide single eurobrace, how many 'cut outs' would be recommended? The builder said 2 works fine. Does that seem like enough for a 7' tank? Would it be much stronger if this were 3 instead? Seems to me like that would provide more cross bracing.