Hi I'm making an aquarium that is L96"X H48"X W24" and I was wondering how thick the Plexiglass would have to?

Question

Hi I'm making an aquarium that is L96"X H48"X W24" and I was wondering how thick the Plexiglass would have to be? Right now I'm looking at 0.187 thickness and I was also wondering what i could use on the sides because I'm making it inside a wall so you can see though on both

Answer 1

No offense, and not so difficult, I looked up this site, and the equations are relative.

  The size you suggest is HUGE by normal standards, and I'd guesstimate in my experience you're talking about 500 plus gallons. Assuming that weight as an arbitrary figure, the water alone will weigh 4,250 lbs. The TANK might weigh in at 200 plus lbs.

   Beyond any PSI at bottom or top, can you place it where it will support two plus TONS?

   I'd have to believe the thickness to be no less than 1/2 inch, though I certainly would want to know stresses of that much water first. That might equate to Bank style security Plexi? and probably pricey by the square inch.

   Not at all a bad idea, and I have managed rental tanks to commercial establishments, but your issues are combined in the weight, support, and that 96 inch span of possibly NON supported material at 8 ft.

Just my two "sense"

Answer 2

An aquarium that big should be made out of a minimum of 3/8 -1/2" plastic to support the weight of the water and the inherent pressure on the plastic.

Answer 3

Not sure about the plexi but you better have some strong bracing for the walls. A cubic foot of water weighs 62.4 pounds. You have 64 cubic feet of water. Thats one heavy aquarium.

Answer 4

u'll need 1/2" thick Plexiglass for that, never under-estimate the volume pressure of water in there, any accidental knocks outside.

Answer 5

Maybe you should call your local pet store and ask for the person in the aqurium or fish or water animal department and see if they could look at some of the tanks their and tell you a little bit better about how thick it should be.