Acrylic sheets

[Earl87gta]

Does any one know ware I can get an Acrylic sheet 12ft x 4ft and 1in thick? The largest I can find on line is 8ft x 4ft. I’m in TN but would be willing to drive a ways to pick it up or have it shipped.

[Acrylics]

Reynolds Polymers in Grand Junction, CO is about the only company in the country (and ony a couple in the world) that makes sheets in this thickness past 10' length. Do a search for them and I'm certain their site will come up.

HTH,
James

[Earl87gta]

Thanks James,
I have sent them an e-mail and will try to call them tomorrow. Have you ever worked with a tank that big? I was going to build it out of plywood and fiberglass but the main viable window is going to be 12 x 3. I thought a bought doing 2 separate 6x3 window to make it cheaper but I just don’t think it will be as nice as one big side.

[Acrylics]

I've worked with them that big but quite frankly, it's a PITA unless you have a big shop. What you will probably be getting is referred to as RPGAsia (Reynolds Polymer Group, Asia) material. It's material made by/for Reynolds in Thailand IIRC and comes in 15 x 6' sheets. I't commonly used in public aquaria where you have a fiberglass tank with one viewing panel.
I'd recommend going up in thickness due to span and height though. You have to keep deflection down to a minimum to keep the seal.

HTH,
James

[Earl87gta]

My actual viewing window is going to be 36 h I was going to laminate 2 pieces of 3/4 plywood together and have a 6in plywood frame all the way around it. The water level will on be going up to 42 in just a little above the plywood frame I wanted it higher so that I would have a little extra for fish that like to jump. How thick do you think I should go. Ill try to find a way to scan my plans and poet them here so you can tell me what you think.

[Acrylics]

As a recommendation only, 1.25" would be a minimum IMO, 1.5" to be safe. Did you ever hear back from them?

HTH,
James

[Earl87gta]

I herd from them to day I priced 3 sheets .their sheets are 15 by 6 .
1in $2,748
1.25 in $3,201
1.5 in $ 4,020
Do you think if I go to a side 14ft x3ft I could use 1.25 ?

[Acrylics]

Hi Earl,

Yep, I think that would be a safe minimum if braced and sealed well. Do remember that it's not just height that determines thickness requirements but also span and bracing.
I'm assuming this is the RPGAsia material, or did they give you that info?

HTH,
James

[Earl87gta]

they wouldnt say they they just told me the sizes they keep in stock.
If I post a copy of my plans on my web page and post a link here can you check it out and tell me what you think?

[Acrylics]

Sure thing, of course I've never done a plywood tank so have no real-world knowledge of it's strengths & weaknesses insofar as bracing goes but I'll be glad to take a look-see :)

James

[olemos]

Why not use glass?

[blfuller123]

Why not use metal to do the bracing? It could be powder coated and probabaly be stronger than the wood.

[olemos]

I'm actually gathering all the materials to build something similar to that, here is the thread, the last pics on the first page is what i'm going to do.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=915677