Acrylic
- Thread starter Luke
- Start date
Meyer Jordan
Tadpole
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2014
- Messages
- 7,177
- Reaction score
- 5,675
- Location
- Pensacola, Florida
- Hardiness Zone
- 9a
- Country
What is the proposed size of this pane? At what depth will it be placed? What are the linear dimensions of the pond?
It will be 4 foot pane, 4'x20" , it's just for the above ground one I'm making out of wood, thought a front viewing pane would be a good addition rather than a birds eye view, don't want to risk getting too thin and it bending
Ruben Miranda
I am so confused
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2012
- Messages
- 536
- Reaction score
- 267
- Location
- So California Whittier
- Hardiness Zone
- 12a
- Country
Hello
I think the main issue would be the pressure behind it like a dam.
But to go by a acrylic tank They are 1 1\2" thick.
Also make sure you make the framing very strong on the edges.
If you are still worried about bowing consider a center brace.
Ruben
I think the main issue would be the pressure behind it like a dam.
But to go by a acrylic tank They are 1 1\2" thick.
Also make sure you make the framing very strong on the edges.
If you are still worried about bowing consider a center brace.
Ruben
1/2" if you have some sort of reinforcing on the top edge, at least 1" if the pane is going to hold back the water by itself for the full 4 ft length.
Meyer Jordan
Tadpole
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2014
- Messages
- 7,177
- Reaction score
- 5,675
- Location
- Pensacola, Florida
- Hardiness Zone
- 9a
- Country
Really need to know the capacity of the pond in gallons. This will determine the amount of pressure exerted on the viewing pane.
If the pane is going to be at surface level it wouldn't mater how big the pond is, the pressure exerted against the pane would be the same.
If the pane was installed on one side of a pond that is only 4 ft sq and only 20" deep the pressure exerted against the pane would be the same if it was installed on the shore holding back the entire Pacific ocean,,,, providing the panes are at the same depth, in this case at surface level.
Meyer Jordan
Tadpole
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2014
- Messages
- 7,177
- Reaction score
- 5,675
- Location
- Pensacola, Florida
- Hardiness Zone
- 9a
- Country
You are right. Thinking of something else. Here is a quick calculator (need to Copy and Paste)-
www.sdplastics.com/cyro/aquarium/Aquarium.xls
Years ago I made a 4 ft long "closed" aquarium with 1/4" glass and never had a problem, and you could probably do that with acrylic too, if all the edges are reinforced it would have no problem holding back the water pressure, but when you start getting too thin other forces start to factor in. Like somebody bumping into the glass with a hard object.