Feed back needed on DIY aquarium

[shortbus]

Hello all
Feed back needed on DIY aquarium
I am in the planning stages for a large tank plywood epoxy
96x48 or 96 x 72
For the front viewing panel, I need some feed back
On using ½ glass and ¾ glass
Is there that much difference between low iron glass and regular float glass?
What kind of difference are we talking about?

On using acrylic it would be 1.0” or 1.25”
If I was careful, would I tear it up with scratches?
On an acrylic tank are scratches just part of the price of an acrylic tank
Lighter weight & no distortion and color shift
Do they make a mag-float for acrylic that thick?

Regular float glass and acrylic are going to cost about the same each

Low iron glass is going to cost 2 xs of both acrylic and regular glass

So what do you think?
Help me out
Thanks
Ken

 

[big t]

Well you left out a critical element. What height are we talking about here? If you are talking a 6" tall tank you will need some very thick glass or acrylic. Scratches in acrylic are a price you have to pay if you are not careful. I personally wouldn't own a glass tank. Scratches in acrylic can be buffed out and w/ 1.25" acrylic you have a lot of buffability. You can even sand them out w/ a micromesh kit w/ a full blown reeftank (inside) If you havn't attempted to build much w/ glass or acrylic before I would leave it to the pro's.

 

[shortbus]

As for the height I have used theses
I also picked up on 8’ tank on the garf site
Also I have been visiting
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=86577
They have a lot of big DIY tanks
Ken
Glass
http://www.fnzas.org.nz/uploads/media/GlassThicknessCE_02.xls

Safety factor 2.0 -- ½ = 30”
Safety factor 3.8 -- ½ = 24”

Safety factor 2.0 -- ¾ = 40”
Safety factor 3.8 -- ¾ = 32”

Acrylic
http://home.online.no/~joobjoer/download/tank_calc2.xls

Safety factor 1000 – ¾ = 26”
Safety factor 1500 – ¾ = 30”

Safety factor 1000 – 1.0” = 33”
Safety factor 1500 – 1.0” = 37”

Safety factor 1000 – 1.25” = 38”
Safety factor 1500 – 1.25” = 45”