1/4" Vs 3/8" Acrylic

premilove · 06/14/2013, 12:31 PM

Hey I'm getting a custom sump built and I need to decide between 1/4" vs 3/8" acrylic. The dimensions of the sump are 44"x16"x16". 3/8" is about $120 more than the 1/4". Would I be ok with 1/4"?

azjohnny · 06/14/2013, 01:41 PM

You want 3/8", 1/4" will bow

Waddleboy · 06/14/2013, 01:51 PM

not necessarily true. it depends on if you cross brace, euro brace, where your baffles are etc. Do you have a design for your sump

deepseadan · 06/14/2013, 05:26 PM

My sump is 42L x 16w x 18Tall and its 1/4 acrylic. No bowing or other issues.

premilove · 06/15/2013, 09:42 AM

I went with 3/8" . I didn't want to take the chance of it bowing while I sleep. Thanks for the help! My design is in my 80g build thread in the sps keepers forum.

jimmyj7090 · 07/03/2013, 08:24 PM

This depends on the top bracing and how much support there is from internal baffles.

If the tank builder doesn't KNOW what should be used, I would think twice about using them.

06/14/2013, 12:31 PM	#1
premilove The Empire Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central Jersey Posts: 776	1/4" Vs 3/8" Acrylic Hey I'm getting a custom sump built and I need to decide between 1/4" vs 3/8" acrylic. The dimensions of the sump are 44"x16"x16". 3/8" is about $120 more than the 1/4". Would I be ok with 1/4"?

06/14/2013, 01:51 PM	#3
Waddleboy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 766	not necessarily true. it depends on if you cross brace, euro brace, where your baffles are etc. Do you have a design for your sump __________________ Justin Current Tank Info: 90g Reef

07/03/2013, 08:24 PM	#6
jimmyj7090 aka John K Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sudbury Posts: 2,367	This depends on the top bracing and how much support there is from internal baffles. If the tank builder doesn't KNOW what should be used, I would think twice about using them. __________________ my reef ate my wallet Current Tank Info: 57G, RBTA's Zoa's and softies

06/14/2013, 01:41 PM	#2
azjohnny Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Gold Canyon Posts: 2,914	You want 3/8", 1/4" will bow

06/14/2013, 05:26 PM	#4
deepseadan Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 292	My sump is 42L x 16w x 18Tall and its 1/4 acrylic. No bowing or other issues.

06/15/2013, 09:42 AM	#5
premilove The Empire Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central Jersey Posts: 776	I went with 3/8" . I didn't want to take the chance of it bowing while I sleep. Thanks for the help! My design is in my 80g build thread in the sps keepers forum.