Glass aquariums can withstand a lot of water pressure, but the height of the tank, the thickness of the glass, and the presence of surface flaws can all affect how well the glass can handle the pressure:
Glass strength: Glass has a high compressive strength, and its tensile strength is typically around 1,000 pounds per square inch (psi). However, glass can theoretically withstand up to 2,500,000 psi.
Water height: The pressure at the bottom of an aquarium increases with the height of the water column. For every foot of water, the pressure increases by about 0.43 psi.
Glass thickness: Thicker glass can withstand more pressure, making it a better choice for taller aquariums.
Surface flaws: Scratches and bubbles can significantly weaken glass.
Tempering: Chemical and thermal tempering can increase the tensile strength of glass.
Reinforcement: In some cases, stainless steel bracing may be needed to reinforce the glass.
Glass can also become more elastic under high pressure.
To reduce the water pressure in an aquarium, you can attach a pre-filter sponge or spray bar to the filter output.
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Glass: Still a Favorite Choice in Aquarium Building
Most aquariums you see housed in residential or commercial spaces are made of glass. Contrary to what people think, the compressive strength of glass is extremely high. 1000N/mm² = 1000MPa to be precise. What this means is to break a 1 cm cube of glass, a load of around 10 tons would be required.
In the case of deflection, one face of the glass is under compression while the other is in tension. The resistance of glass to breakage on deflection is known as its tensile strength. Glass typically has a tensile strength of 7 megapascals or 1000psi. But, theoretically, glass can have a tensile strength of around 17 gigapascals or 2,500,000 psi. This is due to the strong chemical bonds of glass. However, an important thing to note would be that surface flaws such as scratches and bubbles reduce the strength of glass to a significant extent. The process of chemical and thermal tempering can further increase the tensile strength of glass.
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Another important benefit of glass aquariums is that since glass panels are rigid, they do not suffer from any major fabrication flaws in the long-term and hence are long-lasting and durable. This rigidity of glass has another benefit – it can be manufactured to be perfectly flat tight with highly manufacturing tolerances. As a result, glass surfaces do not suffer from any distortions that might obscure the view. Most of the “distortions” you witness are but due to the refractive light coming off the water in the aquarium.
Glass is also designed to be UV-resistant. As a result, glass aquariums will not get brittle or lose their charm over time due to the UV rays of the sun or the aquarium lights. It can withstand the elements for years on end and simple cleaning from time to time is all that is required to get it back to its original shape. Moreover, it goes without saying that glass aquariums are ultra-clear – a major factor to consider while purchasing aquariums.
And finally, since glass can support significantly more than its own weight over distances, it can be placed on stands with an open-top or an incomplete one without any worries. However, one thing to keep in mind is to ensure that the stand on which the aquarium is to be placed must be levelled and strong enough to support the weight of glass.
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Understanding PSI: How Aquarium Height Impacts Your Custom Aquarium’s Construction
Venturing into the world of custom aquariums brings exciting choices in size and shape, each impacting not only aesthetics but also pressure dynamics and construction requirements. A key factor often overlooked is the aquarium’s height. This article delves into how your custom aquarium’s height influences the pounds per square inch (psi) and dictates the choice of construction materials.
Decoding PSI in Custom Aquariums:
Pounds per square inch, or psi, represents pressure. In the context of custom aquariums, this pressure escalates with the water column’s height. The correlation between water height and pressure is straightforward – the taller the tank, the higher the pressure at the bottom. For every foot increase in water, the pressure amplifies by approximately 0.43 psi.
Impact on Construction Materials:
This augmented pressure exerts extra stress on the aquarium’s construction materials. Glass and acrylic, the primary materials used for custom aquariums, respond differently under pressure:
GlassAquariums:
Glass is robust, and thicker glass can endure more pressure, making it suitable for taller aquariums. However, the thickness and height of glass aquariums have limits, necessitating stainless steel bracing for reinforcement in some cases.
Acrylic Aquariums:
More flexible than glass, acrylic comes in all thicknesses. The sky’s the limit for the height of a custom acrylic aquarium, but remember that wall thickness and build cost will increase proportionately.
The Tall Aquarium Maintenance Factor:
The height and wall thickness of taller custom aquariums impact maintenance. Consider if you can clean the aquarium properly or if professional aquarium maintenance will be necessary. Also, bear in mind that thick (2”-3”) aquarium walls will require heavy-duty magnets for cleaning.
What pressure breaks glass?
Strength of Glass
Annealed glass typically breaks around 6,000 pounds per square inch or psi. Federal specifications dictate that tempered glass must have a surface compression of at least 10,000 psi. It will usually break around 24,000 psi.
A very clean and easy to use calculator for glass thickness
Aquarium Glass Thickness Calculator | Find Out Pond Glass Thickness (ctrlcalculator.com)
I used this to calculate glass thickness for the boxy tank project (40L x 23W x 33H)
for float glass recommended 11mm
tempered glass 17mm this surprises me I thought it would be less
And for acrylic:
Manual Calculation Method
When it comes to building an aquarium, finding the right thickness for the acrylic is crucial. The thickness of the acrylic needed depends on the size of the tank. Here is a manual calculation method you can use to determine the best acrylic thickness: first, measure the dimensions of the aquarium in inches, including the length, width, and height.
Next, multiply the height by the water pressure, which is 0.43 psi per foot of water depth. Then, multiply that result by the total height of the tank, including the stand height.
Take that number and divide it by the allowable stress of the acrylic, which for standard acrylic is around 900 psi. The resulting number is the minimum thickness needed for the aquarium. Remember to always be conservative and round up to the nearest tenth of an inch to ensure the safety of your tank and its inhabitants.
By following this method, you can confidently build an aquarium.
Glass strength: Glass has a high compressive strength, and its tensile strength is typically around 1,000 pounds per square inch (psi). However, glass can theoretically withstand up to 2,500,000 psi.
Water height: The pressure at the bottom of an aquarium increases with the height of the water column. For every foot of water, the pressure increases by about 0.43 psi.
Glass thickness: Thicker glass can withstand more pressure, making it a better choice for taller aquariums.
Surface flaws: Scratches and bubbles can significantly weaken glass.
Tempering: Chemical and thermal tempering can increase the tensile strength of glass.
Reinforcement: In some cases, stainless steel bracing may be needed to reinforce the glass.
Glass can also become more elastic under high pressure.
To reduce the water pressure in an aquarium, you can attach a pre-filter sponge or spray bar to the filter output.
+++++
Glass: Still a Favorite Choice in Aquarium Building
Most aquariums you see housed in residential or commercial spaces are made of glass. Contrary to what people think, the compressive strength of glass is extremely high. 1000N/mm² = 1000MPa to be precise. What this means is to break a 1 cm cube of glass, a load of around 10 tons would be required.
In the case of deflection, one face of the glass is under compression while the other is in tension. The resistance of glass to breakage on deflection is known as its tensile strength. Glass typically has a tensile strength of 7 megapascals or 1000psi. But, theoretically, glass can have a tensile strength of around 17 gigapascals or 2,500,000 psi. This is due to the strong chemical bonds of glass. However, an important thing to note would be that surface flaws such as scratches and bubbles reduce the strength of glass to a significant extent. The process of chemical and thermal tempering can further increase the tensile strength of glass.
+++++
Another important benefit of glass aquariums is that since glass panels are rigid, they do not suffer from any major fabrication flaws in the long-term and hence are long-lasting and durable. This rigidity of glass has another benefit – it can be manufactured to be perfectly flat tight with highly manufacturing tolerances. As a result, glass surfaces do not suffer from any distortions that might obscure the view. Most of the “distortions” you witness are but due to the refractive light coming off the water in the aquarium.
Glass is also designed to be UV-resistant. As a result, glass aquariums will not get brittle or lose their charm over time due to the UV rays of the sun or the aquarium lights. It can withstand the elements for years on end and simple cleaning from time to time is all that is required to get it back to its original shape. Moreover, it goes without saying that glass aquariums are ultra-clear – a major factor to consider while purchasing aquariums.
And finally, since glass can support significantly more than its own weight over distances, it can be placed on stands with an open-top or an incomplete one without any worries. However, one thing to keep in mind is to ensure that the stand on which the aquarium is to be placed must be levelled and strong enough to support the weight of glass.
++++
Understanding PSI: How Aquarium Height Impacts Your Custom Aquarium’s Construction
Venturing into the world of custom aquariums brings exciting choices in size and shape, each impacting not only aesthetics but also pressure dynamics and construction requirements. A key factor often overlooked is the aquarium’s height. This article delves into how your custom aquarium’s height influences the pounds per square inch (psi) and dictates the choice of construction materials.
Decoding PSI in Custom Aquariums:
Pounds per square inch, or psi, represents pressure. In the context of custom aquariums, this pressure escalates with the water column’s height. The correlation between water height and pressure is straightforward – the taller the tank, the higher the pressure at the bottom. For every foot increase in water, the pressure amplifies by approximately 0.43 psi.
Impact on Construction Materials:
This augmented pressure exerts extra stress on the aquarium’s construction materials. Glass and acrylic, the primary materials used for custom aquariums, respond differently under pressure:
GlassAquariums:
Glass is robust, and thicker glass can endure more pressure, making it suitable for taller aquariums. However, the thickness and height of glass aquariums have limits, necessitating stainless steel bracing for reinforcement in some cases.
Acrylic Aquariums:
More flexible than glass, acrylic comes in all thicknesses. The sky’s the limit for the height of a custom acrylic aquarium, but remember that wall thickness and build cost will increase proportionately.
The Tall Aquarium Maintenance Factor:
The height and wall thickness of taller custom aquariums impact maintenance. Consider if you can clean the aquarium properly or if professional aquarium maintenance will be necessary. Also, bear in mind that thick (2”-3”) aquarium walls will require heavy-duty magnets for cleaning.
What pressure breaks glass?
Strength of Glass
Annealed glass typically breaks around 6,000 pounds per square inch or psi. Federal specifications dictate that tempered glass must have a surface compression of at least 10,000 psi. It will usually break around 24,000 psi.
A very clean and easy to use calculator for glass thickness
Aquarium Glass Thickness Calculator | Find Out Pond Glass Thickness (ctrlcalculator.com)
I used this to calculate glass thickness for the boxy tank project (40L x 23W x 33H)
for float glass recommended 11mm
tempered glass 17mm this surprises me I thought it would be less
And for acrylic:
Manual Calculation Method
When it comes to building an aquarium, finding the right thickness for the acrylic is crucial. The thickness of the acrylic needed depends on the size of the tank. Here is a manual calculation method you can use to determine the best acrylic thickness: first, measure the dimensions of the aquarium in inches, including the length, width, and height.
Next, multiply the height by the water pressure, which is 0.43 psi per foot of water depth. Then, multiply that result by the total height of the tank, including the stand height.
Take that number and divide it by the allowable stress of the acrylic, which for standard acrylic is around 900 psi. The resulting number is the minimum thickness needed for the aquarium. Remember to always be conservative and round up to the nearest tenth of an inch to ensure the safety of your tank and its inhabitants.
By following this method, you can confidently build an aquarium.
