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Thread: Acrylic Window

  1. #1
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai GadgetBazza's Avatar
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    Question Acrylic Window

    Hi all,

    still looking at options for my pond windows. I'm looking to change from a large curved window (way too expensive) and have now re-designed it as three angled windows in the same curved space in the hopes that this would be a fair bit cheaper!

    Originally I looked at Acrylic and then glass, but I'm thinking Acrylic should be the safer option (stronger as far as I can tell) although more prone to scratching.

    Does anyone have any insight to the strengths for thickness of acrylic and glass to confirm which is stronger?

    Also, now that I'm looking at 3 x 1.4m x 1m windows lined up together with steel stanchion's between (and 42 ton of water behind them at that height, the other 20 ton would be below the window level) any ideas on the required thickness?

    Thanks



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    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Alburglar's Avatar
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    laminated glass is 100% safe. Its what they make car windscreens out of. Acrylic is VERY expensive and usually much thicker than the glass. The americans love the stuff in aquariums but hasn't really taken off over here. IT is preferable with curves as you bake into a curve with a custom made jig. lexan is far less scratchable but more expensive again. If going 3 flat windows I'd stick with glass.

    ensuring the 2 posts don't move will be a bit of a headscratcher

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    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai GadgetBazza's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alburglar View Post
    ensuring the 2 posts don't move will be a bit of a headscratcher
    Yeah, I'm thinking of creating stanchion's that go from the pond floor all the way to the top and setting them inside the ICF walls (Insulated Concrete Forms) and then putting 2 or 3 bits of 19mm rebar in them all the way up and backfilling with concrete... Might even think about a cross section on the stanchions at the level of the bottom of the window to give some re-inforcement from side to side and maybe a lug pointing front to back for the cement to grip onto.

    They should be set down inside the wall around 700mm and sticking out 1000mm.


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  7. #4
    Hi Gadgetbazza, just read your post. I have been building a 10,000 gallon pond with a pond window at one end. This is set in a steel frame that I had welded and fixed into place when we were building the breeze block walls. Last year I fibreglassed the entire lot lipping over the edge of the frame.

    Having looked into both glass and acrylic, I went for acrylic and was recommended this company who only do aquariums etc all around the world.
    They will tell you how thick the acrylic should be based on the volume of water etc. You need to ask for Nina, she was so helpful and to give you an idea , they charged me for a size of 1190 mm x 640 mm ( £212.00 ) delivered. Acrylic is far stronger than glass. They told me which sealer to buy from Screwfix. I did it all myself and filled the pond with no leaks and a lovely pond window.



    [IMG]blob:https://www.koiforum.uk/9efab36c-1813-420a-893b-f3240e271478[/IMG]


    10000 UK Gallon ( 45 cubic Metres ) Block Fibreglass Pond with Large Waterfall

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    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai GadgetBazza's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by kingofdiamonds View Post
    Hi Gadgetbazza, just read your post. I have been building a 10,000 gallon pond with a pond window at one end. This is set in a steel frame that I had welded and fixed into place when we were building the breeze block walls. Last year I fibreglassed the entire lot lipping over the edge of the frame.

    Having looked into both glass and acrylic, I went for acrylic and was recommended this company who only do aquariums etc all around the world.
    They will tell you how thick the acrylic should be based on the volume of water etc. You need to ask for Nina, she was so helpful and to give you an idea , they charged me for a size of 1190 mm x 640 mm ( £212.00 ) delivered. Acrylic is far stronger than glass. They told me which sealer to buy from Screwfix. I did it all myself and filled the pond with no leaks and a lovely pond window.



    [IMG]blob:https://www.koiforum.uk/9efab36c-1813-420a-893b-f3240e271478[/IMG]


    Thanks KoD, however, I can't see the image you linked, and you didn't mention the company name (other than Nina). Any chance you could post them or PM them to me please?

    Thanks
    Barry

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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Rokusai AlanF's Avatar
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    It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has an acrylic window in use for a year or more. My glass window needs a good scrub once a week to remove algae- how does acrylic handle this I wonder without scratching the surface?

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  13. #7
    Hiya,

    Apologies for that. I just copied & pasted the info.

    Here it is again

    ATL Commercial Aquariums and large scale fish tanks

    01305 779624

    Aquarium Technology Ltd,
    17 Cumberland Drive
    Weymouth
    Dorset
    DT49TB

    If you go on their website, there is a form you can fill in for a quote to give you an idea.

    I rang them because of the volume and pressure of the water, I wanted to be sure of the thickness of acrylic would be correct. That's when I found how helpful they were particularly informing me about the standard thicknesses of the acrylic to water pressure.

    When I explained what I was doing, I believe their price a little cheaper because smaller windows can be cut from off cuts they have in their workshop.

    Your original window would be a wonder and you maybe surprised their price might not be as bad as you think but flat cut sheets will always be cheaper. A curved sheet would have to have a template made and then the price starts rising but it would be worth knowing because if it cost £800 but three sheets were £600 plus all the framing you might think it was worth the extra etc.

    They do offer a fitting service but I was happy to do it myself. Sometimes these jobs are not as scary as you imagine.
    The acrylic sheet arrived with protected film on both sides and well packaged.

    I made sure my frame clean, very clean. I then applied mastic all round the frame NOT the acrylic panel and then pushed on evenly. I sealed again both sides the edge and then cleaned the excess sealer. You must do this as once its gone off you will damage the acrylic getting any untidy sealer left over. This took a while until I was satisfied with the result.

    I left the panel for 48 hours before filling the pond for a water test. It takes 30 hours to fill 10000 gallons and I was confident but you never know. Once full I minutely inspected the window. Very happy.

    On the next comment, I have had the pond filled several times for weeks at a time but have emptied it to continue landscaping and a complex decking that goes over the edge so I can't comment on it going green in a year but I haven't seen any hint of algae etc.

    Just a final comment : When I filled in their inline form, they ask for two measurements the actual window aperture ie what you see and the inner aperture. When I received the first acrylic panel, I set myself up ready with cleaning the frame, good weather, tools, a clean surface to put the panel on so it didn't damage etc. I thought just before I cut the sealer tube I'll just check the panel fits - You never know. Having worked in many trades, just my natural cheekiness. The window fell through the aperture !!!!!! The wrong size had been cut i.e the actual aperture. I was gutted as I thought it was my mistake but having checked, they had made the simple mistake. I had another sent to me within a few days. So without sounding obsessive - Measure the aperture again, again, and again until you are happy with all the measurements.

    To finish on a positive, I have seen glass and acrylic and the acrylic wins. It is clearer. The light I believe comes through slightly differently and all friends and family actually can't see the panel, it is that clear.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    10000 UK Gallon ( 45 cubic Metres ) Block Fibreglass Pond with Large Waterfall

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  15. #8

    Acrylic Window

    Here are a few shots of the acrylic window


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    10000 UK Gallon ( 45 cubic Metres ) Block Fibreglass Pond with Large Waterfall

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    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Alburglar's Avatar
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    QUOTE=AlanF;309495]It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has an acrylic window in use for a year or more. My glass window needs a good scrub once a week to remove algae- how does acrylic handle this I wonder without scratching the surface?[/QUOTE

    You buy scrubbers specifically for acrylic

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    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai GadgetBazza's Avatar
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    Hey KoD, thanks for the detailed response.

    ATL is who I contacted initially for the curved window... As for price, a single sheet of curved acrylic using a stock radius of 4m, fully fitted was £18k + VAT! I then sent them a picture that I was using as inspiration (attached below), turns out they actually made it. As you can see, this is in two pieces, estimate, £11.5k + VAT, so cheaper but still expensive.

    So now that I'm at 3 sensible sized straight panels, I was thinking of going back to them again. I've spoke to a couple of people with acrylic who say although you do have to be careful with cleaning, it is a better view. Personally I feel more comfortable with it over glass given the size.

    I'll speak with ATL again and see where we get to.

    cINrB1NDQ1S31+SThOF3VQ_thumb_4e6.jpg

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    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai GadgetBazza's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by kingofdiamonds View Post
    Here are a few shots of the acrylic window


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    The pics didn't upload KoD, any chance you can upload again when you have time, I'd love to see them.

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  21. #12
    Here's a few shots uploaded. It's quite a job and taken me awhile. It's all fibreglassed with three bottom drains. Two returns to create no dead water and a slight current. A skimmer that goes off to future filtration not fitted as yet probably drum plus bakki shower with a return to a large rock waterfall. The large rocks break the edge up as trying to make it look as natural as poss. The decking is a composite made by Trex which will lip over the edge making it look like an infinity pool on one side and the telegraph poles are a bridge I haven't made yet. Hoping to finish this winter after five years of slow construction with Fish in next year . Yippee.
    IMG_1494.jpgIMG_4111.jpgIMG_4094.jpgIMG_3679 2.jpgIMG_3675 2.jpgfullsizeoutput_343d.jpggXWMPw48QH2NwsU9RonnyQ.jpgIMG_3111.jpgIMG_3109.jpgIMG_2852.jpgIMG_2848.jpgIMG_1547.jpgIMG_1545.jpgIMG_1543.jpgIMG_1541.jpgIMG_1540.jpgIMG_1660.jpgIMG_1668.jpg
    10000 UK Gallon ( 45 cubic Metres ) Block Fibreglass Pond with Large Waterfall

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  23. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by GadgetBazza View Post
    Hey KoD, thanks for the detailed response.

    ATL is who I contacted initially for the curved window... As for price, a single sheet of curved acrylic using a stock radius of 4m, fully fitted was £18k + VAT! I then sent them a picture that I was using as inspiration (attached below), turns out they actually made it. As you can see, this is in two pieces, estimate, £11.5k + VAT, so cheaper but still expensive.

    So now that I'm at 3 sensible sized straight panels, I was thinking of going back to them again. I've spoke to a couple of people with acrylic who say although you do have to be careful with cleaning, it is a better view. Personally I feel more comfortable with it over glass given the size.

    I'll speak with ATL again and see where we get to.

    cINrB1NDQ1S31+SThOF3VQ_thumb_4e6.jpg


    Wow, I knew it would be more but not that much. Genuinely, that's what I was charged so that seems good value. It is so clear even after there weeks filled. I'll be interested to see what your new price is. Wow, I'm still in shock -KofD
    10000 UK Gallon ( 45 cubic Metres ) Block Fibreglass Pond with Large Waterfall

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  25. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by GadgetBazza View Post
    ATL is who I contacted initially for the curved window... As for price, a single sheet of curved acrylic using a stock radius of 4m, fully fitted was £18k + VAT! I then sent them a picture that I was using as inspiration (attached below), turns out they actually made it. As you can see, this is in two pieces, estimate, £11.5k + VAT, so cheaper but still expensive.

    cINrB1NDQ1S31+SThOF3VQ_thumb_4e6.jpg

    Yikes - £18K is a bit scary, to say the least; even for someone willing to pay 'a few grand' for a luxury pond window.


    By the way, I posted some vids of that pond, a couple of weeks ago:

    https://www.koiforum.uk/koi-carp-cha...tml#post307933


    It'll be interesting to see what you end up choosing.


    And, just for fun, here's a very obscure video from the Netherlands that I found many years ago, whilst trawling youtube for koi vids. It shows an interesting reversal of the usual approach to implementing a pond window:

    https://youtu.be/ORdwZCph4tU?t=141

    Heaven knows how much that design would've cost to do in a single circle of acrylic - probably 'around' £100,000!!

    The pond reminds me very much of this (simpler) design:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtGdhhberHQ


    This Swiss pond is built on a balcony(!) and has some quite long windows, albeit not very tall (and thus, perhaps, not holding back quite so much weight/pressure of water, although, on the other hand, the pond does extend a fair length, which would tend to somewhat increase the weight/pressure of water being exerted against glass):

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5b21h1O91w

    It's interesting to see how many different pond designs are now incorporating windows, and how far some people are willing to go with them:

    https://youtu.be/DVKJn3qkV9M?t=122

    https://www.koiforum.uk/koi-carp-cha...tml#post307517


    I've yet to see any Koi hobbyist splash the cash on an automatic window cleaner for their pond window, though!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVeAFaz5VPs





    Episode 1, 2018, (10m:39s mark) of Kevin Ellis' 'Koi Nerding' videos includes discussion of pros & cons of acrylic and glass pond windows, and of some related issues. Unfortunately, these videos aren't currently online, but quite a few folks have them archived on hard drive.
    Last edited by MustBeSomethingInTheWater; 02-10-2019 at 03:53 AM.

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  27. #15
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Adult Champion bowsaw's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by AlanF View Post
    It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has an acrylic window in use for a year or more. My glass window needs a good scrub once a week to remove algae- how does acrylic handle this I wonder without scratching the surface?
    as long as you don't rub grit over the thing its fine, worst case you can buff it back out again, glass on the other hand is much more of a pain to deal with when imperfections develop,
    the slow pond build thread

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