Project references
Public aquarium main window — Domestic. 180 mm cast acrylic, 12 × 4 m viewing wall bonded from 4 monolithic panels. Engineered against full water depth; installed with compression gaskets and expansion tolerances.
Underwater tunnel — Southeast Asia. 120 mm cast acrylic curved sections forming a Ø 5 m tunnel, ~25 m long. Segments factory-bonded and shipped flat-packed for on-site assembly with dome roof.
| Project | Type | Specification | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean park shark tank | Multi-panel bonded | 200 mm, 10 × 6 m assembled | 1 exhibit |
| Hotel lobby feature tank | Cylindrical column | 80 mm, Ø 3 m × H 8 m | 1 column |
| Children’s touch pool | Low-level viewing | 50 mm, 4 × 2 m flat panels | 6 panels |
RP Oceanarium & Large-Scale Acrylic Engineering delivers cast acrylic for public aquariums, oceanariums, shark tunnels, underwater restaurants, and landmark water features. We work with aquarium builders, contractors, and designers from engineering review to panel delivery — and we fabricate bonded panels, curved walls, and tunnel sections to the sizes your architect designed.
What we supply
- Main viewing windows — flat cast panels, engineered for full water depth
- Underwater tunnels — curved / arc sections and dome roofs
- Cylindrical and corner tanks — edge-bonded clear columns
- Shark tank & large exhibit walls — multi-panel bonded assemblies
- Landmark lobby water features — hotel, shopping mall, corporate headquarters
- Seal / penguin / polar exhibit viewing glass — thick clear acrylic for low-temperature exhibits
Engineering capability
- Monolithic cast panels up to very thick cross-sections — no lamination layers that can delaminate or yellow over decades.
- Edge bonding engineered to parent-material strength; bond lines specified against hydrostatic and thermal loads.
- Thermoforming of curved and tunnel segments to tight radius tolerances.
- Finite-element thickness calculation reviewed against tank depth, water density, temperature cycling, and safety factor.
- Flat-pack or installation drawings for the on-site crew, including sealing details and compression profiles.
Reference project profile
| Project type | Typical panel size | Typical thickness | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public aquarium main window | 8 – 20 m wide × 3 – 8 m tall | 150 – 300 mm | Bonded multi-panel; engineered against full depth |
| Underwater tunnel | Diameter 3 – 10 m, length bespoke | 80 – 200 mm | Curved segments with dome roof |
| Cylindrical lobby tank | Ø 2 – 6 m, height 3 – 12 m | 50 – 150 mm | Bonded from vertical and horizontal welds |
| Restaurant / hotel feature | 3 – 10 m wide viewing wall | 60 – 180 mm | Interior design + engineering combined |
| Small exhibit / touch pool | Up to 4 m wide | 30 – 80 mm | Monolithic panels, easy install |
Technical specifications
| Material | 100 % virgin cell-cast PMMA, oceanarium grade |
| Light transmission | ≥ 92 % (clear) |
| Max monolithic thickness | Up to 300 mm; thicker assemblies by bonding |
| Max panel size | ~2050 × 3050 mm monolithic; bonded to architect size |
| Service life design | Decades, seawater / freshwater resistant |
| Bonding | Solvent / cement bonding, parent-material strength |
| Temperature | −20 °C to +60 °C continuous |
| Delivery | Flat on timber crates, edge-protected; on-site assembly drawings |
How a project runs with RP
- Concept review. You send tank layout, water depth, species, and viewing angles. We confirm acrylic is the right material and flag any structural issues early.
- Thickness & panel layout. We calculate thickness against hydrostatic pressure, split the window into fabricatable panels, and propose joint locations.
- Manufacturing. Cast, machine, polish, and bond in our facility; dry-fit and inspect before packing.
- Delivery & support. Crated for ocean freight; we provide on-site sealing guidance and reference installation details.
Send us your aquarium sketch, tank dimensions, and target opening date — our engineering team will come back with a panel layout and an indicative budget within 3 working days.