Aquariums are enclosures designed to hold water and aquatic life. The thickness of the glass used in these aquariums is essential for safety and depends largely on the size of the tank. Why? The more water an aquarium holds the more pressure it exerts on its sides. However the glasd should also not be too thick. That will blur out and distort the view, and the experience of seeing fish in an aquarium will not be good. Normal glass is brittle and hence a very thick slab of glass would be needed. Instead, polymethylmethacrylate or acrylic is used instead of glass. These are sturdier and transparent polymers which provide a better view.
Small aquariums, like the ones you might have at home for a few fish, don’t need very thick glass. The pressure from the water in these tanks is relatively low. Typically, the glass for these might be around 0.1 inches (2.5 mm) thick.
On the other hand, large public aquariums, like the ones that house sharks or other big sea creatures, deal with much more water. Therefore, they need to withstand a lot more pressure. These aquariums require much thicker glass, sometimes more than 2 inches (5 cm) thick.
Acrylic is half as dense as glass and twice as strong. Naturally, it is the only alternative to glass. However acrylic glass has use in magic too. Magicians often demonstrate a magic trick in which they walk on water. Usually, they have a sheet of acrylic hidden underwater, to form a platform on which they can stand. Acrylic being transparent, is never seen by the audience.
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