Acrylic Fabrication Q & A

[TherealplexiG]

@cromag08
What pics are those?

 

[cromag27]

A local buddy of mine is having a 600g shark tank built after his first one failed. This new guy is using that acrylic.

 

[TherealplexiG]

A local buddy of mine is having a 600g shark tank built after his first one failed. This new guy is using that acrylic.

Dang! Hope that works out.

 

[Turbo's Aquatics]

This new guy is using that acrylic.

= get new guy

 

[cromag27]

I feel bad for this guy. the first one had the euro pop off. and now this new tank is being built out of that junk. 600g tanks aren't cheap.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

I feel bad for this guy. the first one had the euro pop off. and now this new tank is being built out of that junk. 600g tanks aren't cheap.

Friends don't let friends build big tanks out of cheap acrylic...unless they intend to surf out the front door when the tank fails and the sharks come out to play.

What kind of sharks? I do not recommend hobbiest own the majority of sharks due to their space and food requirements. A three foot shark is running out of space in a 16' tank let alone a small 600 gallon guppy pool.

 

[cromag27]

Small epaulettes.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

Small epaulettes.

Cool with that. Hope the tank works out okay. What are the dimensions?

 

[cromag27]

96 x 48 x 30 - ish.

 

[TherealplexiG]

unless they intend to surf out the front door when the tank fails and the sharks come out to play.

LOL..you're honestly funny....

 

[Lowell Lemon]

How thick is the acrylic?

 

[cromag27]

1" I believe.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

LOL..you're honestly funny....

Did that Marga Acrylic smell like moth balls when it was saw cut? Is it cross linked?

 

[TherealplexiG]

Did that Marga Acrylic smell like moth balls when it was saw cut? Is it cross linked?

No! if i remember it did not, it cut like any other acrylic and it's cast i believe.
I was inclined to test all the materials available locally as i'm not from the US but Mars.
Marga was the worst one, it's an Indonesian make i believe. It does not give that bite into the acrylic.

 

[domination2580]

Sayy i wanted to make a frag tank, like a 40 gallon one. What would the thickness of acrylic suggested be? Also what do you guys use to bond the acrylic again?

 

[TherealplexiG]

@cromag08
Could ya somehow make him test a scrap piece and check for the bond strength???

 

[Lowell Lemon]

Sayy i wanted to make a frag tank, like a 40 gallon one. What would the thickness of acrylic suggested be? Also what do you guys use to bond the acrylic again?

Tank dimensions determine the panel thickness. The length and height of the largest panel is the factor I use to estimate thickness. Floyd R Turbo gave a formula for the solvent he uses on this thread. It should work great. Look at his pin method for making the bonds and the edge prep he recommends to make sure you end up with a strong water clear bond. Google acrylic aquarium thickness to find a calculator on the internet from Cyro Acrylics for panel thickness. It will work great if you follow the directions.

 

[cromag27]

@cromag08
Could ya somehow make him test a scrap piece and check for the bond strength???

The two end panels are already attached to the front. I think it's past the testing phase. lol. will be interesting to see how this turns out.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

The two end panels are already attached to the front. I think it's past the testing phase. lol. will be interesting to see how this turns out.

The recommended thickness is about 1.25" thick for that tank dimension. I hope it works out as well.

 

[cromag27]

Yeah I told him to nix the whole deal.