View Full Version : Acrylic tank
Hey guys,
Anyone know the best method for gluing the seams of a huge acrylic tank?
The dimensions are 120"x36"x48" approx 900gal. The long sides are 1.5" thick, short side, 1.25" thick, top and bottom 1" thick. From research, it appears that weld-on 4 or using pins is not the proper method for a tank this large.. but no one wants to help with what the best method would be. All I keep being told is not to do a diy tank this size. Heh. I say, whyever not? I have all the tools and manpower to help manuever the stuff, I just need to know the best methods. Maybe weld-on 40? I'm not very familiar with weld-on 40, or how I'd go about using it.
This is going to be a room divider tank, and will have a steel frame around it as well as a steel stand within a wall.
Yes, I realize it's going to be very heavy.
Any tips or comments would be appreciated!!
Thanks Guys
zek
dialphantom
08-01-2005, 3:17 PM
i dont know anything about custom tanks what part of vegas u in
North vegas - kinda cheyenne and decatur.
dialphantom
08-01-2005, 3:48 PM
ahha all up in the getto
hahaha.. where do u live that u think that's the ghetto?
dialphantom
08-01-2005, 5:11 PM
i actually live in henderson
Ah.. I see. You just don't know any better. ;-)
dialphantom
08-01-2005, 6:55 PM
***** i will knock your ass out jk
lajudoka
08-01-2005, 7:12 PM
I have never build a tank that monstrous, but I say the #40 is best for seams that long and wide. The #40 is a two-part mix and rather messy to work with. Joining the side to the back or front viewing panel shouldn't pose much of a problem, its when you join all four sides to the top or bottom, you will have to improvise a way to suspend it in the air while applying the cement. Another method use is the miter all the outside edges of the sheets (sides, front and back). When you lay all the finished sides down on the front/back, you'll have room to squeeze the #40 (with a big syringe) into the seam without suspending the tank in the air. Hope that helps a little.
Thanks lajudoka, that's exactly what I was looking for. Are you familiar with the pins method (pins between the seems to allow the weldon into the seems, then pull pins)? Is #40 too thick for that particular method to work?
Dunk, unfortunately, using glass for a tank this size isn't feesible due to the weight and cost, from the thickness I would need.
dialphantom ... you're funny.
dialphantom
08-02-2005, 4:38 PM
dude that tank is beggin for a rtc if u make it can i check it out id be a honor
DeLgAdO
08-02-2005, 5:01 PM
not a fan of acrylic.
im a BIG fan of acyrlic :D
not a big fan of glass though
I3u11he4d
08-03-2005, 2:48 PM
Hey guys,
Anyone know the best method for gluing the seams of a huge acrylic tank?
The dimensions are 120"x36"x48" approx 900gal. The long sides are 1.5" thick, short side, 1.25" thick, top and bottom 1" thick. From research, it appears that weld-on 4 or using pins is not the proper method for a tank this large.. but no one wants to help with what the best method would be. All I keep being told is not to do a diy tank this size. Heh. I say, whyever not? I have all the tools and manpower to help manuever the stuff, I just need to know the best methods. Maybe weld-on 40? I'm not very familiar with weld-on 40, or how I'd go about using it.
This is going to be a room divider tank, and will have a steel frame around it as well as a steel stand within a wall.
Yes, I realize it's going to be very heavy.
Any tips or comments would be appreciated!!
Thanks Guys
zek
900Gallons,900 FRICKIN GALLONS,wow, can I come over and go swimming in it after your finished.I've been lookin for acrylis sheets (but not that big)1/2x4'x8' but evry place around here wants 450 to 500 dollars per sheet,does that seem a bit expensive?where did you get your acrylic ?sorry I have no info of use to you I'm a noobie builder,but willing to try
:screwy:
lajudoka
08-03-2005, 3:42 PM
zekni, yes, I am familiar with the pin method. Wedging the pin (25g needle) between seam to create a gap to allow more solvent to flow and allowing some time for the acrylic to melt before pulling for a clear and strong joint. This method is used with the #4 (mix with some #5 to slow the curing) because the #40 is way too thick. It's possible with #40 (thick) if you substitute the pin with someting bigger to allow more room to squeeze in the thick #40.
900Gallons,900 FRICKIN GALLONS,wow, can I come over and go swimming in it after your finished.I've been lookin for acrylis sheets (but not that big)1/2x4'x8' but evry place around here wants 450 to 500 dollars per sheet,does that seem a bit expensive?where did you get your acrylic ?sorry I have no info of use to you I'm a noobie builder,but willing to try
:screwy:
Sorry, I don't know about pricing where you are, but I spent the last month haggling with manufacturers about the pricing. Did you know you can talk them down? You just pick a couple, and then "so and so gave me this price, can you beat that?"
I started out with quotes around $8K and finally settled on $5200. That's for two sheets of 10'x4' 1.5", two sheets of 10'x4' 1", and one sheet of 8'x4' 1.25". It was the 1.5" that was by far the most expensive, because its thick and had to be special ordered at 10' instead of 8'. Oui.
Let me tell you though, the cost is nowhere near what this would have cost to have someone build it for me.
I have yet to price out the steel for the stand or the materials for the wall. :22_yikes:
I3u11he4d
08-05-2005, 12:05 AM
Sorry, I don't know about pricing where you are, but I spent the last month haggling with manufacturers about the pricing. Did you know you can talk them down? You just pick a couple, and then "so and so gave me this price, can you beat that?"
I started out with quotes around $8K and finally settled on $5200. That's for two sheets of 10'x4' 1.5", two sheets of 10'x4' 1", and one sheet of 8'x4' 1.25". It was the 1.5" that was by far the most expensive, because its thick and had to be special ordered at 10' instead of 8'. Oui.
Let me tell you though, the cost is nowhere near what this would have cost to have someone build it for me.
I have yet to price out the steel for the stand or the materials for the wall. :22_yikes:
Wow,thats a good chunk of change.I never really thought of haggling with them,I'll have to try that .$440.00 does sound to bad now after seeing you spent over $5,000.Thanks for the help and I look forward to havin that swim :)
Wow,thats a good chunk of change.I never really thought of haggling with them,I'll have to try that .$440.00 does sound to bad now after seeing you spent over $5,000.Thanks for the help and I look forward to havin that swim :)
I don't know about you, but *I* wouldn't want to swim with anything that could send me to the hospital. There are going to be stingrays in there. ;-)
I3u11he4d
08-05-2005, 11:34 PM
I don't know about you, but *I* wouldn't want to swim with anything that could send me to the hospital. There are going to be stingrays in there. ;-)
it would definitly be before the rays were in there. :screwy:
Wow, think end of the day the tank will be very expensive.
oscar1
08-27-2005, 7:09 PM
would love to see a pic when completed if u ever get it completed
RowingMunkeyCU
04-03-2006, 7:39 PM
any updates on your construction?
Atarax
04-20-2006, 9:46 PM
10' sheets of acrylic? thats huge:WHOA: . Grats on haggling them down though that stuff gets outrageous expensive when it gets over 4 feet :WHOA: . less see some pics soon.:headbang2
dr_sudz
04-20-2006, 9:55 PM
I would be personally not sure about the thickness of your acrylic. Is it alright to have thinner on the sides then on the front and back, then even thinner on the bottom?? To me that just doesnt sound quite right. I am going to be building my 400 out of glass and everything I have read is that it should be all the same thickness.
MikeVance
04-21-2006, 11:34 AM
That will definately be a nice tank:thumbsup:
qumqats
04-21-2006, 6:02 PM
> . . . snip . . .
The dimensions are 120"x36"x48" approx 900gal.
> . . . snip . . .
Yes, I realize it's going to be very heavy.
> . . . snip . . .
Yikes that's heavy!!!!
What are you going to do to re enforce the floor?
I wouldn't think that even a normal slap floor would be strong enough.
Although. . . 10,000 pounds spread across 10' might not be that bad.