This is kinda what I was thinking, but instead of welding the vinyl to the edges of the acrylic; enclose the acrylic in two layers of vinyl. Bond the two layers of Vinyl to each other just outside the edges of the acrylic, after vacuuming the air out of course. Kinda like laminating a card.
Mega clear vinyl prototype tank build (concept building)
- Thread starter jkayden
- Start date
This is kinda what I was thinking, but instead of welding the vinyl to the edges of the acrylic; enclose the acrylic in two layers of vinyl. Bond the two layers of Vinyl to each other just outside the edges of the acrylic, after vacuuming the air out of course. Kinda like laminating a card.
The problem with acrylic is it is expensive and heavy (when compared with vinyl).
We used ultrasound gel on the little tank, which I thought was an awesome idea, but it caused the vinyl to become cloudy. The cloudiness went away after removing the gel for a couple days. It turns out that the vinyl actually absorbs water at a very slow rate causing it to become cloudy. I suspect that the reason the vinyl doesn't get cloudy without the gel is because it evaporates before it gets a chance to build up. With that knowledge I started to become concerned that the acrylic to vinyl connection would cause cloudiness too, but that hasn't proven to be the case with the little tank.
I think the final solution is going to be boxing the tank out with plywood and acrylic. The way I have my little 20 gallon protype, the vinyl isn't pressing very well against the plexi except for a small section towards the bottom. At that point though the air pockets are pretty minimal. I think with a proper frame the acrylic to vinyl connection will look fine. I guess I'll work on that next week.
I think I need to go with thinner vinyl too. It turns out the vinyl needs to have some small tint to it otherwise it just looks yellow, so thinner would equal less tint.
bulges out just like my easy-up swimming pool. Yes an easy-up clear swimming pool for the strip bars... oop was I thinking out loud...Aquarium..Aquarium... yes for fish...... 
First post... I have been lurking for years. A few people have tried various liners. In most cases, people have poo pooed the idea. I think it has potential and have done some work in this area myself. I hope you continue to work on this. The idea of a prefabricated clear liner over the gass is a real inovation. Even if putting the liner over the glass is not the ultimate solution, perhaps there are adhesives that would bond vinyl to other materials. You probably have knowlege in this area. Keep at it!
Think on this.
"IF" you can't solve these issues, don't completely scrap the idea. (Although I know a solution is out there, and you'll probably find it)
But if not, I would still be interested in buying an assembled liner.
I am convinced that there is a way to mate the liner to either a sheet of acrylic or glass, at its edges. Basically making a vinyl liner with a glass/acrylic front. Instead of a vinyl liner pressed up against a glass front.
One would have to have the glass/acrylic anyway for the front, so I am thinking if would be very little extra cost to do it that way.
"IF" you can't solve these issues, don't completely scrap the idea. (Although I know a solution is out there, and you'll probably find it)
But if not, I would still be interested in buying an assembled liner.
I am convinced that there is a way to mate the liner to either a sheet of acrylic or glass, at its edges. Basically making a vinyl liner with a glass/acrylic front. Instead of a vinyl liner pressed up against a glass front.
One would have to have the glass/acrylic anyway for the front, so I am thinking if would be very little extra cost to do it that way.
I believe the cost he is concerned with is 'his'. How much does 'he' have to put in before it pays off..
...umm no. The whole idea behind this project was to create an affordable tank for monster fish keepers. My concern is with the final cost of the product.
Hopefully I can get the acrylic to vinyl issue worked out without having to bond the two. That process would add to the final cost significantly ...if it is even possible.
Well yes, but we are still trying to work out visibility issues when the liner is pressed against the glass. It kinda looks funny because there are little pockets of air between the two. It doesn't look horrible, but it is definitely not crystal clear.[/QUOTE]
It's actually simple, use the sea view background adhesive. I tried it with a zip lock and acrylic, worked like a charm no air pockets. I did have to squeegee them out, but it was clear.http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/6644/product.web
You can send my one free liner for the idea, PM me for address lol
some what.
It's actually simple, use the sea view background adhesive. I tried it with a zip lock and acrylic, worked like a charm no air pockets. I did have to squeegee them out, but it was clear.http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/6644/product.web
You can send my one free liner for the idea, PM me for address lol
some what.We would have to buy the glass or acrillic anyway so mating them and sending it to us would be only a marginal increase in price. Since the two would be bonded as well we would only have to affix the viewing pane and not worry about a perfect seal thus still saving us a ton of time and energy.
With a slight tint and such to the vinyl I think this woudl be the preferred solution so that we can maintain crystal clear viewing into the tank for years to come.
you say umm no.. Like I was wrong. Are you not concerned with your investments?
Your cost meaning final cost of the product... How is the final product cost not an expense of the business owner? Someone else funding the project?
