540g acrylic tank build
- Thread starter DM M35A2
- Start date
I made a filter box once out of acrylic and weld-on. After adding a few extra braces and such it does indeed hold water, but its the ugliest thing you've ever seen.
Just a word of caution - welding with acrylic is hard to do pretty. Yes, it is a chemical bond and holds REALLY well, so yes if you get good coverage it likely won't leak, but unless you have experience its harder than it looks to come out nice looking.
I'd also be curious to see your budget. When I did the math it really didn't save much money at all to build it myself since you pay so much for acrylic sheets, I figure the aquarium builders pay WAY less than you would, hence they have a decent profit margin. What my original plan when I started building the filter box was to get into it as a sort of side business, and I'd try to get my sheets of acrylic from Midwest Custom Acrylic scrap / misc piles (I don't know what they charge, but I figure it'll be cheaper than new and I'm close to drive there and pick it up so free shipping), but it was such a pain I didn't bother....yet...still may try...
Just a word of caution - welding with acrylic is hard to do pretty. Yes, it is a chemical bond and holds REALLY well, so yes if you get good coverage it likely won't leak, but unless you have experience its harder than it looks to come out nice looking.
I'd also be curious to see your budget. When I did the math it really didn't save much money at all to build it myself since you pay so much for acrylic sheets, I figure the aquarium builders pay WAY less than you would, hence they have a decent profit margin. What my original plan when I started building the filter box was to get into it as a sort of side business, and I'd try to get my sheets of acrylic from Midwest Custom Acrylic scrap / misc piles (I don't know what they charge, but I figure it'll be cheaper than new and I'm close to drive there and pick it up so free shipping), but it was such a pain I didn't bother....yet...still may try...
It’s been a long drawn out process but here’s some pics of my progress. Also, the tank will actually be right under 460 gallons, not 540 but I’m fine with that. I ended up buying a 48” overflow from modular marine that is supposed to handle 6k+(not that I will need that much). It’s built very nice. Any suggestions on the return plumbing setup? The acrylic only cost me $1700 out the door.
Did you use pins? Did you use your own mix of methylene chloride and acetic acid or did you go with a premade product like weldon 3/4? Those products are fine for most builds but something this size I would have looked into a mix of AA to MEK of about 3:97 by weight.
I used 4 for seaming the tank together and 40 for the tip and pour in the corners. I didn’t use pins, I just tilted the panels VERY slightly and then rested them back into place.
Almost there y’all. I’m cutting down a 300 gallon tank to fit under my stand. Any recommendations on my return plumbing?
You’ll get to, just set it as a life goal to keep you motivated. I felt the same way when I was your age and couldn’t wait. Finally, 9 years later I have a 300 gallon and 550 gallon. One of the few initial perks of moving out haha
Yeah my parents think I’m dumb for wanting to move out but being able to get whatever I want is so nice, I live RTC and have always wanted one definitely gonna get a pond with like 2 or 3 then a pond with TSN
