Acrylic tank

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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.
 
zekni said:
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
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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:
 
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.
 
I3u11he4d said:
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:
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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:
 
zekni said:
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:
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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 :)
 
I3u11he4d said:
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 :)
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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. ;-)
 
zekni said:
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. ;-)
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it would definitly be before the rays were in there. :screwy:
 
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