Cut acrylic opening larger in my 220g...

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Conner

Conner

Piranha
MFK Member
Dec 27, 2008
4,461
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81
Kentucky
I picked up an acrylic 220g tank last weekend. Its got great dimensions (72Lx30Wx24H). The only problem was that the openings in the top were only 9"x23", making access inside the tank very difficult. I spent this evening after work remedying that situation, cutting each hole out to 21"x23". I left a rim of 4.5" all the way around the edges, and there is a 10.25" support in the center of the tank running from front to back.

This should give me plenty of access, while still providing all the support the tank needs to keep it from bowing.

Oh yah, I used a jigsaw with a "fast" metal cutting blade, and a squirt bottle of water, keeping lots of water around the blade the whole time. It worked great! It was very nerve wracking though. It doesn't look bad, but I might go around the edges with a router just to clean things up a bid. The black marks are marker that I used to draw my lines. It doesn't wash off with water, but does with alcohol.

Also, does anyone have suggestions for cleaning saltwater calcium deposits from an acrylic tank? They're not real bad, just a little on the bottom and overflow, but I'd like to get as much off as possible, and I've never worked with acrylic before, so I don't want to do anything wrong and scratch the hell out of it. That being said, I do have an electric buffer, and I can always order some Novus 1 and 2 to do some touch up (which I will probably do regardless).

Pics!

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Why the Beep was it so small to start with? How would you ever clean or do anthing with that looks like it was maybe only 12" wide in the first photo. I couldn't even get my decor in that hole.

After reading I see the opening was 9", who ever made that must not normally make tanks.
 
Nice job. Don't forget the flame treatment to give it that freshly finished look!
 
Looks much better with the larger openings. Be sure each corner of each hole is radiused instead of a sharp 90 degrees to prevent stress cracks from forming.
 
What is this flame treatment you speak of? Should it be done to all holes cut in acrylic?
 
Doesn't have to be done, it just makes it pretty.
 
nfored;3923842; said:
Why the Beep was it so small to start with? How would you ever clean or do anthing with that looks like it was maybe only 12" wide in the first photo. I couldn't even get my decor in that hole.

After reading I see the opening was 9", who ever made that must not normally make tanks.
Click to expand...

Yah, I don't know why the holes were so small. The guy I bought it from wasn't the original owner. He actually liked the small holes because he was going to put an arowana in it, and small holes = less likely to jump out (in his opinion, anyways).

But yah, I couldn't fit jack through those openings. Or you could get something in, but good luck getting it back out. How was I supposed to fit gars and stringrays through that, you know?

Pharaoh;3923897; said:
Nice job. Don't forget the flame treatment to give it that freshly finished look!
Click to expand...

Oh yah, I got a propane torch and a new propane tank ready to go. I'm gonna make sure all the edges are nice and polished.

Knowdafish;3923908; said:
Looks much better with the larger openings. Be sure each corner of each hole is radiused instead of a sharp 90 degrees to prevent stress cracks from forming.
Click to expand...

I made sure to do radiused corners with the jigsaw, but I think I'm gonna make a jig and go back over and smooth everything out with the router. That will also help make sure the corners are nice and rounded, and not chipped anywhere.
 
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