I was on a job and there was 4'x2' piece of acrylic that was given to me and want to use it to build my plywood tank. I have cursing so plywood tank threads and people say to make sure it is cell cast. What is cell cast and if the piece of acrylic is 1/2'' thick does it even matter. The tank size that Im planing to build is 55''x36''x30. thanks for any feed back.
I got 1/2'' acrylic for my build,but I don't know if it cell cast
- Thread starter CRF50HUGO
- Start date
I can't help you with the cell cast, but this may help you on your build and deciding if 1/2" is thick enough http://www.garf.org/tank/buildtank.asp
I build a 360G tank about 20yrs ago that was done with 1/2" non cell cast acrylic, I didnt have any problems.
"I build a 360G tank about 20yrs ago that was done with 1/2" non cell cast acrylic, I didnt have any problems. "
PLEASE tell us about this tank in GREAT DETAIL. dimensions, what you used to bond the acrylic pieces, wether or not the top was reinforced and how, etc.
PLEASE tell us about this tank in GREAT DETAIL. dimensions, what you used to bond the acrylic pieces, wether or not the top was reinforced and how, etc.
NiceGuyNick;4442463; said:
The tank was pretty much a plywood tank with the inside of the tank lined with 1/4" acrylic with a 1/2" acrylic viewing window. I sealed the acrylic panels with aquarium silicone. Back in those days, I didnt know that silicone did not bond well to acrylic so it worked. The tank had an exterior frame made out of 2x4s 16" OC. Much like may last build that is linked in my signature. The interior of the tank was 96"L x 30"H x 30"D.
when you go to seal it take a look at ames blue max it's 800% fexiable non toxic no smell drinking water safe. I tried two different epoxy paint the frist one from sherman william and one for lesslie pools the lasted only a day or two before the I could fell mostiure at the back seems and the water clouded badly. I next tried ugy dry lock it last about a week before it cracked and leaked. expoy is very brittle and any shift in the tank it will crack and water will get to the wood also if you see that water is getting cloudy water is getting to the wood after sealing mine with blue max I waited a month before I was sure everything was sealed porperly.
I read a lot of threat about building plywood tanks and they all said use epoxy paint. I couldn't figgure out what I was doing wrong so I call the teck dept for one of the expoy paint manfuctuer and he told me the problem with using it to seal a plywood tank, He also said I would run in to trouble cleaning the tank after a few month becasue it is brittle.
I read a lot of threat about building plywood tanks and they all said use epoxy paint. I couldn't figgure out what I was doing wrong so I call the teck dept for one of the expoy paint manfuctuer and he told me the problem with using it to seal a plywood tank, He also said I would run in to trouble cleaning the tank after a few month becasue it is brittle.