sick_lid;3401926; said:
Whoops! Would siliconing over the seams then be added protection, or useless?
There are a very few types of silicone that will even stick to acrylic.
Acrylic is a form of "plastic"...Cell Cast is the type of acrylic used in the manufacture of Aquariums.
When they assemble the tank, a solvent that can melt deep into the acrylic, is introduced to the joint.
It is water like in viscosity, so through capillary action, the solvent sucks into the joint, melting both pieces that are to be joined.
Once the solvent evaporates the two pieces that were melted at the same time, are now one solid piece.
This is what they refer to as "Chemically Welded". Under the definition of "weld" both base materials have been heated,(chemically in this case) allowed to mix on a molecular level, and then cooled (solvent evaporated).
The strength of the tank is in the properly welded seams, and as a side effect of a complete "weld", the tank will not leak.
If the tank needed to be sealed with something to keep from leaking, then the integrity of the whole structure would be compromised.
jack frost;3402154; said:
is it normal for acrylic to have "crazing" in it kinda like little stress cracks I guess you would call them on the inside of the acrylic. My tanks has some of them I assume this is normal fromt he weight of the water pushing out on it.
That surface cracking happens when the tank is stored dry, after it has been submerged in water. I have never seen it in a tank that was kept with water in it. I know even though we cant see it, water actually penetrates the surface of the acrylic slightly softening it. Then when the tank is stored dry, the plastic dries out and you see that crazing....I'm not too sure it can even be buffed out...
Try using "NOVUS" polish system and a power buffer/polisher.
Water saturation of the acrylic is what causes tops to weaken and sag after time, especially when they are made from too thin of acrylic...
Acrylic is a little more trouble to keep up as compared to glass, but to me Acrylic is the only way to go...especially if you keep tank-bustin' monsters like mine...
