I posted this previously but decided to make a new thread here. I am a CNC machinist for a large plastic distributor here in Texas. We have all sorts of acrylic projects and I am looking to build my first acrylic aquarium. I don't have much experience as far as the setup of aquariums but here is what I have so far. I'm looking at a 48x18x24 90 gallon freshwater tank, welding with Weldon 4 then reenforcing the inner corners with Weldon 40. I'm thinking of heat bending the front corners and possibly doing the back out of a colored acrylic? I looked into possiblity adding an overflow but I'm not exactly sure of what that would entail and maybe a bit to ambitious for my first build. As far as plumbing I was just thinking of hanging the hoses of a canister filter into the tank. Any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciate. I'll add pictures as the build progresses.
New acrylic tank setup
- Thread starter johngarcia61814
- Start date
Personally I much prefer clear acrylic backs to colored acrylic backs but everyone has their own preferences.
Heat bending the front corners and getting a good square corner that will seal (weld) to the top and bottom pieces of acrylic is WAY beyond my capability... but if you have this capability go for it! It should be very nice!
I think you will want about 1/2" thick acrylic for a 24" tall tank, you can probably get away with 3/8" thick acrylic for an 18" tall tank.
The usual recommendation is to use cast acrylic and to stay away from extruded acrylic sheets.
If you make a good solid weld (i.e. well fitting pieces of acrylic and good technique) there should be no need to reinforce the corners with Weldon 40.
Heat bending the front corners and getting a good square corner that will seal (weld) to the top and bottom pieces of acrylic is WAY beyond my capability... but if you have this capability go for it! It should be very nice!
I think you will want about 1/2" thick acrylic for a 24" tall tank, you can probably get away with 3/8" thick acrylic for an 18" tall tank.
The usual recommendation is to use cast acrylic and to stay away from extruded acrylic sheets.
If you make a good solid weld (i.e. well fitting pieces of acrylic and good technique) there should be no need to reinforce the corners with Weldon 40.
I had a buddy with a cnc machine and he engraved his logo into his lids and then colored them in....when the lights were on his logo was projected on the floor...it was pretty cool
Sounds like a good plan. Only thing i would say is consider constructing a custom sump as well and drilling the tank for overflows. Your access to a machine shop will make it easy to drill or cut the panels for a nifty overflow setup. Consider milling the back panel for a coast to coast overflow.
A sump would improve the functionality and aesthetics of your tank immensely.
Do you guys have only cnc mills or maybe some manual column or turrets? Cnc is overly complicated for the type of machining you would need to do imo.
We only have a pair of CNC routers but I am the programmer/operator so really no big deal.
I just started reading into sumps. Im not sure how confident I would feel using on me on my very first aquarium haha. I was told on another thread to make the 90 gallon the. Use it as a sump for a future larger tank which I think might be the route I go.
I think I will use the Weldon 40 just to make the tank as bullet proof as possible. Our acrylic fabricator has been doing this for 15 years so I trust him but that's alot of water sittng in my living room lol. I was looking at our colored acrylic today and I think I am just going to go with clear on the back. But I had thought about engraving something into the back of it but doing it to the lid is also an interesting idea! I plan of getting the pieces cut and put together next week. We are getting into our slow season so it's time for personal projects.
Cool. All up to you really. Ive never constructed a whole acrylic tank but a lot of the more experienced builders recommend using weldon 40 for the entire build, like was mentioned above. Amd if was up to me, I'd go with flush cut panels on all corners rather than the curved route. Ive seen the curved corner acrylic tanks before and really didnt like the distortion it causes. But to each their own of course.