i want to build a tank 70' length 53' height and 36'width what thickness of glass should i use or what thickness of acrylic should i use ?
new build tank ? thickness of acrylic vs glass
- Thread starter Itsjustreal3dbackgrounds
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Polycast 2" really your only option unless Arkema still makes 2" that height is a killer for thickness. You'll need to put a full brace on. Google: floyd Turbo for great advice building acrylics.
Whatever you do don't follow the guy on YouTube telling people to build with electrical tape and capillary welds! Tanks exploding all over the world because of him. Awful advice.
Whatever you do don't follow the guy on YouTube telling people to build with electrical tape and capillary welds! Tanks exploding all over the world because of him. Awful advice.
I agree on 1.25" (33 mm) on the glass. The height of 53" will make this challenging to supply as a lot of glass makers don't handle sizes that thick.
I would stick with Acrylic for this build. 1.25 inch glass is going to be a pain to build with the weight of the individual panes of glass are going to be crazy let alone the tank after its built.
If you do go with glass I would use spacers or the weight will push all the silicone out before the tank sets up.
If you do go with glass I would use spacers or the weight will push all the silicone out before the tank sets up.
I think I know who you are talking about. One day I would like to try building an acrylic tank using that method, lots of people saying some tanks busted because of it..
Even the acrylic materials used in those videos are on most builders black lists. Too much to list here. One of these builds I'll document and list every BS thing mentioned in that series and how to do it correctly.
Big G has a great point. Those panels are going to weigh a load, you'll likely need a suspension device to maneuver the glass panels safely.
I'm assuming you have experience building tanks OP? if not you should know the height is the main determining factor for thickness which also determines cost and difficulty of the build.
Do you have any suggestions on what brand of acrylic? There is a warehouse near here that manufactures their own, I would like to try a smaller tank as a project in the garage of the new house I'm am moving into, maybe an 8' x 2'. What type of weld on is good to use?
Spartech polycast is still king. expensive but the best. This is what jet windshields are made with.
Arkema brand plexiglas G close #2. Arkema owns the plexiglas trademark. They're the real deal, pros use this often.
Arkema brand PMACS pronounced peemax. Generic plexiglas with a plain paper wrap. This is what i use. Supposedly not quite as perfect as plexi g but i can't see a difference and holding without issue.
Cyro (Acrylite) used to be based in Maine. But now they sold to evonik and are made overseas. The colors don't bond well anymore. I've heard about bad batches of clear and bond failures. Their reputation decline since outsourcing production to Asia is enough for me. Because of this most (everyone i know except the YouTube guy) builders no longer use Acrylite.
Chemcast = crap. Slap anyone who tells you otherwise. Hold it to the sun next to polycast and it's like you're looking through sunglasses (not quite but you get the point) weak bonding strength, solvents don't melt it well. (Again YouTube guy recommending)
Acrycast = garbage
Anyone who says chemcast or acrycast is good is a salesman. They'll tell you any cell cast is okay! "I sell to aquarium manufacturers all of the time!"
Solvents. Weld on is kinda crap. Yes i said it. Crappy. (Weldon 40 is a great product but pain in the...to work with for builds like yours but best for fillets and gap filling, tip and pour) weldon 4 is what you'll be told to use but it's manufactured in California (or was before scigrip bought them) That state restricts chemicals like no other. So it's super watered down to be legally manufactured and sold from there. Plus stretches their product maximizing profits
Make your own. 95% methylene chloride 5% glacial acetic acid (pure) sourced amazon and eBay. WAY stronger and longer set time. Pull pins around 45-75 secs depending on thickness.
I've bonded 90 degree angles via pin method with weldon 4 and the mix listed above. Then jumped on them (after setting) to test the bond and try to break the welded seam. The acrylic should always break before seam. Custom blend holds like a rock compared to weldon 4.
I've done the same test with capillary and pin method. Pin method the acrylic snaps (pass) capillary the seam separates (fail)
Arkema brand plexiglas G close #2. Arkema owns the plexiglas trademark. They're the real deal, pros use this often.
Arkema brand PMACS pronounced peemax. Generic plexiglas with a plain paper wrap. This is what i use. Supposedly not quite as perfect as plexi g but i can't see a difference and holding without issue.
Cyro (Acrylite) used to be based in Maine. But now they sold to evonik and are made overseas. The colors don't bond well anymore. I've heard about bad batches of clear and bond failures. Their reputation decline since outsourcing production to Asia is enough for me. Because of this most (everyone i know except the YouTube guy) builders no longer use Acrylite.
Chemcast = crap. Slap anyone who tells you otherwise. Hold it to the sun next to polycast and it's like you're looking through sunglasses (not quite but you get the point) weak bonding strength, solvents don't melt it well. (Again YouTube guy recommending)
Acrycast = garbage
Anyone who says chemcast or acrycast is good is a salesman. They'll tell you any cell cast is okay! "I sell to aquarium manufacturers all of the time!"
Solvents. Weld on is kinda crap. Yes i said it. Crappy. (Weldon 40 is a great product but pain in the...to work with for builds like yours but best for fillets and gap filling, tip and pour) weldon 4 is what you'll be told to use but it's manufactured in California (or was before scigrip bought them) That state restricts chemicals like no other. So it's super watered down to be legally manufactured and sold from there. Plus stretches their product maximizing profits
Make your own. 95% methylene chloride 5% glacial acetic acid (pure) sourced amazon and eBay. WAY stronger and longer set time. Pull pins around 45-75 secs depending on thickness.
I've bonded 90 degree angles via pin method with weldon 4 and the mix listed above. Then jumped on them (after setting) to test the bond and try to break the welded seam. The acrylic should always break before seam. Custom blend holds like a rock compared to weldon 4.
I've done the same test with capillary and pin method. Pin method the acrylic snaps (pass) capillary the seam separates (fail)
So that's it. Spartech polycast. Arkema plexiglas g and PMACS. Most everything else has been phased out by domestic builders. Some still use acrylite but i cannot recommend it.
I would not trust a custom cell cast. Possibly continuous cast (bad) and i bet it is really acrycast as I've heard that story before from suppliers with that brand.
Apologize to OP for hijacking thread. Hopefully the info helps people.
I would not trust a custom cell cast. Possibly continuous cast (bad) and i bet it is really acrycast as I've heard that story before from suppliers with that brand.
Apologize to OP for hijacking thread. Hopefully the info helps people.