Acrylic absorbs water??? How do you explain the hundreds of thousands of acrylic tanks all across the planet?
Plexiglass lined plywood
- Thread starter AdzyHany
- Start date
Acrylic absorbs water??? How do you explain the hundreds of thousands of acrylic tanks all across the planet?
It does, but only to a small degree. Acrylic tops warp because the side exposed to the water expands. There have been threads on the plywood/acrylic hybrid tank before, and the general consensus is no, mostly due to differing expansion/contraction of wood and acrylic.
It sure seems like a plywood tank could be line with glass and silicone . the glass would water proof, the plywood would provide support, and silicone would hold it altogether and provide flexibility between the wood and glass.
The better professional tank builders, use extra thick acrylic and have a solid top with cut-outs, so that the warping pressure is counteracted. Without braces or a solid top, the tank will bow out from the warpage like you wouldn't believe, even when the tank is completely empty. If the acrylic is too thin, the top or braces may crack and then the seams will fail.
Here's some links:
physicalproperties.pdf
MatWeb Material Property Data
If you still don't believe it, go buy some acrylic and find out for yourself.
I have acrylic and glass tops on my 180. The acrylic has bowed down. I assumed from gravity pulling it down and it not being as rigid as glass. Does this mean if I take the acrylic tops off and let them sit they'll become straight again when the dry out?
Sorry OP for the thread hijack.
Sorry OP for the thread hijack.
Yep, it isn't gravity, but the water. While it does seem counterintuitive, it is true. Another option is to flip the lids regularly.
