Thin Acrylic Sheets as waterproofing agent.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
PolyP is cheaper than acrylic in 1/2". Surprisingly most all materials in 1/4" are around the same price. Abs,acrylic,pvc,poly p,poly e, and polycarb/lexan is all around $80-$130 for a 4'x8' 1/4" sheet. O.p. i highly recommend you use atleast 1/4" material no matter what type of plastic you choose. Gives you more bonding area and also allows for more bowing. 1/8" and under plastics also chip easily when cut on a saw.

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I tried this over 20 years ago as a student in grad school. It worked for a while, but it eventually failed due to a mismatch in thermal expansion rates between wood, glass and the acrylic. I built the tank in my garage in the fall/winter in Missouri, and then put it in the house. The acrylic expanded and bowed, putting too much stress on the silicone joints I used. One popped and started a leak. Eventually just went with swimming pool paint, two part epoxy, tank lasted for years
 
Frog111 said:
I tried this over 20 years ago as a student in grad school. It worked for a while, but it eventually failed due to a mismatch in thermal expansion rates between wood, glass and the acrylic. I built the tank in my garage in the fall/winter in Missouri, and then put it in the house. The acrylic expanded and bowed, putting too much stress on the silicone joints I used. One popped and started a leak. Eventually just went with swimming pool paint, two part epoxy, tank lasted for years
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I was just about to say that acrylic would warp way to much to use it as a liner. You beat me to it.
 
This is very possible if you support the acrylic the right way and use the right adhesion for plastics...silicone does not adhere to plastics that is y this other example is a bad one. Solvent cements and 2 party epoxies are used for adhering acrylic. Heat or plastic welding is used for other plastics like abs, polypropelene and poly ethylene. Alot of water storage tanks are made like this as well as sumps for aquaria in thicker material like 1/2" freestanding. So 1/4" supported the right way would work just fine. Plastic welding or 2 part epoxy like weld on #40 are what you need for a build like this not silicone.

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There was a 300 gal build on here a few years ago that used 1/8" abs and "goop" brand glue and he had no problems with expansion. Expansion has nothing to do with a poor outer structure and the wrong glue for plastic.

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