Transforming a acrylic display into aaquarium...., need some suggestions...

[Oddball]

Ah, now I see. Should work fine once you add a top piece, for stability/anti-bowing, like you see in traditional acrylic aquariums. You can also use a piece of acrylic on the inside pieces with the holes to seal those ends.
Check rplastics.com for acrylic bond dissolver and acrylic bonding agents that'll help you get the transformation done right.

 

[jdepasqu2]

Ah, now I see. Should work fine once you add a top piece, for stability/anti-bowing, like you see in traditional acrylic aquariums. You can also use a piece of acrylic on the inside pieces with the holes to seal those ends.
Check rplastics.com for acrylic bond dissolver and acrylic bonding agents that'll help you get the transformation done right.

thanks......, but just to be sure that you understand..... I will not be puuting a piece on the top of the aquarium...., but actuall the side of it the proposed finished product would be 48" long x 18" tall x 33" wide...., ya still think it would work?

 

[jdepasqu2]

Just came up with this idea......., if everybody still thinks that 3/8" isnt going to work...... then maybe I could laminate the entire aquarium with 1/8" acrylic to bump up the thickness to 1/2" i could overlap the joints to further strengthen the entire thing......, what is everybody's opinion on this....??
I've seen this done/talked about on this forum. Someone used acetone to bond to sheet sheets of 1/8" acrylic together to make a 1/4" thick sheet.
I may get some air bubles but if i take my time it probably wouldnt be to bad lookin....., plus it would provide a surface to hold in the melted acrylic that i would use to fill the 1/4" holes in both the sides.... what ya think?????

 

[Oddball]

thanks......, but just to be sure that you understand..... I will not be puuting a piece on the top of the aquarium...., but actuall the side of it the proposed finished product would be 48" long x 18" tall x 33" wide...., ya still think it would work?

No, the top piece is required in order to reduce seam stress from the normal bowing of acrylics.

 

[jdepasqu2]

No, the top piece is required in order to reduce seam stress from the normal bowing of acrylics.

Sorry....., we keep getting jumbbled up......, as is right now the container has the opening on the top of it, with it standing 48" tall. But I want to lay it on its side (the 33" x 48" side) Thus, i will be adding a piece.., but it wont be to the top of the finished product but rather the side of it, with the added piece being 33" x 18". I think that should explain it....?? let me know if you have any questions..... I appreciate you helping me.... Do you still think it will work..??

 

[Samps]

Just came up with this idea......., if everybody still thinks that 3/8" isnt going to work...... then maybe I could laminate the entire aquarium with 1/8" acrylic to bump up the thickness to 1/2" i could overlap the joints to further strengthen the entire thing......, what is everybody's opinion on this....??
I've seen this done/talked about on this forum. Someone used acetone to bond to sheet sheets of 1/8" acrylic together to make a 1/4" thick sheet.
I may get some air bubles but if i take my time it probably wouldnt be to bad lookin....., plus it would provide a surface to hold in the melted acrylic that i would use to fill the 1/4" holes in both the sides.... what ya think?????

Why go through all the trouble? Calculate your worth in hours on this project + the money you'll spend "experimenting" to see if it will work and I'm sure you'll find that it may just be easier to BUY a tank rather than try to fool with this one forever and a day.

3/8ths is too thin and you WILL need a centerbrace to even attempt this project...Unless your downstairs neighbors like waterfalls...

 

[jdepasqu2]

Why go through all the trouble? Calculate your worth in hours on this project + the money you'll spend "experimenting" to see if it will work and I'm sure you'll find that it may just be easier to BUY a tank rather than try to fool with this one forever and a day.

3/8ths is too thin and you WILL need a centerbrace to even attempt this project...Unless your downstairs neighbors like waterfalls...

I dont think everybody is gettin what i am saying, but I think it is defeitly my fault....., there will be a center brace. On the top of the aquarium. the top of the aquarium will be 48" x 33". I will have four holes cut out of it with there being at least 4" on all side and 8" in the center....., which is what is reccommended. if thats what you mean as a "center brace" there will be one well..., like i said earlier... this container is like 6/7 hundered dollars of acrylic....., so i really want to see it put to use as an aquarium...., as far as money and time that doesnt really bother me i like a challenge...., and honestly i dont think it would be that hard to do.....???

 

[Samps]

I dont think everybody is gettin what i am saying, but I think it is defeitly my fault....., there will be a center brace. On the top of the aquarium. the top of the aquarium will be 48" x 33". I will have four holes cut out of it with there being at least 4" on all side and 8" in the center....., which is what is reccommended. if thats what you mean as a "center brace" there will be one well..., like i said earlier... this container is like 6/7 hundered dollars of acrylic....., so i really want to see it put to use as an aquarium...., as far as money and time that doesnt really bother me i like a challenge...., and honestly i dont think it would be that hard to do.....???

Cool man. Good luck with your adventure!

Let us know how it goes!!

Samps

 

[jdepasqu2]

Cool man. Good luck with your adventure!

Let us know how it goes!!

Samps

what is you opinion though......., do you understand what im getting at now..... and do you still think it is not worth it..... is 3/8" enough??
I need some people who are experienced in acrylic construction to lend me some advise..... thanks to anyone with some help.....

 

[portabuddy]

3/8 glass is enough... 3/8 acrylic is more flexable and more chancey, if i where in your shoes, i would chance it and fill the thing up outside ti the brim... fast and all atonce and band on the outside with my fists, then let it sit filled for a week to a month, comming back to "stress it every now and then" not to damage it but to find out if there are any weak spots.

technecly what your saying is right just not with acrylic you would want 1/2 for 18 tall... the brace your talking about wull help heep it from bowing for sure. but like i said, if i where you i would do it, by the looks of it you either got it for free or cheap and dont have anyother use for it other then this so go for it, but test it first...