Acrylic Fabrication Q & A

[Nick4978]

Not a good idea moving 100lbs of water around. One wrong twist and your back is toast for a few weeks. By the way I fabricate and install stone counters so I know a thing or two about protecting your back. I also think moving a weight that sloshes around is a bad idea.

Yeah, I was thinking about that after I posted it. Maybe I'll see if I can find some kind of dolly to sit it on for if and when I need to move it to another tank.

 

[Troylee]

Same rules. But you can do 1/4" all day long for most ATOs and sumps

Not in my neck of the woods lol.. everyone wants a 3 to 4ft tall ato haha! I’ve been using 1/2” and baffling the inside since most of them are white you don’t see inside anyways.. only cost effective solution I’ve came up with! Not to mention everyone wants 20 to 50 gallon top offs now..

 

[Troylee]

I'm going to be making an ATO which is 20" tall, 12" long and 12" wide (a bit over 100 lbs. completely filled).

I want to be able to put handles on it so that it can be moved around. What would I need in order to put a pair of handles on the sides so that it could be lifted full of water without the bottom falling out or something? Or would that even be possible or feasible? Thanks!

Would not recommend that at all! If you’re gonna be moving it around I’d recommend using 1/2” acrylic and building a dolly or using a furniture dolly under it to scoot it around. My personal one is a tad bigger than what you want and I have it on drawer slides so I can pull it out and fill it and it’s a little sketch when it’s full lol..

 

[Turbo's Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

In addition to the weight thing, never move an acrylic tank of any kind that is full of water. That's just a general no-no

 

[riche]

Should have posted the question here and not a separate post

I know you can bond 2 pieces of acrylic with stuff like weldon, My question is on a acrylic tank that has a crack in the bottom panel, Is it best to apply a piece of acrylic on both the inside and outside?

 

[Lowell Lemon]

Should have posted the question here and not a separate post

I know you can bond 2 pieces of acrylic with stuff like weldon, My question is on a acrylic tank that has a crack in the bottom panel, Is it best to apply a piece of acrylic on both the inside and outside?

Inside is usually all you need.

 

[jon93]

So question for yall. I’m wanting to build a rather large sump. I’m wanting to build a 80”L by 30”W and 24” H sump. Im looking to brace the top of it. Can I use 1/2” for the sides and bottom? The sump will have between 3-4 compartments.

 

[Troylee]

So question for yall. I’m wanting to build a rather large sump. I’m wanting to build a 80”L by 30”W and 24” H sump. Im looking to brace the top of it. Can I use 1/2” for the sides and bottom? The sump will have between 3-4 compartments.

That’s perfect… you are or aren’t bracing the top? If you decide to not brace it I’d bring the baffles all the way to the top to help support it all.

 

[jon93]

That’s perfect… you are or aren’t bracing the top? If you decide to not brace it I’d bring the baffles all the way to the top to help support it all.

I'm going to brace the top. I would have plenty of scraps left over to help brace it. Thank you for the reply!

 

[Barncat]

Okay I finally read through this entire beast of a thread! Thank you so much to all of the contributors to this; I'm still waffling over whether building an acrylic display tank is financially feasible for me (physically? Heck yes!) I have been taking extensive notes with direct links to specific posts in any case so that I don't need to wander this thread looking for answers again.

But I have some questions that I'm hoping to clarify:

First question: are the joint cuts supposed to look like this:

Or like this?:

Somehow your great photos haven't worked for convincing my silly brain how the joints are cut.

Second question!

What the heck does 'CNC' stand for in regards to routers?

Third question!

Is this a good source of acrylic in Canada?: https://plasticworld.ca/product/0000-clear-acrylic-cast/

I cannot for the life of me figure out what brand this acrylic is, mind.

Fourth question!

Since it's been some time do any of you have opinions on the brand Optix? I only ask because this brand is pretty common in stores here. Mind you, not in specialty plastic stores but in Home Depot and Rona (which I understand probably means that it is trash to be avoided.)

Fifth question!

Before I found this thread, I, like many other DIY hobbyists went searching for answers on the mystical and degenerate platform known as Youtube, infamous for its poor advice. There I found the channel LushAqua, where the channel owner used, instead of solvent... cyanoacrylite aka super glue to glue his acrylic aquarium together.

While I fully intend to use Weldon 3 or 4 instead (especially because my 1.5 years of reefing has rather definitively taught me to never trust cyanoacrylite,) I can't help being morbidly fascinated by this dude's use of it. Does cyanoacrylite actually weld acrylic? Does it bind acrylic better than it does other substances?! (Because as we have established I have developed a very poor opinion of cyanoacrylite's binding capabilities.)

In any case, thank you again so much for this literal treasure trove of knowledge, it's been really fun researching this topic!

 

[Barncat]

...and for your viewing pleasure, here's the video that I mentioned.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Okay I finally read through this entire beast of a thread! Thank you so much to all of the contributors to this; I'm still waffling over whether building an acrylic display tank is financially feasible for me (physically? Heck yes!) I have been taking extensive notes with direct links to specific posts in any case so that I don't need to wander this thread looking for answers again.

But I have some questions that I'm hoping to clarify:

First question: are the joint cuts supposed to look like this:

Or like this?:

Somehow your great photos haven't worked for convincing my silly brain how the joints are cut.

Second question!

What the heck does 'CNC' stand for in regards to routers?

Third question!

Is this a good source of acrylic in Canada?: https://plasticworld.ca/product/0000-clear-acrylic-cast/

I cannot for the life of me figure out what brand this acrylic is, mind.

Fourth question!

Since it's been some time do any of you have opinions on the brand Optix? I only ask because this brand is pretty common in stores here. Mind you, not in specialty plastic stores but in Home Depot and Rona (which I understand probably means that it is trash to be avoided.)

Fifth question!

Before I found this thread, I, like many other DIY hobbyists went searching for answers on the mystical and degenerate platform known as Youtube, infamous for its poor advice. There I found the channel LushAqua, where the channel owner used, instead of solvent... cyanoacrylite aka super glue to glue his acrylic aquarium together.

While I fully intend to use Weldon 3 or 4 instead (especially because my 1.5 years of reefing has rather definitively taught me to never trust cyanoacrylite,) I can't help being morbidly fascinated by this dude's use of it. Does cyanoacrylite actually weld acrylic? Does it bind acrylic better than it does other substances?! (Because as we have established I have developed a very poor opinion of cyanoacrylite's binding capabilities.)

In any case, thank you again so much for this literal treasure trove of knowledge, it's been really fun researching this topic!

1. b is way easier.
2. computer numerical control.
3. depends on the acrylic manufacturer, which i don’t see listed.
4. i have had good luck with optic but i haven’t build displays with it.
5. troll.

 

[Solo McReefer]

...and for your viewing pleasure, here's the video that I mentioned.

CA glue?

Not a chance

 

[Turbo's Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

1. b is way easier.
2. computer numerical control.
3. depends on the acrylic manufacturer, which i don’t see listed.
4. i have had good luck with optic but i haven’t build displays with it.
5. troll.

My addition:

1. B 100%

2. I never googled it, I learned something today.

3. rule of thumb: if there's no brand, don't use it.

4. I'll add that Optix is typically extruded, not cast. At least from what I have been able to source - so I don't use it for pressure vessels.

5. superglue? wow.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

My addition:

1. B 100%

2. I never googled it, I learned something today.

3. rule of thumb: if there's no brand, don't use it.

4. I'll add that Optix is typically extruded, not cast. At least from what I have been able to source - so I don't use it for pressure vessels.

5. superglue? wow.

optix is a line made by plaskolite and available in extruded and cast.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

optix is a line made by plaskolite and available in extruded and cast.

I think Plaskolite bought out Plexiglass casting facilities in Mexico...but I have been wrong before.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

B 100 percent

2 attached short movie of our CNC machine cutting Corian for custom shower pan.

Use only cell cast acrylic for aquariums always.

Never use cyanoacrylate adhesive for acrylic.

 

[Barncat]

Thank you so much everyone! I really appreciate the answers! (Don't worry I will absolutely never ever use cyanoacrylate with acrylic... or with anything if I can help it.)

I won't buy that unbranded acrylic then!

Optix being cast and made by Plaskolite which bought Plexiglas does that mean that it might actually potentially be... good?

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

about a year ago this is the information i got from my dealer.

unigel bought out arkema.

what was once arkema plex g is now unigel plastiglas.

what was once arkema pmacs is now unigel chemcast.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

i have also used optix, marga cipta and some others for water containers up to 20 gallons with no issues. some of them have been in constant operation for 15 years.

at this point i’d say there has been no conclusive data to show which is best and by what degree. we only have our own experiences to bounce off of.