Acrylic Help

akabryanhall · Jan 24, 2013

Hey Guys,
I am designing and building a pico aquarium. Here are the dimensions

I want it to be chunky, so I think I will use 1/4" acrylic. Want a pico version of SPSPirate's Bullet Proof Cube

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/club-cube/53349-70gal-bullet-proof-bank-wall-acrylic.html

My question is, what type of acrylic to get? I went on to a local acrylic company's site and am not sure where to go next..
Material For Sale

I will have false wall in back, it will be black..do I need to get same thickness, but black?

reefed419 · Jan 24, 2013

Akabryanhall,
I know for a display tank u will want to use cellcast acrylic. It holds up the best under reef lighting. The false wall does not need to be the same thickness, but since u are only planning on 1/4", I would use the same thickness in your application. I am by no means a acrylic master, but I know that much. Hopefully someone with much more experience than me might be able to guide you more in depth. Good Luck with the build. Hope to see a build thread in the future.

mixer911 · Jan 24, 2013

Idealy I would use 3/8" chemicast gp for this, but thats just my opinion. You could use 1/4" acrylic, but its not actually 1/4", it going to be in a range from .19 - .23. All acrylic sheets vary in thickness from manufacturing. Just make sure you use cast acrylic. It will be clearer.

Atomicreef.com

tobyte1 · Jan 25, 2013

Definitely use cell-cast acrylic rather than extruded.Not only is it stronger, but it bonds better because there is no 'grain' direction from the extrusion process. I would use the 3/8" also. Stronger joints and it will give you that 'chunky' look. If you need any advice, hit me up. I've been doing acrylic fab for about 20 years. New to this forum, but I will help you any way I can. Here is a pic of a sump/fuge that I built for a friend's system. Built from 1/4" cell-cast.

akabryanhall · Jan 25, 2013

Thanks guys! Is there a difference between chemicast and cell cast? Tobyte welcome to the forum!! Hadnt thought about 3/8". Would that be overkill on a tank this size?

akabryanhall · Jan 25, 2013

Sick sump by the way!!

mixer911 · Jan 25, 2013

akabryanhall said:
Thanks guys! Is there a difference between chemicast and cell cast? Tobyte welcome to the forum!! Hadnt thought about 3/8". Would that be overkill on a tank this size?

Same thing. It should have said chemcast GP. Its just a brand name. 3/8 will not be overkill. Especially since you are doing it rimless. 1/4" will have some bowing to it. Not that 1/4" won't work, it would technically be fine.

Atomicreef.com