Acrylic tank owners please chime in

[Reefpharmer]

Hey guys I'm pricing out a large acrylic tank at several fabricators.
I saw the work of one of them and the 3/4 inch walls actually measure out to 5/8 so 12.5% less. When asked about it, this well know manufacturer said that its standard practice and that everyone does it sort of like a 2x4 isn't really 2" x 4".

My question is whether this really is the case? Your supposed 3/4 or 1 inch walls actually measure 3/4 and 1 or are they 5/8 and 7/8 ?

Thanks

 

[rossco]

My 3/4 inch top measures .70 inches measured with a caliper. According to one site I checked, they state tolerances for their 3/4 inch is approx .670 to .750 inches. .67 is just shy of 11/16 so 5/8 would be pretty thin to be called 3/4 if the tolerances I found are the industry standard.

 

[Sabellafella]

Hey guys I'm pricing out a large acrylic tank at several fabricators.
I saw the work of one of them and the 3/4 inch walls actually measure out to 5/8 so 12.5% less. When asked about it, this well know manufacturer said that its standard practice and that everyone does it sort of like a 2x4 isn't really 2" x 4".

My question is whether this really is the case? Your supposed 3/4 or 1 inch walls actually measure 3/4 and 1 or are they 5/8 and 7/8 ?

Thanks

Not sure what type of acrylic work your talking about but i "think" the extra 1/8 of an inch accounts for the buffing/polishing/joint works.

 

[Reefpharmer]

I'm trying to have a tank built without a center brace so the thickness is important to maintain structural stability.

 

[Sabellafella]

I'm trying to have a tank built without a center brace so the thickness is important to maintain structural stability.

Man their absolutly stunning. I was speaking to a friend on this forum a few weeks back about the same subject nd instead of bending the whole acrylic for his tank(witch wouldve ben really expensive) he had to take 1/8 off from buffing seems n polishing

 

[Reefpharmer]

I don't understand what you mean here. Why would anyone take off 1/8 inch to buff it. That seems unreasonable

 

[Sabellafella]

I don't understand what you mean here. Why would anyone take off 1/8 inch to buff it. That seems unreasonable

Sounds crazy and it really sounds like alot. Im just estimating but you have to account for the inside and outside. Your going with a regular square tank with 0 bracing so there shouldnt be anything takin off. Im not sure about the sizes of the panes (but if their tryng to sell you a 5/8 thick panes for 3/4 inch thick is a big difference in money depending on the dimensions your going) theirs a couple sponsers on here you can give a hoot and theyll maybe explain it better