DIY Acrylic ATO Container Help Needed

drstratton · Jan 12, 2016

steve&mari said:
We're using a 2.5 gallon water container fits stand but wanted to dose also later on so need compartments. This will take a add-on to side of stand while doing same add-on on the other end for controllers pc8's modules to clean them up. Hopefully it's nice when finished lol.

I'm sure it will look great! I only have room on one end to do any additions, but for right now I'm just going to get a nice container! I'm looking to the future and a bigger tank, which will be in a different location, so I'm not ready to add on to my current stand right now.

drstratton · Jan 12, 2016

icecool2 said:
I emailed our sponsor, Total Plastics, for a quote on the materials to make mine. I'll let you know how pricing is.

Great idea! Thanks!!!

fetta · Jan 13, 2016

Falling on this, wanted to make ato/ dosing container

fetta · Jan 13, 2016

Following dang spell check

Pepcrylic · Jan 13, 2016

You need to use Cell Cast Acrylic. You will also need to prep the edges smooth and flat. Your measurements will need to be spot on. 1/4'' material will work as long as you make it a 6 sided box.

drstratton · Jan 13, 2016

Thank you for the information, I really appreciate it! It will certainly be nice to replace the 5g bucket!

TheEngineer · Jan 15, 2016

Wellllll.... Total Plastics is not gonna work for me. $250 minimum order and it would be $100+shipping for the panels for my 2g ATO. I'd be OK paying a little extra to support a vendor, but I can get all of the parts from a local glass shop for probably under $50.

drstratton · Jan 15, 2016

Wow, I was not expecting that! It sounds more like they want to sell to a business than to consumers. That's too bad!

reefwiser · Jan 16, 2016

Check with your local acrylic dealer. Mine will cut all the pieces I need for making tanks. An it generally is not too expensive. Have made several frag tanks over the years. Again if you look around you will find a plastic container to use as a ATO container. When I go to stores especially the dollar store I always head to the plastic container aisle to see what they have I always find cool containers I can turn into all kinds of aquarium equipment.

TheEngineer · Jan 16, 2016

reefwiser said:
Check with your local acrylic dealer. Mine will cut all the pieces I need for making tanks. An it generally is not too expensive. Have made several frag tanks over the years. Again if you look around you will find a plastic container to use as a ATO container. When I go to stores especially the dollar store I always head to the plastic container aisle to see what they have I always find cool containers I can turn into all kinds of aquarium equipment.

That's a good idea too. There's a dealer about an hour from me. I want something pretty exact for aesthetics.

klesel · Jan 16, 2016

You can ask when you get to your plastic shop most have scrap you can buy at quater of price I did couple dosing contaners and used scrap had two different thickness did not care cost me $ 25 and ended up building two 1/2 gallon dosing containers and a 2 gallon protein skimmer colection container

drstratton · Jan 16, 2016

klesel said:
You can ask when you get to your plastic shop most have scrap you can buy at quater of price I did couple dosing contaners and used scrap had two different thickness did not care cost me $ 25 and ended up building two 1/2 gallon dosing containers and a 2 gallon protein skimmer colection container

Thank you! That's great advice!