Acrylic Question

[akabryanhall]

Hey guys,
I'm going to give making my own tank a shot, a 24x24x24 cube. What thickness would you recommend and where do I buy in tank overflows?
Thanks,
Bryan

 

[Jeepguy242]

1/2" minimum, and why you want to go with in tank overflows, you are using acrylic!!! put the overflows on the back wall, and save the space for more CORALS!!!!!

a hole strategicly placed in the back wall will do just fine with a bulkhead, or 2 or 3, the possibilities with acrylic are endless!!!

 

[Paul_N]

Whatever you do, DO NOT take any acrylic advice from a guy named Troylee if he comes in here. He has no idea when it comes to this topic.....LOL!

Are you going rimless or braced?

 

[akabryanhall]

Absolutely rimless! Jeep guy, what you say makes sense, I could drill holes into the back and make my own overflow box and seal it to the back.
Btw, Troylee, don't bother responding to this, paul says you don't know about about acrylic, tanks but no tanks:xd:

 

[Troylee]

Well for a 24x24x24 rimless you need 1.25" thick acrylic...:( 16" is max with 1" thick.... :cry: hth.

 

[Troylee]

Go 20" tall with a 18" water line and use 1" thick acrylic it will be fine.....

 

[akabryanhall]

How much more expensive is 1.25"? I would prefer the higher tank, but if it's prohibitively expensive I'll do the 20"high.

 

[Jeepguy242]

How much more expensive is 1.25"? I would prefer the higher tank, but if it's prohibitively expensive I'll do the 20"high.

actually, its quite a bit, i havent done any tanks in acrylic, but troylee is right, i just looked it up, and 1.25 is needed for that tall... i thought thai 1/2 would work, musy be captian morgan math i was using LOL

 

[akabryanhall]

Here's the plan,
Bottom piece, 1/2" thick 25.25"x25.25"
4 sides 1" 20Hx24"w
back wall has teeth going into a bean animal overflow attached on the outside to the back wall.

 

[Troylee]

You want a 2" euro and use 1/2" all the way around it....;) this is one I built long ago..

 

[akabryanhall]

So sick, the euro brace isn't even that intrusive.

 

[cmcneil]

once you go rimless the acxrylic must be alot thicker.i built a 30x30x16 rimless and used 1" thick acrylic and the tank still had a minor bow.my old 24x24x16 was 3/4" thick and had a small bow as well.you just cant skimp on rimless acrylic tanks.
here is my old 30x30 rimless wih external overflow

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

Go all 5/8", a sheet of 1/4" costs $200, Im not sure about 5/8", but more than one thickness will double the cost. And go with a euro rim, rimless is way to risky, and a 24" height is perfect.