Acrylic tank… questions before I buy

Magic031707

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What size tank and how old is it? A few years ago I almost ordered one with them, I saw a few say their sump was coming apart from them but otherwise seems good. I’ve basically narrowed to them and glass cages, which I’m leaning real hard on just seeing the activity in the group from years, and prompt communication. Always like to hear as much from the relevant audience if possible.
I've got 1 inch for the bottom, back and side. 3/4 for the 2 sides
 
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rexzilla_03

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Tank is officially home, 2 hour round trip to grab it.
Looks really good, some air bubbles in the seams but I imagine this fairly normal with acrylic. I’m excited
Photos are gonna be terrible as I ran out of time today after unwrapping
Couple seems look like this, imagine it’s not an issue? Hard to get good pic with this lighting.
 

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Troylee

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Tank is officially home, 2 hour round trip to grab it.
Looks really good, some air bubbles in the seams but I imagine this fairly normal with acrylic. I’m excited
Photos are gonna be terrible as I ran out of time today after unwrapping
Couple seems look like this, imagine it’s not an issue? Hard to get good pic with this lighting.
It’s not really normal but doesn’t look to be a issue.. bubbles do happen to the best of us no matter what anyone says.. nice looking tank
 

nereefpat

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Sweet. What did you end up with, as far as dimensions and thickness of acrylic? Lots of posts in this thread, and I may have missed it.
 
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rexzilla_03

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Thank you, ya it doesn’t look to be concerning and I can imagine the process isn’t fool proof, appreciate the kind words!
 

Macdaddynick1

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Hey everyone long time lurker, semi checked out of the hobby while my tank was on limp mode, found a bunch of bubbles forming in my seams randomly. Long story short, going to acrylic and have a few questions related to construction and narrowing a brand. My dimensions are super basic. 48x24x17 or even 16, going more on the shallow end.

Question 1: What thickness acrylic is sufficient for this? I don’t want it to bow, it seems 1/2” is what majority is using with bracing. Would it be worth bumping to 3/4” for overkill or a waste of money?

Question 2: I’m really leaning towards glass cages for it, they got back to me really fast, answered my questions and from the involvement and pride I see here, I feel confident this will be great, anyone have an acrylic tank from them?

Any opinions welcome
probably too late. But 3/4” is good but you’re limited to the pumps you can put on it. That being said, I just got 3/4” 48 by 24 by 12 and I love it.
71243286593__411931E9-F128-4305-8038-75891EC955B0.jpeg
 

littlefoxx

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Hey everyone long time lurker, semi checked out of the hobby while my tank was on limp mode, found a bunch of bubbles forming in my seams randomly. Long story short, going to acrylic and have a few questions related to construction and narrowing a brand. My dimensions are super basic. 48x24x17 or even 16, going more on the shallow end.

Question 1: What thickness acrylic is sufficient for this? I don’t want it to bow, it seems 1/2” is what majority is using with bracing. Would it be worth bumping to 3/4” for overkill or a waste of money?

Question 2: I’m really leaning towards glass cages for it, they got back to me really fast, answered my questions and from the involvement and pride I see here, I feel confident this will be great, anyone have an acrylic tank from them?

Any opinions welcome
If you plan on any triggerfish do not do it… my acrylic biocube is used as my QT tank right now and my trigger RUINED IT. And any sort of algae scraping scratches it. Never again will I mess with acrylic after that
 

jmichaelh7

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If you plan on any triggerfish do not do it… my acrylic biocube is used as my QT tank right now and my trigger RUINED IT. And any sort of algae scraping scratches it. Never again will I mess with acrylic after that
You just needed to be careful . Maybe glass of more suitable for you
 

Lowell Lemon

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It looks like Glass Cages may have used Weldon 42 for the seams. I just built one that bubbled on me with Weldon 42. I know the seams are very strong with 42 but it takes longer to reach that strong bond than solvent welds. No worries about strength of bond on your tank. Enjoy the clarity, strength, light weight, and improved thermal efficiency of acrylic! Those rounded corners actually magnify the seam so it might make the micro bubbles look bigger.

Love acrylic myself but then I am biased.:)
 
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rexzilla_03

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It looks like Glass Cages may have used Weldon 42 for the seams. I just built one that bubbled on me with Weldon 42. I know the seams are very strong with 42 but it takes longer to reach that strong bond than solvent welds. No worries about strength of bond on your tank. Enjoy the clarity, strength, light weight, and improved thermal efficiency of acrylic! Those rounded corners actually magnify the seam so it might make the micro bubbles look bigger.

Love acrylic myself but then I am biased.:)
Thank you for the great response I appreciate it!
I’m so excited to set this up! Acrylic was the only move for me. Appreciate you
 

piranhaman00

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I had an acrylic built by Midwest and there are bubbles like yours in all the seams. Not an issue. Can’t see them unless you look for them
 

Jubei2006

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I asked my lfs about me making a tank, he said he felt I was insane for considering it as once you scratch it, if coralline algae gets into the scratch it begins to eat away at the tank and you’ll never get it out. Is this true?
Only if you neglect the tank and dont clean the acrylic. Yes, algae will tract with any scratches you have, but if you are cleaning fairly frequently it comes right out
 
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