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- May 6, 2020
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I'm not debating the strength of a proper acrylic weld - but I have read about many large public acrylic aquariums failing without notice. I honestly haven't heard much about glass aquariums "blowing out." I think glass aquariums can have their silicone seals deteriorate over time and thus they spring a leak. Leaks I can manage. If a glass bottom blows out, there was likely something sloppy by the owner - like a faulty stand, undersized glass, a bad scratch caused by dropping rock etc... I can get the safety factor I want on the silicone seals but adding bracing along the bottom seams... and for good measure, the bottom perimeter can be externally braced as well without too much trouble. But agreed, an acrylic weld done properly is a big benefit.This is provably false. The number of threads about bottom seams blowing out on glass tanks far exceed those on acrylic, mostly because the strength of an Acrylic weld far exceeds, by more than an order of magnitude, the strength of silicone and glass. The only acrylic tanks that I've heard blow out a bottom seam were those made with WO40/42 which is an acrylic adhesive with superior strength if done correctly but with horrible strength if done poorly. WO4 will weld with a strength of 2500 psi, your tank will not see even 1/20th that at 36" (16PSI FWIW). Compare that to Dowsil 795, everyone's favorite structural silcone at 45 psi and I think you'll understand why the people who own acrylic continue to own it.
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