how hard is it to build your own tank?
- Thread starter Kigs!
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I cant answer this but, what are you going to build with or what would youbuild with? Acrylic? or Glass?
surfn
I bleed orange and maroon
i can build my own stands and canopy, along with plumbing, siliconing etc.
but i dont have a table saw, which limits me on acrylic work. if i did have one i would so all over just building everything myself.
you just need to have a good sense with working with tools etc, and building "stuff"
but i dont have a table saw, which limits me on acrylic work. if i did have one i would so all over just building everything myself.
you just need to have a good sense with working with tools etc, and building "stuff"
I build my own stands and now canopy's too. I just need the tools for acrylic work. I will be building my own tank out of acrylic soon., but just needs the resources.
Just take your time when your building stuff and make a plan or it will all go wrong....
Just take your time when your building stuff and make a plan or it will all go wrong....
The Fragmaster
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You can make a plywood and acrylic tank of any size EASLY.
Tradittional acrylic and galss tanks are not easy.
I intend to make 2 plywood and acrylic race ways 8'l x 3'w x 2'h ( depth isnt set in stone may be shallower) in the near future.
Tradittional acrylic and galss tanks are not easy.
I intend to make 2 plywood and acrylic race ways 8'l x 3'w x 2'h ( depth isnt set in stone may be shallower) in the near future.
minibowmatt
2 zoos for me, 1 for you
its not too hard, but not too easy either. I wouldnt try it if it was your first major DIY.
Here is a recent thread:http://www.club-zoa.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3311
Here is a recent thread:http://www.club-zoa.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3311
coralfarm123
INDMAS Member
Making a glass tank is pretty easy and relatively inexpensive. Call around to the local glass shops to get an idea of cost if you have your cut list. After that, you really just need some silicone. You also can use the eurobracing style to avoid having plastic rims.
pookstreet
Well-Known Member
If you have the right tools and don't mind some trial and error, acrylic is pretty easy to work with. Or you can always have the plastics shop precut the pieces for you to your exact dimensions and glue them up yourself. Here is the one I built and will likely make some more just for fun.
I kinda like having the pieces cut from me at this time, the place I had mine cut did it on a CNC machine which the most it could be off true was .001. If you have them lazer cut it then you will have to sand the edges cause after lazer cutting it will not weld together....
Nice tank Pookstreet.....
Nice tank Pookstreet.....
pookstreet, i was actually surfing through ur thread on nr which gave me the idea. i have a pretty nice workshop here in school that i could play around with... i was thinking of glass though.
.. we also have a laser cut machine. you think i could draw up bunch of CAD drawings and laser cut acrylic or glass under it?
.. we also have a laser cut machine. you think i could draw up bunch of CAD drawings and laser cut acrylic or glass under it?
You could if your thing will allow you to put the whole sheet on the table.....Like I said you will have to sand or file a bit on the edges cause the laser changes the molecular make up of the acrylic and won't let it chemical weld together......Definitely something to look into if you can do it for cheap...
i should find out what the maximum thickness of glass or acrylic that laser machine could cut. as far as welding, i used this clear liquid solvent to put together few acrylic pieces for a project. i had to use it with a syringe...and the store told me that it basically melts the acrylic it is applied to, gluing them together. any idea what this solvent might be?
pookstreet
Well-Known Member
Weld-On #3 is the liquid solvent.
I use weld-on #4 as well, doesn't set up as fast as #3 but is the same thing, I use a needle applicator so you can put about 4-5 oz in it and keep going as opposed to a syringe which you would have to empty and fill many times and do it fast.....You will want to make sure you apply the weld-on to the whole side at the same time. I would drop the syringe and get a needle applicator...
pookstreet
Well-Known Member
Oh yeah, I forgot that I use #4 also. I like to use #3 in the winter b/c it cures faster.
When Weld-on is used, the 2 pieces of acrylic are essentially welded together (chemically bonded). That's why you don't really see a seam, unlike glass. It's safe and what everyone uses, including the big tank makers.
When Weld-on is used, the 2 pieces of acrylic are essentially welded together (chemically bonded). That's why you don't really see a seam, unlike glass. It's safe and what everyone uses, including the big tank makers.
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