NEW Acrylic tank build

[uarujoey]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da78xmuwTHo

[dan2x38]

Waiting with bated breath to see you cut out the top. That will be way stronger than strips. How much different in price do you think it would be?

[JetJumper]

Waiting with bated breath to see you cut out the top. That will be way stronger than strips. How much different in price do you think it would be?

From the costs he said in another video, I presume that the top ONLY of the tank is $140.

Brace's instead of full top would be

2x 27 x 4
2x 47 x 4
Around $50 in acrylic.  So $100 difference lets say.

Total acrylic cost for a tank this size I presume to be:

1x 48 x 36
2x 48 x 20
2x 36 x 20
1x 35 x 47

41.76sqft of acrylic x $12/sqft
$500 roughly for this tank.  ONLY counting Acrylic.

Just a rough guess.

[dan2x38]

Also have to include any tools you need and don't already have. I bet some of the tools you wouldn't use again or often so pretty much be a tank cost build cost. Cutting out that top will be a task no matter how you look at it.

[DonaldMcL]

Also have to include any tools you need and don't already have. I bet some of the tools you wouldn't use again or often so pretty much be a tank cost build cost. Cutting out that top will be a task no matter how you look at it.

A simple plunge router would make it pretty easy.

[Darth]

this is some interersting stuff I am following this, and can't wait for it to come together Love it!!

Thanks for the share

[uarujoey]

From the costs he said in another video, I presume that the top ONLY of the tank is $140.

Brace's instead of full top would be

2x 27 x 4
2x 47 x 4
Around $50 in acrylic.  So $100 difference lets say.

Total acrylic cost for a tank this size I presume to be:

1x 48 x 36
2x 48 x 20
2x 36 x 20
1x 35 x 47

41.76sqft of acrylic x $12/sqft
$500 roughly for this tank.  ONLY counting Acrylic.

Just a rough guess.

Thats a very good guess. In fact, spot on, if that were the Sq/ft i was using.

(there is 144 square inches to a square foot.... multiply all dimensions in inches, then divide by 144)
48x20x2 = 13.33 sq/ft
48x36 = 12 sq/ft
47x35 = 11.42 sq/ft
35x20x2 = 9.72 sq/ft

Total = 46.47 sq/ft

Acrylic providers usually round up though. So actually make it 47 sq/ft.

47 sq/ft of 12mm cell cast X $11(amount i actually pay)  = $517.....

I asked for quotes on this same tank from the biggest acrylic manufactures in both canada and the states. They would build the same tank for triple the cost it is to make it your self. That doesnt include shipping, taxes, ect....
Example: think of a tank you want, and ask for a quote... then calculate what it would cost to do it yourself.  


NOW, if i were to acrylic strips for a brace, instead of a full top(which i cover and show examples, and how to's of each in the series)

It would be the following:

Strips:
2x 27 x 4  = 1.5sq/ft
2x 47 x 4  = 2.6sq/ft

total= 3.1 sq/ft... cost = $34.10...

Full brace:
$125.66

Difference in strength... not much if both are done correctly. My ray tank has strips in fact...

Difference in looks... personal taste. I want a full top, cause i think they look good.

Big difference is the price. BUT, the piece you cut out of the full top for an access point/lid also serves as your lid. The peice cut out, becomes your lid(i'll end up showing you how)

With strips..... you have to also buy lids, or make them.... which is what i did on my ray tank, and in the end, basically cost me the same to do strips, and add tops, as it did for a full top...

If you want an open top, with no lids, do the strips. If you can get cheap glass, or have a way of keeping lids cheap... do strips. If not, do the full top.

Either way, doesnt make a huge difference.

Also have to include any tools you need and don't already have. I bet some of the tools you wouldn't use again or often so pretty much be a tank cost build cost. Cutting out that top will be a task no matter how you look at it.

Ahhh.. good idea. You also need the tools.

My method doesnt need ANY power tools ever.

Why? if you get the acrylic provider to cut the acrylic to the dimensions you need(free right now anyway) then you dont have to have tools to cut it. For a brace, if you use strips, they cut them too...  So no power tools needed for the tank at all.. when it comes to cutting.

What about edge prep? I'll show you how to do that too... chances are, you already have everything you need. If you dont, less than $5...

other then that, those are the two main areas that would need power tools.

I built my 284gallon with the only power tool being a drill.... so i could drill holes for the plumbing. but that was it.

I'll be using power tools in this video though... showing how to use them with, or without.. Mainly without. Except that top... im using a power tool on that. Plus i'll be doing a couple of other features to the tank that need a power tool.... but it can be done by hand as well.

In the end.... no tools required if you dont have them.

A simple plunge router would make it pretty easy.

Exactly... doesnt have to be a plunge router either. A normal router works... so does a few types of saws...

[uarujoey]

this is some interersting stuff I am following this, and can't wait for it to come together Love it!!

Thanks for the share

Thanks for watching!

[dan2x38]

A simple plunge router would make it pretty easy.

But if you don't then an additional cost. Guess you could rent any tools you needed. Another issue for me at least is the space and place to build anything... I' an apartment dweller. Even my small projects are a pain - the wife hates it and bitches for weeks after any project is done. That you can't put a cost on... LOL

[uarujoey]

But if you don't then an additional cost. Guess you could rent any tools you needed. Another issue for me at least is the space and place to build anything... I' an apartment dweller. Even my small projects are a pain - the wife hates it and bitches for weeks after any project is done. That you can't put a cost on... LOL

You don't need to have a router, or any other tools really. Theres more then one way to skin a cat. I'll show you what i mean in the series. To cut the large access holes out of the top brace, i used a router... BUT, i could have done it with a Jig Saw. To do that, id drill a big enough hole into one of the corners to be cut with a powerdrill... then slip the saw blade in and cut the hole out.
You can skip that step if you use strips of acrylic for the brace instead though... then you don't need any power tools at all.

I will be putting together almost the entire build in my living room, so space is also an issue here.

Building an acrylic tank only takes a couple hours at most. Get the acrylic cut for you... prepare the edges in less then an hour... and cement it together in 25mins or less.... You could have it done before she would ever know!

[uarujoey]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMyGtuekZb4

[uarujoey]

New video saturday...

[uarujoey]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rsUbzVwaUo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSIVa_TzN8w

[dan2x38]

Is the Weld On 4 just methylene chloride?

[uarujoey]

Is the Weld On 4 just methylene chloride?

That is its main ingredient yes. Pure methylene chloride can also be used but it would cure much faster. I suggest against it, unless you've used it many times before.

[dan2x38]

Yes I've used it but only for small applications and a small tank I built - very small just under 4 gal. LOL

[uarujoey]

Yes I've used it but only for small applications and a small tank I built - very small just under 4 gal. LOL

A build is still a build.... any experience is better then none. 

[uarujoey]

only one more video after this and the tank is complete.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRIhyV1gwaw

[Mike536]

Hey Joey I'm totally going to make a tank using this method. I was very nervous about using the "pin method". Looks like there is way to much error that way. Now your method seems so much easier. I think I'm going to start with a small tank first and go from there.

Have you ever had a problem with any of your tanks by using this method? I can't imagine if your making sure the glue is going all the way to the opposite edge.

[uarujoey]

Hey Joey I'm totally going to make a tank using this method. I was very nervous about using the "pin method". Looks like there is way to much error that way. Now your method seems so much easier. I think I'm going to start with a small tank first and go from there.

Have you ever had a problem with any of your tanks by using this method? I can't imagine if your making sure the glue is going all the way to the opposite edge.

The only real error you can get is when you prepare the edges. If you create a smooth edge, the rest is easy. Ask for some free scrap pieces, or maybe even buy some cheap scrap to practice on..

I remember when i cemented my first edge....... i thought... "That's it??"

Cementing is simple. But success with cementing lies in a properly prepared edge.

The method i used works very well with 12mm acrylic or less. With thicker, you may have to use the pins to make sure the cement gets all the way threw.