NEW Acrylic tank build

[Hookup]

It's huge!  Your videos are simply awesome...  So many "trade secrets" revealed making the aquarium hobby and DIY available to more and more people. 

Grats and thanks!

[uarujoey]

It's huge!  Your videos are simply awesome...  So many "trade secrets" revealed making the aquarium hobby and DIY available to more and more people. 

Grats and thanks!

Glad your enjoying my videos!

I could have went a lot bigger with this build given the amount of acrylic provided... But i don't need another "Big" tank at the moment, or the room really. I also wanted to have enough acrylic left over in order to build something "special".. which i already did..... you'll see that soon enough though... clue: another aquarium... yet, not conventional at all.

[Mike536]

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.

I guess the same goes for anything. I'm a welder and 90% of my job is prep. The welding is simple. If I do this I'm going to weld up a stand. Strong enough that a truck could drive over it. lol

[uarujoey]

Last video on Friday...

[Mike536]

Boo. I wanted to see it tonight. I ordered a couple sheets of 6 mm tonight. That should be ok for a 40 ish gallon tank right?

[uarujoey]

Boo. I wanted to see it tonight. I ordered a couple sheets of 6 mm tonight. That should be ok for a 40 ish gallon tank right?

Depends on height, and bracing...

Also, if its cell cast or not....

What are your plans for the tank in terms of dimensions? Also, did you order Cell Cast? Where did you order?

[uarujoey]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caJQsEJ5QBc

[Mike536]

Ya it's cell cast. I ordered from EM Plastic. Gee's you doing this videos is going to give them great business. I'll probably be ordering alot of stuff from them through work.

I don't know about the deminsions get. I don't want it too tall Because it's going to be custom i'm totally open to sugestions. I'm a welder so I'm going to be making a stand so standardization is not an issue.

[uarujoey]

Ya it's cell cast. I ordered from EM Plastic. Gee's you doing this videos is going to give them great business. I'll probably be ordering alot of stuff from them through work.

I don't know about the deminsions get. I don't want it too tall Because it's going to be custom i'm totally open to sugestions. I'm a welder so I'm going to be making a stand so standardization is not an issue.

Hmmm.... 6mm cell cast.. Generally, I wouldn't go over 12" tall....But you could go 14" tall as a max, if water level is actually at 12-13", and the top is properly braced.

If you ordered two sheets, you could build several tanks.

[dan2x38]

Joey hats off to you and thanks for sharing. I rarely watch an entire YouTube anything but watched all this series. Learned much from them pretty cool.

[uarujoey]

Joey hats off to you and thanks for sharing. I rarely watch an entire YouTube anything but watched all this series. Learned much from them pretty cool.

Thanks for watching Dan. Glad you enjoyed the videos.

[Mike536]

Hey Joey. Like a lot of other people said I watched your full series. Just awesome. Before I only use to watch you tube to see stupid people hurt themselves but now I'm all about watching this type of video. Can't wait to see more!! On a side note do you tube give you anything for your awesome videos?
Cheers,
Mike

[uarujoey]

Hey Joey. Like a lot of other people said I watched your full series. Just awesome. Before I only use to watch you tube to see stupid people hurt themselves but now I'm all about watching this type of video. Can't wait to see more!! On a side note do you tube give you anything for your awesome videos?
Cheers,
Mike

Thanks for watching. I very pleased that so many enjoyed it. I enjoyed making this style video, and will continue on with making many more just like it, to add to what i already have.

I am a YouTube Partner, so yes, i receive revenue for all of my videos.

[Mike536]

If you ordered two sheets, you could build several tanks.

That's what I'm hoping. I'm actually waiting to get a price quote back on the two sheets. Maybe I'll change it to 3/8" sheets. I'm guessing there's more options with that thickness. I know one of my buddies will want a sump built when he sees mine in process.

On a side note Joey what type of table saw blade should I get to make the cuts as good as possible. Ie to make it a little easier on the "scraping" process afterwards.

[uarujoey]

That's what I'm hoping. I'm actually waiting to get a price quote back on the two sheets. Maybe I'll change it to 3/8" sheets. I'm guessing there's more options with that thickness. I know one of my buddies will want a sump built when he sees mine in process.

On a side note Joey what type of table saw blade should I get to make the cuts as good as possible. Ie to make it a little easier on the "scraping" process afterwards.

A Blade with little or no set. Teeth of equal height. At least 5 teeth per inch. Carbide tipped. Set the RPM as high as you can. Only allow the blade to be slightly higher then the acrylic to reduce chipping.

[dan2x38]

A Blade with little or no set. Teeth of equal height. At least 5 teeth per inch. Carbide tipped. Set the RPM as high as you can. Only allow the blade to be slightly higher then the acrylic to reduce chipping.

For cutting would it be a good idea to use a strip of hardwood clamped on top where the blade will cut through? This technique is often used on expensive woods to prevent any splintering. Would this work with acrylic?

Mike - in town Cancus Plastics could make the cuts. Then if they chipped or cracked a sheet they'd have to replace it. Might be cheaper than buying an expensive carbide blade too?

[uarujoey]

For cutting would it be a good idea to use a strip of hardwood clamped on top where the blade will cut through? This technique is often used on expensive woods to prevent any splintering. Would this work with acrylic?

Mike - in town Cancus Plastics could make the cuts. Then if they chipped or cracked a sheet they'd have to replace it. Might be cheaper than buying an expensive carbide blade too?

If there are no vibrations, that helps with chipping. Not sure on putting a piece of hardwood clamped to it though. I know place a piece of styrofoam under it helps a lot if your using a hand saw though..

I agree, get who ever you get the acrylic from to cut it. If you go with EM, cuts are free if you mention my video..

I always get mine cut for me. I tend to avoid that risk. Although i do regularly cut on own acrylic, i tend to let them do the big jobs.

[Mike536]

Good news. My acrylic came in today. I ordered weld on 16 and 4. Thing is the guy at canus plastic said they don't stock weld on 4. I asked him what they use being a plastic fab shop. And he said they just use methal hydrate. ( I think that's the name. It's at work) he said he was the exact same thing as Weldon 4. Hope he's right. I think I'm going to try a trough/frag tank for my buddy first.

[uarujoey]

Good news. My acrylic came in today. I ordered weld on 16 and 4. Thing is the guy at canus plastic said they don't stock weld on 4. I asked him what they use being a plastic fab shop. And he said they just use methal hydrate. ( I think that's the name. It's at work) he said he was the exact same thing as Weldon 4. Hope he's right. I think I'm going to try a trough/frag tank for my buddy first.

methylene chloride is what he said they use....

methylene chloride is the main ingredient to weld-on 4. Weld-on 3 has a higher concentration of it, and is a much faster setting cement.

Be care with methylene chloride, as it will set fast. Check and then double check everything before you let it touch the acrylic.


SO, how much acrylic did you get?

[Mike536]

I got 2 sheets of 3/8" depending on how this fab turns out I might try to make a skimmer to. I'm a machinist and have access to a milling machine. I can't wait to get started. Hopefully next week I'll start cutting acrylic.