Acrylic thickness

[vishboy]

I was wonder how thick the acrylic would have to be on a 30 gallon Eurobraced aquarium. And where can I get quality acrylic for a reasonable price?

Thanks,
Vishboy

 

[vishboy]

bump

 

[bower23]

I was just looking at that myself, for a sump. The prices I got were $184.00 for 1/4 inch and $436.62 for 3/8, these prices are for a 4x8 sheet. I think you would be ok with 1/4 but if you went any bigger I would go with 3/8. Sumps are a little different because the divider sections also help with support.

 

[BrainBandAid]

Professional Plastics has 3/8" thick 4X8 sheet of cast plexi for $238.16. Don't know how much shipping is... Probably alot.
But they also cut to size. Might be cheaper.

 

[calvin415]

Try www.delviesplastics.com they will sell you exactly what you need and cut it and ship it at great prices.

 

[fade2black]

It really depends on the dimensions of the tank what thickness you require. Try McMaster-Carr for acrylic too, they usually have good prices.

 

[vishboy]

How thick would a 4 gallon fuge be? No bracing.

 

[kgross]

You could make a 4 gallon fuge out of 1/8 inch if you made it 2inchs tall, by10 inches front to back by 31 inchs long. Now if you wanted to make it 31 inches tall by 2 inchs front to back and 10 inches wide you would want to use 3/8 for the same 4 gallons.

Kim

 

[vishboy]

I want it to be 12 inches tall by 14 long by 6 inches wide.

 

[vishboy]

I think 1/4 inch would be the right thckness. Does anyone else agree?

 

[greenstarman]

Don't forget about gravel and live rock if its going to be used for an aquarium. Even with eurobracing 1/4" will still bow. With 2 inches of gravel and 30lbs of live rock I wouldn't use anything less than 3/8".

 

[vishboy]

I was talking about the fuge.

 

[greenstarman]

That being the case 1/4 inch would be plenty.

 

[vishboy]

Thanks.

 

[kgross]

With 1/4 and no bracing you will get a little bit of bowing but I would guess that it will be less than 1/8 inch.

But it should be plunty strong enough as long as you have good joints.

Kim

 

[dattack]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8093152#post8093152 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bower23
I was just looking at that myself, for a sump. The prices I got were $184.00 for 1/4 inch and $436.62 for 3/8, these prices are for a 4x8 sheet. I think you would be ok with 1/4 but if you went any bigger I would go with 3/8. Sumps are a little different because the divider sections also help with support.

Those are crazy prices for cast. Locally, they cost around $120 for 1/4 and $170 for 3/8.

 

[greenstarman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8142622#post8142622 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kgross
With 1/4 and no bracing you will get a little bit of bowing but I would guess that it will be less than 1/8 inch.

But it should be plunty strong enough as long as you have good joints.

Kim

Same thing I had mentioned.

 

[firefighter6681]

I know USplastics you can get a 48x96 sheet of 1/4 for $137.08.
This place also has calculators for building tanks. http://www.garf.org

I know from USplastics I have built a sump 36Lx12wide x 14H and it only cost me around 60. Hope this helps

 

[mflamb]

Check your phone book for a local plastic place. I bought 4x8 sheets of 3/8" for 148. per sheet.

 

[vishboy]

What type of Weld-on would you recommend? I want strong seams (doesn't have to be invincible) and it has to be forgiving when I use it.