cut top off a tank?

[Kaiser24]

hey guys I bought a 8 foot 300gallon acrylic tank on craigslist and it has a few cracks in it. I am wondering if anyone has heard of cutting the top off the tank making it a rimless tank and than it would not have any cracks. Is this ridiculous or genius? I am thinking about leaving it around 8 inches tall and using it for corals if this is possible

 

[CuzzA]

I would ask the question here www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1056956&page=173

At an 8" depth I'm sure it would be fine structurally, (although the cutting may weaken the seam) but any power heads would likely create a vortex and constantly suck air. I would post the acrylic thickness too. I'm assuming it's pretty thick for a tank this size.

 

[smedlin]

I instantly had a vision of you taking this big thing to a old lumber mill, and pushing it thru the blade like they do trees....

 

[Kaiser24]

I would ask the question here www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1056956&page=173

At an 8" depth I'm sure it would be fine structurally, (although the cutting may weaken the seam) but any power heads would likely create a vortex and constantly suck air. I would post the acrylic thickness too. I'm assuming it's pretty thick for a tank this size.

thanks, I posted it there too now.

I could maybe add a brace or two on top, and it's 1/2" thick.

 

[Kaiser24]

I instantly had a vision of you taking this big thing to a old lumber mill, and pushing it thru the blade like they do trees....

lol I was thinking something similar. my table saw probably isn't big enough.

 

[slief]

Edit... I misread the first post or at least didn't read it well. If your going to cut it down to 8" or 10" height, I think you'd be fine.

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

lol I was thinking something similar. my table saw probably isn't big enough.

i am sure you table saw is big enough"¦.the question is do you have enough height above it to stand the tank on?

a couple guys and maybe some dowels to help move it along the table, should be golden.

 

[azrednex]

I would use a router and build a plywood guide on the tank itself. I have actually done something like this myself, although I cut the tank the opposite way you are thinking of. I took an old 180 gallon and routed off the last 2' of so. I built a " fish room" in my garage to room ended up being 46" wide so I could use a standard 48" tank. I addition to cutting off the end I solvent glued a new piece of acrylic to the side and cut off the entire "eurobraced" piece on the top and solvent glued a new "eurobrace" frame on top.

I did all of this with a router and the right tooling (bits) A table saw usually has a blade mounted that has too few teeth if you cut acrylic with a circular saw of any type you need something with 99 or 100 teeth on a 10" or 12" blade.

 

[mcgyvr]

I would use a router and build a plywood guide on the tank itself. I have actually done something like this myself, although I cut the tank the opposite way you are thinking of. I took an old 180 gallon and routed off the last 2' of so. I built a " fish room" in my garage to room ended up being 46" wide so I could use a standard 48" tank. I addition to cutting off the end I solvent glued a new piece of acrylic to the side and cut off the entire "eurobraced" piece on the top and solvent glued a new "eurobrace" frame on top.

I did all of this with a router and the right tooling (bits) A table saw usually has a blade mounted that has too few teeth if you cut acrylic with a circular saw of any type you need something with 99 or 100 teeth on a 10" or 12" blade.

yep cir saw and clamped straight edge..
Finish with router

 

[Mark426]

A router a guide is the way to go.

 

[CuzzA]

Given what Floyd said in the acrylic thread, I would definitely take his advice and brace it. I'm surprised it was build out of 1/2" acrylic. But at least it is acrylic, so you can do a cool look down tank.