Puzzle for acrylic tank builders

[slevesque]

Hi, I saved a used 51"x59" piece of 1/4" acrylic from a clean up at my workplace. What size tank would you build with it? I prefer long and shallow tanks. I have some 2x2 pieces as well.

Another question: Is it possible to join 2 short pieces to make a long one using an acrylic strip for example?

 

[adnup]

59"L x 24"W x 12"H

Just a guess though

 

[adnup]

Just saw that its 1/4" that pretty thin I think. Center bracing would be key...If it would work at all being that long....

 

[slevesque]

These are the dim I was thinking about. I have long pieces as well to make a 2" eurobrace (not routed but glued). My second question was to make a 118x12x12 by joinning two 59x12x12. 118x16x10 would be nice too . is there a way to make the joint strong enough?

 

[latazyo]

118x12x12 would be the coolest tank ever built

 

[slevesque]

I know that 12" wide is not much for aquascaping, but the lenght would be amazing I admit . It's like having 5x 20L tank lined up! The center joint would be distracting for sure but having that material for free, such a tank would make me happy until I can pile up enough money for my dream tank.

 

[latazyo]

no kidding, my dream tank is a 33L 48x12x12, this would be the ultimate 33L

the RC tank volume thing puts your tank at 73.6 gallons...so I guess yours could be called a 74L

I bet you'd be the only one with one

 

[slevesque]

I really like the 33L as well. A bit too short for my taste though I already have a 4'.

A 74XL maybe

 

[slevesque]

I realised I have as well 3 pieces of 69"x16 1/2". They are not usable for front panel because some little pieces had been glued in the center but they can be used for an eurobrace with access holes routed in them . I'm open to wood braces as well if added strengt is needed.

Am I daydreaming here?

Another challenge: 118" being a bit long to move around, would it be possible to make the seam in a way that one tank would 'slip' into the other one and sealed in place but still be possible to be taken appart when moving out in a year or so? It would require some kind of seal instead of glue. Silicone doesn't seem to adhere well to acrylic. I know, I'm asking a lot .

 

[deep6er]

my tank is 76" X24''X12'' and its made out of 1/4" and its bows like crazy I have to have wood bracing all around it. you might want to consider that.( and it does have bracing in betwen too)

 

[slevesque]

Do you have an eurobrace on top of the tank as well as your wood trim? How do you hold the wood trim together? Any pics?

 

[deep6er]

no i have a 1" plexi strip 2 feet from eitherside. The whole tank is set up on a wood frame all held together with 3" wood screws. I still notice a bit of bowing even with the bracing. I will post pictures soon, I am not at home right now to download them.

 

[deep6er]

Here is a close up of the bracing

 

[hahnmeister]

are you sure that its cast plexi, not extruded?

 

[slevesque]

Not sure yet hahnmeister. Very hard to tell. I asked this question in a previous thread but we could not figure out. I still have the burn and crack test to do.