Plan's for 2009

[Jrmass]

What do you use to adhere them? Building a tank is one of the few things in this hobby I have never seen nor ever attempted myself. I've always wanted too though! Mind showing me sometime?

J

[carym]

I haven't done it yet so this will be the first attempt, I think I can use weld-on, have somebody checking on it for me. If this works I will gladly show/help anyone that want to try it...I had thought about doing this on the back wall of the fishroom above my head but haven't got around to it...

[Jrmass]

Weld-on is what they actually recommend.

Here is a site that I have looked at in the past when I was thinking about making them.

http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/..._Aquarium.html

http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/...r_Acrylic.html

Jason

[schneijt]

Cary,

For your tanks I'd recommend 1/4" acrylic. I have a large bottle of Weld-On #3 that I've used very little of building my sump, so you're welcome to borrow it if you want to. I'd recommend buying a tube or two of Weld-On #16 as well, since it's gel-like and is good for running around the seams after the #3 to make sure there are no leaks. I buy my weld-on online from a company called Tapp Plastics. Also, I have a couple small bottles with needle applicators that you could borrow as well, since they're pretty much required to use the Weld-On #3 in tight spaces without getting it all over the place and making the seams ugly.

After building two sumps and working with acrylic quite a bit lately, I've become a self-trained acrylic guru... If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

The most important thing I can say about working with acrylic is to make sure that your parts fit well without gaps. The #3 wicks into the joint via capillary action, and the better the fit of your parts, the better the bond. #16 works well for filling very small gaps, but you want your parts to fit as best as possible, so take the time to cut your acrylic pieces accurately and have good, smooth edges on them.

-Joe

[carym]

Well I have an expert cutting the pieces even though these are going to be scrap pieces of the Lexon so should be nice clean cuts. I hope the Lexon requires the same Weld-on that acyrlic does that way it should be easy to aquire, though if my source can't get it for me I will take you up on your offer ThanksCary

[schneijt]

Weld-on will work just fine for the Lexan, since it's pretty much the same as acrylic.

-Joe

[snickersalad]

Cary,
I have to say, you have a beautiful tank! Sounds like your going to have a busy couple of months coming up haha. Good luck with everything!

[carym]

Thanks Alex looks better in person , more like a busy year...want to take it nice and slow so I don't have a crash.

[carym]

Have made a little more progress here, have the lexon for the smaller frag tanks that I will be putting on the desk, some weldon to put them together. Need to figure out exactly how I will be plumbing it and get the holes drilled for the bulkheads next.

The metal shelf that will be used to hold the 40 gallon breeder Reef Ready frag tank is done, will try and get it installed by next weekend. Went this route so I can get more room above the tank for the light and access. Once I get the tank in I will be heading to menards for the PVC, for both the rails that will hold the eggcrate and also for the plumbing.

Here a couple of pics and a few pics of some of the frags in the temp frag tank, the teal palys are looking really good (thanks Aaron afish4u) and some pulsing xenia, I have about 10 frags of it started so anyone looking for pink pulsing xenia will have some at the next meeting

[schneijt]

Looking great, Cary!!

[carym]

Ok, A little more progress on the plans. I have the 4 smaller frags tanks made, each out of 1/8" lexon, drilled for overflows. Here are some pictures of the progress on the tanks. The next thing after they have cured for 48 hours is I am going to paint the bottom, ends and back light blue to help reflect the light. Once that is done I am going to let them sit for at least a week before attempting to fill them with water. Part of my problem now is where they are going the temporary frag tank is in the way, and I have a lot of plumbing to do before they will hold any frags.

Here are the pics.

Holes drilled for overflow:


Piecing them together:



1st one done:



2nd one completed.



All 4 completed - 2 still curing



Protective coating off a couple of them

[D.J.]

looking good cary.........cant wait to see all this setup and running.....might have to make the trip back down to see it once you get everything going......

[hansmatt]

Cary, are these out of the menards/HD type acrylic/lexon? Did you use weldon, or silicon? Table saw for cutting? Thinking of doing some too.

[carym]

My sister got me the lexon from where she works, sure you could use the acrylic from menards, I used weldon #3 and #16, I am going to go back over all of the corners and bottom edges with the 16. I used a scroll saw to cut mine just because my sister cut everything out but the shorter dividers, those I just had to cut down an inch. You can use a table saw, for drilling the holes, I picked up one piece hole saw.

[carym]

Well here is an update of the progress, got one of the tanks painted, still need to go back over the inside of the seams with the #16 weld-on to re-enforce it but wanted to see how the paint looked.