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04-05-2007, 05:11 PM
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#1
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Go Cowboys!!!!!!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: new jersey
Posts: 543
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Making a 10g plexi-glass
I want a mantis tank and I cant find anywere that has a 10g around here so Could I make one out of plexiglass?? How would I do it, would it be hard?
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29g tall reef
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04-05-2007, 07:24 PM
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#2
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Dude? Dude? Focus dude...
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Middle town KY
Posts: 1,071
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i have made some small stuff out of it
and its not al that hard what you will need is
-100% silicone
-a pexiglass cutter or if you can get where you get it to cut it, or have a good table saw.
-plexiglass but you might what to check the thickness b.c i am not to sure right now.
thats all you really need to start you might want to place a border around the top and bottom which would help support it more.
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04-05-2007, 09:50 PM
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#3
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.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: bend, oregon
Posts: 11,032
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You need weld-on #4.....not silicone.....silicone wont bond acrylic together, and a good table saw. Id use 1/2" thick acrylic for a display tank that size.
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04-05-2007, 09:53 PM
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#4
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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do not use silly cone to glue any kind of polycarbonate together. it will work for a few months, but eventually the silly cone will just release from the polycarbonate. the tank will literally just fall apart.
Weld-On #4 and #16 are the most common adhesives for bonding polycarbonates together. they actually melt the pieces together to form one very strong piece. if done right the bonded areas are stronger than the panes themselves.
on a tank of that size 1/4" acrylic/lexan/plexiglass would be fine. you may have a bit of bowing, but a simple brace at the top will fix that if it bothers you.
i have made many a tank/ tank accessory using acrylic. great material to work with. just takes some practice.
G~
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Think Tanker
Friends Don't Let Friends Use Refugiums!
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04-05-2007, 11:53 PM
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#5
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Go Cowboys!!!!!!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: new jersey
Posts: 543
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Does it get scratched easily?? Will the mantis mess it up??
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29g tall reef
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04-06-2007, 05:08 PM
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#6
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Dude? Dude? Focus dude...
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Middle town KY
Posts: 1,071
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lol this would be why my tanks fall apart when i test them opps
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04-07-2007, 09:31 AM
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#7
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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acrylic does scratch easily. not sure a mantis would mess with it much. it really depends on which kind of mantis you get. some are smashers, and some are spearers. the smashers are the ones that can break a tank. not sure they would break your tank unless it is a big mantis.
G~
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Friends Don't Let Friends Use Refugiums!
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04-07-2007, 08:57 PM
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#9
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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i have not kept one on purpose, so i can not tell you exactly how often they need to be fed.
you might want to ask this question in another one of our forums. i know several people on TRT have mantis shrimp.
G~
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04-07-2007, 09:43 PM
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#10
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Go Cowboys!!!!!!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: new jersey
Posts: 543
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k
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29g tall reef
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04-10-2007, 09:14 AM
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#12
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Dude? Dude? Focus dude...
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Middle town KY
Posts: 1,071
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wouldn't it to be cheaper to buy a 10g for $10, or will the glass not be thick enough for a mantis
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04-10-2007, 09:53 AM
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#13
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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TJ- now where is the fun in that. 
G~
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04-10-2007, 10:02 AM
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#14
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Dude? Dude? Focus dude...
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Middle town KY
Posts: 1,071
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hehe well i always keep price in mind but myself has been busy on a little DIY with pexi (trying to get some place to raise some hatchlings)
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04-10-2007, 10:19 PM
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#15
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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with smaller projects it is almost always cheaper to use a store bought tank. several of my projects started out as money savers, but ended up costing a bit more than if i were to just buy it. 
G~
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Peace OUT 
