Acrylic Tanks

[reefnoob019]

How can I start making my own acrylic tanks? From buying the acrylic? Welding the acrylic together. (I think that is the right term to use) and just how the process works!!

 

[dakota9]

Really, it's cheaper to buy them than to make them, whole lot cheaper. It would be a very expensive hobby!

Others have tried!

 

[morganatlanta]

Check out tapplastics.com for acrylic sheet prices and instructional videos on how to cut and weld acrylic.

 

[enderg60]

no he means used acrylic tanks are MUUUCH cheaper then buying new or even making your own.

Either way, acrylic is the devil!

 

[snowmansnow]

he means that by the time you BUY the sheets, all the equipment, and put in all the time.. its worth BUYING the tank. Then again.. if you just want a cheap tank tank that MIGHT hold water you CAN make it ..lots do.

I considered this before buying an acrylic tank a few years ago. the 120 with external overflow and painted back only cost around 800 for a local sponsor. The build was FAR better than I could have accomplished, and I have NO reason to think it will leak, break, or fail in any way. Without looking I'm SURE that just the acrylic material would have cost somewhere around 5 or 600 (IF i had done it perfectly the first time). For the added quality, finish, and peace of mind... 200 more wasn't that much.

Just my opinion....

THAT being said.. it can be done and a lot of people enjoy doing it. I AM NOT an expert in this area, but I'm sure you can find some articles. If you decide to go that rout I'm sure it would be a lot of fun. Good luck.

B

Edit:

EnderG60;690394 wrote: no he means used acrylic tanks are MUUUCH cheaper then buying new or even making your own.

Either way, acrylic is the devil!

haha... acrylic takes a LOT of care. And even with it.. you're GOING to get scratches. I REALLLLY like my tank, but given the chance and the cash I will go glass next time. At the time the acrylic tank was nearly HALF the price of glass, and THAT made the decision for me at the time.

B

 

[grouper therapy]

ReefNoob019;690302 wrote: How can I start making my own acrylic tanks? From buying the acrylic? Welding the acrylic together. (I think that is the right term to use) and just how the process works!!

What skills do you have ?

 

[myvwrock]

Most people, that have an acrylic tank will never have another. The reason being that the scratch soo easily.
Chris c

 

[reefnoob019]

Haha I have no skills! Im simply a college student looking for a way to dive into my hobby and maybe benefit me in the future, my mind set is hey buy a few scraps of acrylic try to put together some small acrylic tanks and maybe someday ill be able to sell the tanks I make or build myself my own custom made aquarium! Just looking to learn and excell in a hobby I love and maybe eventually make some money off of it! I understand how you can get scratches from it very easily. Just something to try and look into to! Thanks for all the comments and if you could help me find out a way to make money through the hobby, (maintenance, crafting, breeding) I would love to hear what you have to say

 

[dakota9]

ReefNoob019;690515 wrote: Haha I have no skills! Im simply a college student looking for a way to dive into my hobby and maybe benefit me in the future, my mind set is hey buy a few scraps of acrylic try to put together some small acrylic tanks and maybe someday ill be able to sell the tanks I make or build myself my own custom made aquarium! Just looking to learn and excell in a hobby I love and maybe eventually make some money off of it! I understand how you can get scratches from it very easily. Just something to try and look into to! Thanks for all the comments and if you could help me find out a way to make money through the hobby, (maintenance, crafting, breeding) I would love to hear what you have to say

Start a reasonably priced tank cleaning service. I'm poor and I'd pay for that!

OR You could even be like one of those organizing experts on the tv show hoarders, but with fish, you come in when things get out of control and people have fish stuff EVERYWHERE. Seriously, this hobby could use someone like that. (you know who you are, if you think that comment was directed to you, it probably was.) A psych degree would help out here......


Sorry for my first comment, it came off more neg than I'd intended, but reading this one, it isn't faring much better.

Good luck in all your endeavors!

 

[mr difficult]

I would talk with Grouper Therapy about this process. I have a couple pieces that he has built ,and they work very well for my use. I am sure he has a lot of time working with the material.

 

[grouper therapy]

ReefNoob019;690515 wrote: Haha I have no skills! Im simply a college student looking for a way to dive into my hobby and maybe benefit me in the future, my mind set is hey buy a few scraps of acrylic try to put together some small acrylic tanks and maybe someday ill be able to sell the tanks I make or build myself my own custom made aquarium! Just looking to learn and excell in a hobby I love and maybe eventually makeo some money off of it! I understand how you can get scratches from it very easily. Just something to try and look into to! Thanks for all the comments and if you could help me find out a way to make money through the hobby, (maintenance, crafting, breeding) I would love to hear what you have to say

No worries. Skills are obtained not a birth rite. You have my respect for wanting to learn. The reason I ask about the skills is to fabricate acrylic even on a hobby level requires quite a bit of tooling. Some will say all you need is a dremel and some weld-on, their quality usually speaks for itself. Table saws.routers ,drills and an almost perfectly flat surface are needed to fabricate any tank of size. If you have not been trained on the use and or safety of all these tools I would strongly suggest you complete that first. I 'm a huge advocate of DIY and I'm not a naysayer but I believe in safety foremost. To actually make money at acrylic fabrication requires a substantial investment. Thousands! I would research some vocational schools who offer training.

 

[reefnoob019]

I think that the reasonably priced maintenance service would be awesome!! Ill prob start it up this summer when I come home from school in NC but what would be reasonably priced? Why would a psych major help in the fish hobby? or are you just talking about in general. Im an exercise major right now in hopes to get my degree in physical therapy!

Grouper Therapy, do you think he would be open to help me out with the process?

Where would these vocational schools be offered? Would you wanna brief me on the safety of these materials?? I would love to do all kinds of DIY

 

[straydog]

 

[hnguyen]

I built my own, cost me less then $200 for a 4'x8' piece of acrylic. That being that I had all the equipment so I didn't have to spend extra on buying them. Took me about 2 days to cut and put together the tank.
heres my tank thread.
http://atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=55713">http://atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=55713</a>
Here's my build thread.
[IMG]http://atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=51960">http://atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=51960</a>

It's not top notch like you would find at the LFS but I had a Heck of a fun time building it. Had it for 6 months without putting a single scratch on it. After which I sold and upgraded to a bigger tank.

 

[reefnoob019]

Hnguyen I have seen your work and it looks pretty top notch to me!! Could you help me with my build? Teach me your ways and such!

Thanks Straydog it helps alot!!