View Full Version : My New Acrylic Tank
Kevin Douglas
15-09-07, 12:12
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Acrylic Tank in ISO (2).jpg
Hi All
Picture attached of the new tank. Still planning but its around this style.
It will made from 25mm Acrylic. The short end with the wave box will
be agains't a wall so that the tank will be viewed from 3 sides.
The weir will be in the centre of the tank.
The top plate will machined from 1 piece to give the tank extra strength.
The 8 apertures are equally spaced for the lighting pendants.
I already have 8 Large Luminarc reflectors. I may drop down to 250 watt bulbs as the tank is not as deep as my previous one and to save a bit of electricity.
The wave box enclosure on the end has facilities for 4 wave boxes if needed. I can always block the holes I don't need.
12 return holes in the bottom for closed loop using 3 off 4way oceanmotions units.
3 larger holes at the back end for closed loop feed.
I already have somebody lined up to machine all the large panels.
All the smaller panels for the weir and wave box enclosure I can machine myself.
At the moment I am contemplating glueing it all together myself
with the help of a good friend.
I will be interested if anyone can recommend any other
Machinists in Acrylic so that I can compare prices.
Any comments or ideas welcome
Regards
Silverreef
15-09-07, 15:10
Hi Kevin,
This is going to be an awesome tank, I can hear the waves crashing already, especially with the oceans motions giving their varied flow pattern as well.
One thing which you have already probably thought of ?, is getting access to the weir box once you have fixed pipework/durso in there, or will it be a screw/push fit affair?.
Regards
Steve
Kevin Douglas
15-09-07, 15:32
One thing which you have already probably thought of ?, is getting access to the weir box once you have fixed pipework/durso in there, or will it be a screw/push fit affair?.
Steve
I had thought of that. I am going to put a false bottom in the weir so that it is only about 6 inches deep. That way the Durso's will be short and easier to get out if needed.
Regards
Kevin, I would make your apertures in the top a lot bigger with large rocks and so it maybe a bit hard getting through the gaps, I know what a couple of brace bars are like? Also with the 12 holes in the bottom how far in will they be in from the sides? A mate of mine done this and placed rocks with corals on in front of them and you wouldn’t know they were there!
Look at the photo, the 2 bits at the front of the tank cover the returns.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Jas3.jpg
Hope this helps
Glen
Looks to be an awesome project Kevin, certainly one to watch, good luck with it.
Kevin Douglas
15-09-07, 18:55
Kevin, I would make your apertures in the top a lot bigger with large rocks and so it maybe a bit hard getting through the gaps, I know what a couple of brace bars are like? Also with the 12 holes in the bottom how far in will they be in from the sides? A mate of mine done this and placed rocks with corals on in front of them and you wouldn’t know they were there!
Look at the photo, the 2 bits at the front of the tank cover the returns.
Thanks Glen,
The apertures are 500mm square so I think they are big enough. I do not want to stress the top of the tank any more than I have to.
I take your point about the 12 holes a I will probably move them.
Cheers
wow i cant wait to see the tank put together
EnglishReefer
15-09-07, 19:44
Looks like a nice size:thumbsup: , I must admit I would be wary of gluing an acrylic tank together of that size myself :eek: (more for the thickness of the material than the panel size)- theres a chap over on RC DIY forum whos an acrylic tank builder that seems to give very good advice should you need any - goes by the name of "Acrylics".
Would it be worth going up on thickness for the top bracing to allow you bigger access holes??, you prolly have some big/massive (?) chunks of LR to move about - could be awarkward through the 2' ish holes.
Having said that maybe you could just make the width of the current bracing a bit wider and perhaps loose some of the cross braces??
Still JMO
:surprise: live rock more than 2ft dia is surely live boulders:D
simon garratt
15-09-07, 21:10
Knowing Kevins exacting standards..
This will be a mind blowing build..
watch this space...everyone...
regards
Si.
Hi Kevin,
Just one concern, how are you going to keep it clean?
Frunkster has a large Acrylic tank, this takes him over an hour to clean every day using a special pad & filter wool. I'm pretty sure he regrets not going for glass now.
Good luck with the build.
:)
Kevin Douglas
15-09-07, 21:50
Hi Suk
I already have a 10 ft Acrylic tank and I clean it about once every 2 weeks.
It does not get algea on it like glass and its mostly coraline algea that I clean of with Kent Scraper which is for Acrylic. The other reason I am going Acrylic is that when the Acrlic is fully cleaned up it is tho you are looking straight into the water with no colour distortion at all. I think it will be worth the extra care. Why are so many of the tanks in the USA Acrylic, especially the big displays.
Regards
Well that's weird then because I've been to Frunksters & seen his set-up. He definitely has problems keeping his 'Acrylic' tank clear of algae & see's it as a daily labour intensive chore...
I've also seen your tank but didn't realise it was acrylic
Cheers
Kevin Douglas
16-09-07, 00:04
Hi Suk
You only saw my 12 footer which was all glass. That is now history.
I have a 10 footer in the garage where all my fish and some corals have been moved to. It is only tempory (well long term tempory).
The new tank I have been planning for a long time. But originally it was all glass. You never know tho my plans are not finalised.
Regards
Valley Boy
16-09-07, 13:33
Looking like a great project Kev!-----I also have a Acrylic tank, i clean the panels once a week, but coraline algae tends to stick if i leave it longer !
I'm sure this is going to be a stunning tank.
Best of luck with it.
more than happy to help if you need any with any of it mate.
Ah, the new design!
I'm sure its going to be amazing Kevin - I have the added advantage of being able to pop across the road to take a look too!
Actually Kevin, as the water board seem to be digging up our roads at the moment to replace the pipes, shall I just ask them to put one in from your new tank to mine? Would save me a fortune in electricity and water...!
Cheers
Rich
looks like its gonna great from the designs and drawings
Johnymajors
20-09-07, 00:32
Also have an acrylic tank, albeit to be decommissioned soon :D and only clean it (with an acrylic algae pad) once every 3 weeks and give it a quick 5 minute brush over with the acrylic mag-float every 3 days or so and have no problems with general algae. All in all, low maintenance
Coraline does stick quite well tho, and recently have left it unchecked due to working on the new tank and is now stuck hard.
Where did all you guy's buy your acrylic tanks from then??, as mine is like totally S**t up within 48hrs.
Got mine from Neptunes & you only have to sneeze in the wrong direction & it's scratches.
Kevin Douglas
31-01-08, 18:50
Just an update. In the end I did not go the acrylic route. I have an all glass tank in place now. It is similar in size to the acrylic one above except the top is all open. I had a few problems with my original acrylic tank in the garage which put me off and it was nothing to do with the cleaning. So opted for glass. I have not plumbed it in yet as I have been busy on other things. I will post a new thread when things get underway, which will be very soon.
Regards
Look forward to reading about the new build kev
Mike hudson
01-02-08, 09:25
Any pics of the build progress mr douglas?
mike.
Where did all you guy's buy your acrylic tanks from then??, as mine is like totally S**t up within 48hrs.
Got mine from Neptunes & you only have to sneeze in the wrong direction & it's scratches.
Bump:confused:
here you go mate http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/jimmyjayz/12122007.jpg
so you still went with the central weir?
excellent stuff sir, very interested in seeing how this one runs :)
matt harvey
03-11-09, 16:12
love the central weir, watching with interest, this is the way i wanted to go on my next tank
Norvern Rob
03-11-09, 17:32
love the central weir, watching with interest, this is the way i wanted to go on my next tank
You might be watching a while, the thread hasn't been updated for 20 months :laugh:
You might be watching a while, the thread hasn't been updated for 20 months :laugh:
.............and it's about time it was. Come on Kevin, get your finger out.
matt harvey
04-11-09, 02:22
You might be watching a while, the thread hasn't been updated for 20 months :laugh:
hahaha completely missed it...ill hang my head in shame :o
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