custom new tank (does this look ok to build tell me what you think)

[wuelfman]

here is the what the local guy has priced for me
is this a good deal?
72x30x24
3/4 inch plastic all the way around (using weldon 16 or 3 is this strong enough?) how thick is a 180 tank?
black background
with around around a 4 inch lip+ brace around the top (will this be strong enough?)
two corner overflows
and what ever holes i want
total price $975

[ridetheducati]

My 150 gallon glass is 5/8 inch thick

Hope that helps.

[organicreefer]

i dont think that manufacturers of large acrylic tanks use "weld-on"to build tanks.has this guy ever done this or what ?it doesnt sound like you trust him, and i dont hink i do either.

[wuelfman]

wow two repys?
come on guys(and girls)
i could use your help here

[icemark]

Okay, I'll bite.

First off I agree with organicreefer, he should be using a two part adhesive, and if he has built anything larger than 40 gallons he should know this. The basic methylene chloride without anything else, is not acceptable. You might be able to get away with some weldon 3, but at 24" tall I would be very leary and 16 is tough to use on larger sheets (like 3/4") without bubbles forming. Maybe weldon 40 would work as well. Two part should be the way to go since you can control setup time based on tempature.

What sort of Acrylic is he using? There a quite a few grades. Many tanks are being made with Acrylite by Cyro Industries and/or Lucite L acrylic sheet, because of its optical clarity and and UV stablization (nothing worse than your MH lights turning the top half of your tank yellow, because he used cheap plastic). Or even worse he uses a cheap acrylic, and it is less clear than glass. I don't know if you can get Lucite L acrylic sheet in sizes bigger than 1/4" though.

A 4 inch lip brace around the top + at least one center support beam across the top should be fine, you may want two support beams, as it will be easier to light that length with 3 halides. The top support/ bracing should be cut all from one sheet, and not scraps put together.

3/4" think should also be okay, again as long as he didn't skimp on the acrylic (like using, Plexiglas[Rohm and Haas Company TM], or Perspex, which have lower cost as well as lower stress levels than just plain Acrylite)

[wuelfman]

icemark thanks for the reply
i didnt even of those things (yellow plastic )
thanks for the tips

[organicreefer]

wuelfman,
why buy a tank from this guy anyway?about six months ago one of my lfs's sold a 240?(20?) tru- vu for i think it was about a thousand(i might be off but im pretty sure).i think you posted awhile back about where to get a tank and i suggested you check out superpet warehouse in concord .did you? they have great prices on tanks(willing to haggle).im getting my120 aga twin flo from them and ill probly be in there this weekend ,i could ask them and let you know.