Looking for imput on my own custom built tank...

[Fiji Live Rock]

Hello everyone.

Those of you that know me from posting here know that I like to do things myself. Hence the Custom Aquatics section of my business.

However...I have come to a "wall" in deciding the material to use for my own tank.

The two materials are:

Acrylic Sheet (Also known by trade names such as Plexiglas, Acrylite, and Lucite.)

-or-

Polycarbonate Sheet (Also known by trade names such as Lexan, Tuffak, and Hyzod.)

While the Acrylic is lower cost, the Polycarbonate is much stronger.

The costs for my tank are listed below along with the dimensions in inches and the total gallons.


:arrow: Size: 48" x 24" x 36" ( L x W x H )

:arrow: Pannels: (4) 36" x 48" **Walls and bottom (Can substitute the bottom pannel with a 1/2" thick pannel.)** + (1) 24" x 24" **will be cut in 1/2 for top struts.**

:arrow: Overflow: 1/4" x 36" x 48" ( Thickness x H x W ) (Will be cut into (4) 14" x 36" x 12" Pannels for the overflow box which will be located in the middle of the tank. *The extra pannel will be saved for other uses.*)

:arrow: Size: 41,472 cu. in.

:arrow: Size: 180 Gallon

:arrow: Standard 180 Tank is 72" x 24" x 24" ( L x W x H )


I will have more height and less length which will enable me to stay with 48" lighting fixtures which should save me some money. Also the added height and same depth should create a much nicer viewing plane.


:arrow: Costs: All costs are (+/-) $25 and sheets are 3/8" thick (+/- 10%).

:arrow: Acrylic Costs Est.: $354.28 ( Cost with 1/2" bottom $372.52 )

:arrow: Polycarbonate Costs Est.: $546.32 ( Cost with 1/2" bottom $637.72 )


If I were to purchase an Acrylic, 180 Gal. tank from AquArt Marketing, Inc. it would cost me $695 for the tank, $75 for overflow (12" x 12"), Box and Pallet Charge $90, Totalling: $860

So...what do yall think? 8)

[MaxReef]

going from 24" to 36" on the hight (top to bottom) will change your lighting requirement. With water over 24" deep if you want to have corals you'll be obliged to go to MH and if you were already planning for MH you'll need more power to have the same light intensity.

Max

[Fiji Live Rock]

I install tanks as I stated and as my business says. :roll: :lol: :wink:

The lighting system will be (3) 400W MH Retrofit and (4) VHO's providing the Actinic light.

Total: 1,640 Watts = 9.0 Watts per Gallon

-or-

I could use only 2 VHO's for a total of= 1,020 Watts = 5.6 Watts per Gallon

-or-

I could use (2) 250W MH + (1) 400W MH + (4) 110 VHO's = 1,340 Watts Total = 7.4 Watts per Gallon

That should be more than efficent. 8) :wink:

[MaxReef]

Understood!

However you ask for opinions/suggestions... right?

Now, true that you save on 48" instead of 72", however same light intensity on the bottom of the tank you will need higher output from your lights.... which should wash out your saving! It's just a comment....

... but I guess you already know this :wink:

Max

[Fiji Live Rock]

Yes. The savings on the lighting system are minimal.

But I was asking about the tank and which material I should use. :P

Not the lighting or filtration. :roll:

8)

[Mackman]

It seems to me your talking about using 3/8 acrylic, if your tank will be 36 tall it will bow terribly if you use acrylic, i cant say about the other product as ive not used it, My tank is 3/8 but is only 22 inches tall and so far there is no bowing... (4 months old).
If you insist on using 3/8 you might want to try the other stuff, but i would see if its as easy to work with as acrylic.

Good luck!

Mack

PH 8.0.
Alk 3.5.
Calcium 420.
Salinity 1.025.
amonia 0.
nitrite 0.
nitrate 5.
120gal tank.
30gal sump seperate light sch then tank.
heater/skimmer.
60lbs base 60lbs live rock.
5lbs live sand.
54 watt actinic 54 watts 10k T5. (lighted 11 hours)
Mag 24 pumping into two returns.

Occupants;
1 ocellirus clown (sp)
2 green cromis
about 20 snails and 5 blue leg hermits.

[Fiji Live Rock]

New sizes and prices:


:arrow: Size: 48" x 24" x 24" ( L x W x H )

:arrow: Pannels: (3) 24" x 48" **Walls and bottom** + (2) 24" x 24" **Side Pannels** + (3) 12" x 24" **For overflows and braces for top.**

:arrow: Overflows: 3/8" x 24" x 6" x 6" ( Thickness x H x W x D ) (2 overflows)

:arrow: Size: 27,648 cu. in.

:arrow: Size: 125 Gallon


Prices:

:arrow: Acrylic: $260.30

:arrow: Lexan: $372.40


:arrow: 1 - 400W 10,000°K MH

:arrow: 2 - 250W 10,000°K MH

:arrow: 4 - 110W Super Actinic VHO's

:arrow: Total Watts: 1,340 ( Watts per Gallon = 10.72 )

[StormSwift 1]

My local saltwater fish guy builds those tanks alot and he uses acrylic all the time and has had no problems with it.have you considered 1/2 in to be on the safe side.Up to you i guess the old saying better to be safe than sorry if it happens to take a hit by accident sometime. :D .

[Fiji Live Rock]

Oops :oops:

Forgot to mention the new tank stats were based off of 1/2" Acrylic or Polycarbonate.

And I had the wrong lighting info...I fixed the Lighting stats in the last message. :wink:

[Phish]

I would go with the Lexand, it is stronger and longer lasting, I have a 40g acrylic tank and the bow is awful, and I dont think that Lexand will bow for quite a while (My acrylic tank is over 20 yrs old!!!)

So if I am not mistaken with 5 different opinions (me being 5) the tally is

Lexand Acrylic

I

[Fiji Live Rock]

Hint... "It is Laxan" :wink: :mrgreen:

[Fiji Live Rock]

I took a trip to my local Home Depot today to pick up some Acrylic for new tops for my tank to close the tank off so nothing jumps out or falls in and so nothing sprays or splashes up on the lighting system.

However....they started carrying Lexan. SO I bought a 8" x 10" sheet of 1/8" thick Lexan....OMG! is this shiat STRONG! :shock: :o :shock:

I knew it was strong...but this is rediculous!

The stats sheet says it is 250 x Stronger than glass!!! :shock: :shock:

I tell you....If I were to build someone a tank with like 1" thick Lexan sheets...if you ever got pissed at your tankmates not cooperating and fighting eachother....you could just slug the tank with a baseball bat!! :lol: :twisted: :lol: :mrgreen:

Soooo....who is going to place their first order for a custom made tank made of ½" thick Lexan??? 8) :D

[BPATROL]

i have worked with both building manufacturing tanks up to 10,000 gallons. The lexan is definately stronger and less resistant to bowing. One point to mention is that lexan may be somewhat uv sensitive and could yellow or haze in time. i have seen this but for my application it was not a concern. There may or may not be lexan that is designed to be uv resistant. in acrylic there are different grades some are resistant some arent.make sure you ask. Both are easy to bond and drill though lexan tends to be slightly stiffer.
hope this helps..phillip

[Fiji Live Rock]

BPATROL,

Thank you. That is what I wanted to hear.

I had to put my tank construction on hold as I put my money into starting my business.

However, soon I will finally return my attention to the tank(s).! :twisted: :wink:

[EnderG60]

for referance...i made a ~7gallon nano tank 18x12x12 out of 1/8" plexi from home depot and it works very well, bows about 1/2" in the middle of the front though...i should have used 1/4" but hey it works

i would say for the size 3/8" would be the min you should get for plexi/acrylic i would recommend 1/2"

now lexan is ALOT stronger then plexi( i used it on a set of custom headlights to withstand rock impacts and really high temps) so you could do 3/8 with no worries..but it would still bow the same..plus lexan tends to scratch easyer then plexi

If i were you i would do it in 1/2" acrylic, proly will cost the same as the lexan in 3/8" shouldnt scratch as easy, wont bow as much