DonW
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Bending
New tank series
- Thread starter DonW
- Start date
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DonW
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Bent
Bent
Bent
DonW
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Getting there
DonW
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Closer
DonW
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Its a tank 6 hrs later
Fly n Reef
Sky Goddess
Don,
My last tank was a 100 flatback hex...I can now really appreciate the work that went into making it. Other than an extra corner to clean I really liked my tanks look. Good looking tank. Congrats!
Karen
My last tank was a 100 flatback hex...I can now really appreciate the work that went into making it. Other than an extra corner to clean I really liked my tanks look. Good looking tank. Congrats!
Karen
Montanarocknreefer
New Sheriff In Town
Thanks for sharing that construction of the tank. Lots of work I can see!
DonW
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More
DonW
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Almost plumbed
DonW
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Overflow and return 4 1" bulk heads 2 out 2, 3/4 line loc's in.
Hey Don
Well that tank looks really nice! I am a little concerned about the material you used. I believe that Optix is a extruded sheet material. I hope that it holds together for ya. Looks like my bet was right on ya tho, I knew that you could make some really nice stuff w/ that shop you have
Hopefully my tank will start coming along again here now that I am done w/ the long hours at work. Tomorrow I could work on the stand, but I just have to go fishing hehe.
Well that tank looks really nice! I am a little concerned about the material you used. I believe that Optix is a extruded sheet material. I hope that it holds together for ya. Looks like my bet was right on ya tho, I knew that you could make some really nice stuff w/ that shop you have
Hopefully my tank will start coming along again here now that I am done w/ the long hours at work. Tomorrow I could work on the stand, but I just have to go fishing hehe.
Stircrazy
Well-known member
nice job, what did you use to heat up the plastic for your bends?
Steve
Steve
DonW
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Tom,
Good to hear from you. Extruded is under rated according to the plastics council. Bursting point on PSI's cast vs extruded is only 17 lbs different, according to each makers spec sheets. The front bends give it super strength. The back corners are reinforced w/45's. The over flow is 15" reinforced and permantly adhered to the back and bottom. With just water full to the top there is 0.00 bow on any side. Top is perimiter braced 4+" all the way around.
Fishing season is just looking good. Most of the rivers open in June. Were thinking of a trip OR. Do you Flyfish??
Don
Good to hear from you. Extruded is under rated according to the plastics council. Bursting point on PSI's cast vs extruded is only 17 lbs different, according to each makers spec sheets. The front bends give it super strength. The back corners are reinforced w/45's. The over flow is 15" reinforced and permantly adhered to the back and bottom. With just water full to the top there is 0.00 bow on any side. Top is perimiter braced 4+" all the way around.
Fishing season is just looking good. Most of the rivers open in June. Were thinking of a trip OR. Do you Flyfish??
Don
DonW
R.I.P.
Stircrazy,
I use a strip heater to bend acrylic. There are two types, one touches the acrylic and the other doesnt. If you have a well equipt shop I would use the touchless. If not the other is made by craftics (at PSI plastics Tacoma) and works just fine. It does take a bit to master so expect to waste some acrylic. Jigs and forms were the trick for me. You do need a WELL equipt shop to get it all perfect.
Don
I use a strip heater to bend acrylic. There are two types, one touches the acrylic and the other doesnt. If you have a well equipt shop I would use the touchless. If not the other is made by craftics (at PSI plastics Tacoma) and works just fine. It does take a bit to master so expect to waste some acrylic. Jigs and forms were the trick for me. You do need a WELL equipt shop to get it all perfect.
Don
Hey Don.
Well the problem is not w/ the burst strength really. It has been proven plenty of times that extruded plastic does not hold up over time. This is why every single aquarium manufacture uses cell cast. When you add water to a tank it causes the plastic to swell w/ water by a very small amount. This happens more so w/ extruded and causes extra stress on the joints causing them to craze and eventually let go. It could take a week, it could take a year, but I have been told time and time again that it will definately happen. I hate to sound pessimistic here Don, but I just don't want to see it happen to you, w/ all that water and livestock laying on your floor. All that money, time and love.
Anyway on a lighter note I have never fly fished. I usually go to Sekiu for fishing. Today I am going to a big lake down south of chehalis to scout out some good camping spots.
Talk to ya later
Well the problem is not w/ the burst strength really. It has been proven plenty of times that extruded plastic does not hold up over time. This is why every single aquarium manufacture uses cell cast. When you add water to a tank it causes the plastic to swell w/ water by a very small amount. This happens more so w/ extruded and causes extra stress on the joints causing them to craze and eventually let go. It could take a week, it could take a year, but I have been told time and time again that it will definately happen. I hate to sound pessimistic here Don, but I just don't want to see it happen to you, w/ all that water and livestock laying on your floor. All that money, time and love.
Anyway on a lighter note I have never fly fished. I usually go to Sekiu for fishing. Today I am going to a big lake down south of chehalis to scout out some good camping spots.
Talk to ya later
Thefishcouple
Well-known member
Hey Don
I would like to say nice job on the tank constuction it looks great. Like Big T I would also be a little worried about the us of extruded acrylic for something that is under constant pressure. While the actual sheet is nearly as strong as cast it does not bond as well nor does it resist stress crazing. When we first started building filters we used extruded acrylic and had alot of problems with seems coming apart and crazing after a couple of months. We have never tried extruded for aquarium construction. We changed to cell cast and the problem went away. I hope this is not the case for you, just keep an eye on it and if you do have to replace the tank go cell cast it is worth the extra it cost.
I would like to say nice job on the tank constuction it looks great. Like Big T I would also be a little worried about the us of extruded acrylic for something that is under constant pressure. While the actual sheet is nearly as strong as cast it does not bond as well nor does it resist stress crazing. When we first started building filters we used extruded acrylic and had alot of problems with seems coming apart and crazing after a couple of months. We have never tried extruded for aquarium construction. We changed to cell cast and the problem went away. I hope this is not the case for you, just keep an eye on it and if you do have to replace the tank go cell cast it is worth the extra it cost.
DonW
R.I.P.
I thought I did enough homework. Was told by American plastics council the only difference would be polishing ability. The composition of extruded has change over the last three years and does not have the problems seen in past years. I was also told this by the manufacturer of Weld-on and two local suppliers and a handful of tank maufacturers.
But do to my own lack of experience all the joints below the waterline were made double wall. I just didnt trust myself and probably a bit of overkill.
I guess I could always build another one if I see any problems start or changes happen in the joints. I'll hang on to the forms and jigs.
Don
But do to my own lack of experience all the joints below the waterline were made double wall. I just didnt trust myself and probably a bit of overkill.
I guess I could always build another one if I see any problems start or changes happen in the joints. I'll hang on to the forms and jigs.
Don
Stircrazy
Well-known member
I have never seen proof on this all I have heard is people saying it to justify you spending money on cast. I have asked a few shops here and they say crazing and failure is from bad glue and prep and nothing to do with cell or extruded.big t said:
I think the real reason tank manufactures use cast is for optical clarity as in this area it is far superior.
as for failing in a year my reactor, skimmer and kalk reactor are all extruded and all over 2 years old.. no crazing or leaks yet.
Steve
DonW
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That is pretty much what I was told. KelTech plastics guy showed me a tank they did out of 1/4 extruded 5 years ago, no problems. I used a 220 grit spindle jointer on my joints so the compare to laser cut. I dont think I'll have a problem with this size tank. I think next time I'll use cell cast to ease my mind.
Don
Don
