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stephan 
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Joined: October 20 2005
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 Topic: hexagonal tank
Posted: February 28 2006 at 1:12pm |
I'm trying to be real cheap and build a good tank at the same time. I have precut peices of 14"x23"x3/8" acrylite and thought it would make a cool 50 gallon hex. Normally people recommend 1/2" thick for aquariums over 19" tall. I was hoping that because the seams will be cut at 60 degrees the thickness at the seams will be enough to fudge a little and just use the 3/8" stuff I got for free. Plus since each side of the hexagon would be only 14" it shouldn't bow much.
The final corner I'm looking at cutting is using 1/4" thick acrylite for the bottom since it will be supported over the whole surface area by the stand it sits on.
If I can do it this way it will cost me essentially nothing and I like building things and don't have money so it's appealing. Any thoughts or warnings?
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Stephan Lovstedt
Camarillo, CA
65 Gallon Glass
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unixnum1
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Posted: February 28 2006 at 2:52pm |
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I had a 40g tank for years. 24" tall.
It was made of 3/32" glass.
Since it is hex it gains alot of strength from the side panes.
Just make sure you have good tight joints and the 3/8 acrylic should work ok.
One thing, I would make a jig so all pieces can be assembled at the same time and then test it out.
If it isn't done all at once, you will have pieces not fit right.
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220G with 30G sump, SPS/LPS. RoboTank Controller. =====================================
If life is a bowl of cherry's,
why am I always the stem?
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Mike Savage
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Posted: February 28 2006 at 4:16pm |
Maybe european type bracing on top would help?
I hope it works out for you.
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stephan
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Posted: February 28 2006 at 4:47pm |
What do you mean about the jig. I'm having a hard time picturing how to do it all at once. The only other time I built something I did each seam individually and glued each when it was horizontal.
Could I tape all of the sides together and stand it up on a flat surface and glue it like that?
Is European bracing when you have an inch or two rim around the top? What is European bracing?
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Stephan Lovstedt
Camarillo, CA
65 Gallon Glass
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Mike Savage
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Posted: February 28 2006 at 6:57pm |
 stephan wrote:
Is European bracing when you have an inch or two rim around the top? What is European bracing?
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Exactly right!
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unixnum1
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Posted: February 28 2006 at 7:13pm |
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When I do plastic with multiple sheets and lots of angles, I make a form.
Then I can put all of the pieces together so they fit tight, top and bottom.
You could make the form out of foam with paper or saranwrap to protect the foam from the glue
I then take the first piece, glue 1 edge and have someone hold it in the form.
Then take the second piece, glue both edges, and shove it tight against the next piece.
I keep doing it until all of the pieces are in and tight.
The reason you do it all at once is you want the plastic joint to still have a little give to it when you hit the last piece.
With lots of pieces, it is hard to hold them all, that is why you want a tight fitting form to hold it for you.
However, if you are really good, maybe you can do it. Unfortunately I am not that good at it.
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220G with 30G sump, SPS/LPS. RoboTank Controller. =====================================
If life is a bowl of cherry's,
why am I always the stem?
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