Questions about acrylic tank

Guest

I will be purchasing a used 240g (8'x2'x2') acrylic tank today. I have never used acrylic so I would like to know more about it. Here are a few things on my 'need to learn' list lol!

1)How neurotic do I need to be with building a stand, Same as for a glass tank?
2)Can I use silicon if I need to add in a divider, or is there a better way?
3)How would you get algae off? I always used a razor blade on glass and I know that won't work with acrylic.
4)If I am going to add a fair amount of rock in it should I still use egg crate on the bottom to diffuse the weight?
5)can I lay my florescent lights directly on the top border/lip? Or will the heat harm the acrylic?
6) is acrylic easily drilled and how is that done?
H E L P !!

Subject: Re: Questions about acrylic tank 2/3/2010, 11:14 am

Fern wrote:: I will be purchasing a used 240g (8'x2'x2') acrylic tank today. I have never used acrylic so I would like to know more about it. Here are a few things on my 'need to learn' list
1)How neurotic do I need to be with building a stand, Same as for a glass tank?

Very Neurotic and good engineering skills lol! I constructed a 240g stand and it is doable.

2)Can I use silicon if I need to add in a divider, or is there a better way?

Silicon would not adhere to silicone. Just use a commercial tank divider with suction cup if there is a 24 x 24 size out there

3)How would you get algae off? I always used a razor blade on glass and I know that won't work with acrylic.

Use acrylic safe scrubs or your hands , beware acrylic scratch easy.

4)If I am going to add a fair amount of rock in it should I still use egg crate on the bottom to diffuse the weight?

Egg Crate recommended to distribute weight.

5)can I lay my florescent lights directly on the top border/lip? Or will the heat harm the acrylic?

I know it will warp the cover. I hate lighting anyway lol!

6) is acrylic easily drilled and how is that done?

They can come in drilled but you can also drill it, slowly as acrylic easily melt.

Guest

when your drilling it id be EXTRA careful and let the drill bit or hole saw do all the work. they make special drill bits for acrylic, i have never broke acrylic using these bits. thats a HUGE TANK lol whats going in there? your new frontosas?

Guest

The fronts and mooriis..... And possibly something else in a 2x2x2 section lol!

Thank yall's for the answers!

» used acrylic tank question
» My New 600 Gallon Acrylic Cylinder Tank
» Black Algae in new tank and other questions