plexi backing for tank! awesome!

ebaybrad · 01/24/2014, 10:56 AM

I have had several backings for my tank. I have mostly used the off the shelf cut ones. Recently, I found a website that precuts plexi in many colors to perfection. I had ordered and cut it myself first without success. Acrylic either melts or cracks when cut. It is a fine line to do it correctly.

Anyway, I had 3 sheets cut to 1.8 tolerance to fit the back of my 210. I used 3 pcs so that the megaflows were completely visible. I cannot say enough about how it has changed the appearance. It cost me a total of 70 bucks with shipping and arrived in 5 days! Now i can remove it and it is permanant...no warping etc. Also, inevitably water gets between and not that issue is solved. It literally fits snuggly between the top and bottom braces on the tank with no tape or adhesive. I have a koralia wave pump on the back and the magnet just holds it perfectly. I used .125 thickness and it is flush with the bracing now.

here is the link, if anyone is interested. I have no affiliation with this company. just a very satisfied customer.

http://www.professionalplastics.com/...SHEET-EXTRUDED

moondoggy4 · 01/24/2014, 11:50 AM

Thanks for the tip I bookmark that site, I have a 40 breeder build on the way and this would be perfect.

solitude127 · 01/24/2014, 12:54 PM

I did the same thing for my tank. I bought the tank with a clear back and liked it for a while. Then, I wanted change and I added a black piece of acrylic to the back and now it looks like a new tank.

mussel and hate · 01/24/2014, 03:50 PM

I would like to see this. The site requires java unfortunately and employs XSS. Oh well.

Allmost · 01/24/2014, 03:57 PM

I have a piece of blue transparent acrylic behind my tank as background ... looks prety good, and adds to the dept of the tank ... will try to get some pics up.

bdevillier · 01/24/2014, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allmost

I have a piece of blue transparent acrylic behind my tank as background ... looks prety good, and adds to the dept of the tank ... will try to get some pics up.

please do. i'm getting together a new tank and havent decided on a background color.

reefermike1 · 01/24/2014, 10:04 PM

A tablesaw with a sharp blade will cut plexiglass perfectly.

ebaybrad · 01/27/2014, 09:19 AM

I tried a tablesaw with blade backward and normal. It is a fine line between melting the plastic, splintering it, and cutting it. It was the same price to buy it pre-cut. I would think getting a metal blade with finer teeth is helpful, but, in .125 thickness, it is quite brittle and delicate.

leveldrummer · 01/27/2014, 10:46 AM

Im curious why you dont just paint the back of the glass like most people? it isnt permanent by any means.

How do you clean this acrylic once it starts to build coraline algae? with you use a special scraper for that? because it will scratch much easier then the glass will.

ebaybrad · 01/27/2014, 10:56 AM

the acrylic goes on the outside of the tank. this allows for change if required. Also, it is nice to have access from behind (in my case) to see from the rear when I am working on the tank.

dread240 · 01/27/2014, 11:11 AM

I may just order some to build a new ATO reservoir.. I'm kind of tired of the 15 gallon barrel stuffed under there... would do perfectly fine with 7-10 gallons and squared to take up less room

ebaybrad · 01/27/2014, 02:16 PM

my ato uses a deep blue cube with a drilled bulkhead. works ncie and perfect footprint.

http://aqua-dreams.com/products/deep...-cube-aquarium

i think it comes in different sizes. I would never trust acrylic glued together by me...

RAJOD · 01/27/2014, 06:18 PM

I'm trying to understand what a piece of clear acrylic taped to the back of a glass tank does.

I can see putting a picture in the back but clear on clear? Am I missing something?

Would like to see a before and after pic of it.

01/24/2014, 10:56 AM	#1
ebaybrad Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: ny Posts: 35	plexi backing for tank! awesome! I have had several backings for my tank. I have mostly used the off the shelf cut ones. Recently, I found a website that precuts plexi in many colors to perfection. I had ordered and cut it myself first without success. Acrylic either melts or cracks when cut. It is a fine line to do it correctly. Anyway, I had 3 sheets cut to 1.8 tolerance to fit the back of my 210. I used 3 pcs so that the megaflows were completely visible. I cannot say enough about how it has changed the appearance. It cost me a total of 70 bucks with shipping and arrived in 5 days! Now i can remove it and it is permanant...no warping etc. Also, inevitably water gets between and not that issue is solved. It literally fits snuggly between the top and bottom braces on the tank with no tape or adhesive. I have a koralia wave pump on the back and the magnet just holds it perfectly. I used .125 thickness and it is flush with the bracing now. here is the link, if anyone is interested. I have no affiliation with this company. just a very satisfied customer. http://www.professionalplastics.com/...SHEET-EXTRUDED

01/24/2014, 12:54 PM	#3
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	I did the same thing for my tank. I bought the tank with a clear back and liked it for a while. Then, I wanted change and I added a black piece of acrylic to the back and now it looks like a new tank. __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

01/24/2014, 10:04 PM	#7
reefermike1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 523	A tablesaw with a sharp blade will cut plexiglass perfectly. __________________ 180 gallon build in progress http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2370453

01/27/2014, 11:11 AM	#11
dread240 Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Essex, MD Posts: 979	I may just order some to build a new ATO reservoir.. I'm kind of tired of the 15 gallon barrel stuffed under there... would do perfectly fine with 7-10 gallons and squared to take up less room __________________ BRB, Goldfish on fire How much deeper would the ocean really be if sponges didn't exist? Current Tank Info: 75 gallon mixed reef tank

01/27/2014, 06:18 PM	#13
RAJOD Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: USA Posts: 225	I'm trying to understand what a piece of clear acrylic taped to the back of a glass tank does. I can see putting a picture in the back but clear on clear? Am I missing something? Would like to see a before and after pic of it. __________________ Link to my tanks information: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/album.php?u=225374 Current Tank Info: 330 Gallon ATM

01/24/2014, 11:50 AM	#2
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Thanks for the tip I bookmark that site, I have a 40 breeder build on the way and this would be perfect.

01/24/2014, 03:50 PM	#4
mussel and hate Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: location location Posts: 701	I would like to see this. The site requires java unfortunately and employs XSS. Oh well.

01/24/2014, 03:57 PM	#5
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	I have a piece of blue transparent acrylic behind my tank as background ... looks prety good, and adds to the dept of the tank ... will try to get some pics up.

01/27/2014, 09:19 AM	#8
ebaybrad Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: ny Posts: 35	I tried a tablesaw with blade backward and normal. It is a fine line between melting the plastic, splintering it, and cutting it. It was the same price to buy it pre-cut. I would think getting a metal blade with finer teeth is helpful, but, in .125 thickness, it is quite brittle and delicate.

01/27/2014, 10:46 AM	#9
leveldrummer Reefer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,831	Im curious why you dont just paint the back of the glass like most people? it isnt permanent by any means. How do you clean this acrylic once it starts to build coraline algae? with you use a special scraper for that? because it will scratch much easier then the glass will.

01/27/2014, 10:56 AM	#10
ebaybrad Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: ny Posts: 35	the acrylic goes on the outside of the tank. this allows for change if required. Also, it is nice to have access from behind (in my case) to see from the rear when I am working on the tank.

01/27/2014, 02:16 PM	#12
ebaybrad Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: ny Posts: 35	my ato uses a deep blue cube with a drilled bulkhead. works ncie and perfect footprint. http://aqua-dreams.com/products/deep...-cube-aquarium i think it comes in different sizes. I would never trust acrylic glued together by me...