Acrylic Sheets Northern NJ????

[d5332]

Hi, I want to make my own, presentable ATO reservoir. I need a place that will sell me acrylic cut to my measurements. Someone told me to try Hackensack NJ, near Shoprite but I could not find the place yesterday, they did not have a name.

Does anyone know where in Northern NJ I can find custom cut rigid acrylic for sale?

Pretty please, anyone?

 

[strgazr27]

Lowes carries decent stuff. If you have a table saw cut it yourself. If not most glass shops will cut it for you for a small fee. Not cheap though. a 2'x4' piece of 1/4" is $52 at Lowes.

 

[d5332]

I was told that HD and Lowes acrylic is not suitable for structure building, something about the chemical composition is not made to be ridig enough to make a tank, sump or reservoir. (not sure how true the statement is)

The guy I met yesterday claimed to have buit his sump for under $50 and the his sheets were custom cut to his measurements but he did that over 5 years ago from a place in Hackensack NJ which is were I drove to but could not find it.

Lowes carries decent stuff. If you have a table saw cut it yourself. If not most glass shops will cut it for you for a small fee. Not cheap though. a 2'x4' piece of 1/4" is $52 at Lowes.

 

[Kendall]

Don't believe everything people tell you!!

 

[strgazr27]

A 4'x8' sheet is right around $300 right now for 1/4" I believe, maybe a little less. $50 would fly five years ago but not today.

As far as the HD/Lowes stuff not being suitable, I wouldn't build a 100 Gallon tank with it but it is perfectly suitable for an ATO tank. Prep the edges, glue it correctly and you'll be fine.

 

[d5332]

Woah!!!!! $300 bucks. With that I can buy a poly round tank and make it living room presentable.

Thank you for the information. I will try to build it with HD acrylic.

 

[bizzarro]

I haven't seen any HD that sells it more than 1/8" and anything even less than that is not usable for sumps cause it's too weak.

You're better off going with 1/4", try online like estreetplastics.

 

[strgazr27]

Lowes sells 1/4" at times, depends on if they get it in or not. I don't know why they don't list it on their site. At least 3 of the stores on LI did within the last 2 weeks.

1/8" will work fine for an ATO container, especially if you use a top. Look at all the sumps sold that use 1/8" acrylic. A 10 gallon ATO can be made easily out of 1/8" if glued properly and a top is installed, even if it has the center cut out of it like they do on acrylic tanks.

 

[d5332]

I think you are right, I think I have seen 1/4 at times, its pricey.

I am tossing around ideas, my wife will only be happy with the tank again if I can set it up efficiently and will not see me prepping water for evap or full changes as often as she did in the past.

I am also considering 3 sides plywood, that acrylic paint I read about years ago that makes the wood water proof and 1 side acrylic, would need to research on how to seal the acrylic or glass.

I know I need a ATO reservoir but it cant be an eye sore.

 

[stbarnabas]

Njplastic.com

 

[edd]

use glass its cheaper and easy to work with. with acrylic your cuts have to be near perfect cause your melting it together.
i bought 1/4 acrylic at hd for my baffles.
or put a tank inside a cabinet.
or get rid of the wife. kidding