i need to build a plywood tank about 36 in. cubed. i could go 30 in. deep if necessary. my question is about the viewing window, it needs to be acrylic (housing a large crab), how do i seal the viewing pane to the plywood tank?
plywood cube
- Thread starter saltydog_1
- Start date
Route a 3/4" groove on the inside of the opening (so to make a 3/4" lip for the window to set in), seal the plywood and let cure. Turn the cube window side down and place a bead of silicone in the groove and place window in, add enough weight to evenly displace (read squish) the silicone all the way around the groove but not to completely displace it. The silicone will act as a seal since it doesn't always adhere well to the acrylic. On the backside (inside) of the window make a frame to hold the window in place seal the material and secure with stainless steel hardware.
Dr Joe
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Dr Joe
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Why does the type of inhabitant make it so you have to use acrylic?
Forgive me if this is a stupid question.
Forgive me if this is a stupid question.
i agree with using glass, no crab that i know of can break glass if thats what youre worried about. i had a red hermit crab, one of the hairry ones, not sure the exact species, that scratched the #@%$ out of my acrylic all along the bottom, he wanted to eat the cat.
i think the only thing i wouldn't put in a glass tank is a giant mantis shrimp with hammers.
cool tank idea, are you gonna do a DIY thread on it?
i think the only thing i wouldn't put in a glass tank is a giant mantis shrimp with hammers.
cool tank idea, are you gonna do a DIY thread on it?
this tank is for a friend, the crab came in as a hitch-hiker. i don't recall the exact species, but this thing is big!! it can cut a toothbrush handle in half with its pincers. i think the fear of the crab breaking the glass and draining his system outweighs a scratched viewing window. i will see if he has any pics of the crab. currently the crab is in a 15 gal. tank and is starting to lift the lid off of the tank.
A crab isn't going to break the glass. Not many species are going to require 200 gallons either. Is this a salt water crab?