Acrylic dumpster hunting?

[longhorn_20m]

What are some good acrylic dumpsters around town? Good time to raid them?

:-D

[Tim Marvin]

Usually the dumpster that you can get to are serious scrap. They sell scrap acrylic inside in the bins until it gets so bad it is just crap. You can buy scrap by the pound though at most of the shops. A lot of the scrap is good for small projects, little refugiums ect....

[TexasState]

Isn't dumpster diving illegal? Like Tim said, check out the scrap bin inside. Medically, it's a lot safer then poking around in the trash. They sale them by the pound for cheap. And if you're lucky, they have large size pieces sometime too. If you have no money, just skip dinner for a couple of days.

[utmachete]

Sometimes depending on if you are a customer or not acrylics places will let you have scrap for free. most of it is junk but sometimes there is good stuff. Also acrylics distributors are not allowed by ordinance in Austin to dispose of acrylic in the dumpsters. They have to pay to get it taken away, I think they recycle or something. The best way to get cheap acrylic is to go to a distributor tell them what you want and purchase it. Then after you do this a couple of times and they know your actually a customer you get freebies.
"nothing is free in live, except god, but he even takes 10%"

[TexasState]

I have enough tanks and sumps so I won't go that far. If it comes down to it, I'll just trade you corals for processed venison again.

[Texreefer]

home depot sells some nice sized pieces of acrylic for cheap!

[Gin_Tseng]

So which acrylic shops do you guys go to where you can buy scraps in the scrap bin inside by the pound and how much is it usually. :D

[Troy Valentine]

There is a Plastic Supply House on Josephine just west of 281. They usually have a pretty good selection, and most of the acrylic up to 1/4 inch is .50 cents a pound. However the key is to call in advance, and time it so that you will have the maximum selection, before they discard of it, and start the pile all over again..... Also if you have any question the people there are pretty knowledgeable, and are usually willing to help you.

[allanh]

I am kinda new on Here, but would first like to ask what thickness would I need for a 300 to 400 Gal Tank?

Next Just and FYI, I am always willing to trade venison for Coral... :-D

[matt]

Allanh;

All I can say is, if you need to ask what thickness for a 300-400 gallon tank, you're probably not ready to build one! :lol: In the maco classes, we talked about building a large tank. It's really specialized work, with cements that are difficult to find, (weldon is not good enough for this, so I've been told) lots of custom jigs and clamps, and a pro router with a big table. Plus, the acrylic for a tank that size would cost probably $1,000, so you're unlikely to find it in a dumpster!

But, if you really want to know, go to Cyro website; they have a calculator for thickness based on aquarium size. I admire your gumption if you're really thinking about building a tank that size.

Matt

[allanh]

Thank you for the response, I am not ready to build it just yet, just thinking it over. Have been considering putting in the wall in my living room.

I just got my 80 Gal up and running figure I need to get a 240 up next then think maybe about building, but may end up its over my head.

Again thanks.