Polycarbonate good or bad

coppessfam · 02-26-2008, 11:11 AM

Does anybody know if polycarbonate is good or bad to use in a reef/saltwater tank? I am looking at building a kalkwasser reactor and was looking at the cost of acrylic. The guy I buy my supplies from said he had a piece of polycaronate that is 28" long for $20. The acrylic is $24 per ft. I am looking at building it using pvc supplies with the polycarbonate. My supplier said it would bond to the acrylic better. Any opinions out there?

BigAl07 · 02-26-2008, 11:17 AM

I wouldn't skimp on supplies. I think (stress the word think) poly gets brittle but I may be getting my polymers out of order here!!

wonderloss · 02-26-2008, 11:24 AM

My first thought was also that polycarbonate will get brittle. I believe it is sensitive to light, especially UV.

coppessfam · 02-26-2008, 11:50 AM

So if i would use acrylic. Do any of you know how well it will bond to pvc using pvc glue? I have read in one of the DIY's that they used it and they haven't had any problems with it holding. But they said it was not a pressurized system were they used it.

mywivestank · 03-18-2008, 10:56 PM

It does not bond well for use with pressure. Polycarbonate wouldn't have any problems with becoming brittle, but, it is a real pain to work with and not worth the small savings. ABS bonds well with PVC, but not acrylic or polycarbonate. It will bond but I think it is not a good idea. I wish I had a suggestion, and not just warnings.

Disciple882542 · 03-20-2008, 04:20 PM

This PVC design worked well for me and a few others on the board. I believe it cost around $110 for all materials, pumps, and tools.

I haven't had any problems with mine...absolutely love it!

4" DIY Kalk Reactor (Probuilder)

02-26-2008, 11:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
coppessfam Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: OHIO Posts: 21 View Gallery Karma Komment	Polycarbonate good or bad Does anybody know if polycarbonate is good or bad to use in a reef/saltwater tank? I am looking at building a kalkwasser reactor and was looking at the cost of acrylic. The guy I buy my supplies from said he had a piece of polycaronate that is 28" long for $20. The acrylic is $24 per ft. I am looking at building it using pvc supplies with the polycarbonate. My supplier said it would bond to the acrylic better. Any opinions out there? __________________ 55 gal w/ 1 yellow tang, 1 tomato clown, brittle star, 3 zoos, 3 star polyps, 1 blue/orage ricordia, 1 pepperment shrimp, 2 skunk shrimp, Hawiian Feather duster.

02-26-2008, 11:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 11,496 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Polycarbonate good or bad I wouldn't skimp on supplies. I think (stress the word think) poly gets brittle but I may be getting my polymers out of order here!! __________________ ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. >((((º> Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

02-26-2008, 11:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
coppessfam Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: OHIO Posts: 21 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Polycarbonate good or bad So if i would use acrylic. Do any of you know how well it will bond to pvc using pvc glue? I have read in one of the DIY's that they used it and they haven't had any problems with it holding. But they said it was not a pressurized system were they used it. __________________ 55 gal w/ 1 yellow tang, 1 tomato clown, brittle star, 3 zoos, 3 star polyps, 1 blue/orage ricordia, 1 pepperment shrimp, 2 skunk shrimp, Hawiian Feather duster.

03-18-2008, 10:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
mywivestank Limpet Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL. 32254 Posts: 142 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Polycarbonate good or bad It does not bond well for use with pressure. Polycarbonate wouldn't have any problems with becoming brittle, but, it is a real pain to work with and not worth the small savings. ABS bonds well with PVC, but not acrylic or polycarbonate. It will bond but I think it is not a good idea. I wish I had a suggestion, and not just warnings. __________________ I Love my wifes carpet anemone (Shaggy) Mark

03-20-2008, 04:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
Disciple882542 Pistol Shrimp Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 270 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Polycarbonate good or bad This PVC design worked well for me and a few others on the board. I believe it cost around $110 for all materials, pumps, and tools. I haven't had any problems with mine...absolutely love it! 4" DIY Kalk Reactor (Probuilder) __________________ Job 11:13-20

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