[dprUsh83]

I'm looking at a set of directions that would make it cheap to build a big tank. Here is my question:

The only piece of glass used is on the front. The side, back, and bottom are the wood used from construction. The wood is sealed and covered with epoxy. Is this okay for the fish (assuming a proper wait time before putting in the fish).

Anybody with information on this would be great!

 

[dprUsh83]

Well, I've done a lot of research and this is a project that has actually been cleared by my fiance! :lol:

My current plans will allow me to really expand my fish inventory!

I'm going to make a Plywood tank using instructions from garf.org. My measurements will be as follows:

Height: 36 inches
Width: 24 inches
Length: 48 inches

A tank this size will add up to 180 gallons! Since I'm building it this way I'll be able to rearrange my living room and maximize the space available to me, which most store tanks don't fit into (especially at that huge size). The directions at garf.org are wonderful, but I'm going to try to take some pictures along the way to help anybody who may want to do this in the future. Ideally, I'll be able to start the project the weekend after Thanksgiving, and it shouldn't take too awful long to complete. The most tedious part will be letting the epoxy dry before adding more layers.

If anybody knows ANYTHING about constructing a plywood tank please feel free to post anything at all. Any experiences or links will help tremendously!

 

[dprUsh83]

That's where the epoxy comes in. :wink:

I'll put on a layer, then sand it with 120-grit sandpaper. Then apply another layer and sand it with the same. After that I'll put on a third layer of epoxy and then use 220-grit sandpaper and add two more layers of epoxy.

Holes will be filled properly and the seams will be filled with silicone adhesive. I've been reading about them, and a lot of 500-900 gallon tanks are made this way, so long as the epoxy is applied correctly it will be a really cost effective way to build a tank.

The problem: Who wants to see a board in the background? So right now I'm looking at DIY backgrounds, but I lack a lot of creativity and I want it to be something that will be okay with any combination of fish and doesn't clash with different decorations I may use in the future. (ideas welcome!)

If I didn't explain that correctly, please let me know and I'll try again!

 

[dprUsh83]

While I'm waiting for wood and whatnot, I figured I could ask everybody what they think about the "fish" issues.

Right now I plan on running the three filters, 2 of which I already have. That would be composed of the following filters:

2 30-60 gallon filters
1 80-100 gallon filter

I plan on running bubble strips along the entire bottom in order to create enough oxygen in the tank without it being an issue (since I am planning on having a height of 36 inches).

Right now I have 2 heaters, and I'll have 2 installed. I'll need to upgrade at least 1 of the heaters, if not both.

What else do I need, or what recommendations may you have? All ideas are MORE than welcome! :wink:

 

[dprUsh83]

love_my_fish, GREAT LINKS! Thank you very much, there are some great resources there, and extremely thorough too.

Here is an update of where I am currently at. I've contacted several local hardware stores and they don't carry the epoxy needed for a fish tank (FDA approved). I've talked to a pool supplies company who is going to contact they're supplier for pricing information. I've also contacted a glass company to get the prices, just to make sure that it will be price effective to go with plywood. I think it would look better making it out of oak, but for safe measure I figured I'd e-mail the company.

I'll keep posting with progress, and thanks again LMF...it'll give me some reading to do!

 

[dprUsh83]

Nope, not the plywood tank. With 4 layers of epoxy it will contain the water as well as glass. Just to show the extremes of what you can do with a plywood tank, here is somebody who made a 1700 gallon shark tank.

For a more conventional link, more along the lines of what I'm planning, here is a link.

The instructions of putting it together are on garf.org. My hope is that once I hear from the pool supply company that I'll be able to get the epoxy reasonable enough ($50/gallon). If not, I'll probably go with the glass prices, but a plywood tank with a 3D or painted background would look really amazing. The biggest negative with plywood is that 3 sides will be wood, which only leaves the view to the tank from the front. That will be fine with where I plan to put the tank, though.[/url]

 

[dprUsh83]

I don't know much about the powerheads, so information on that would be fantastic. As far as the top/canopy goes it will probably be oak either way (whether glass or plywood for the tank). I'm planning on having oscars, and maybe a couple other cichlids. I'm not sure what else I'll stock it with, I'll wait until I see the finished product. I'll definitely be able to expand what I have, but I won't have money to go saltwater since I'm getting the bigger tank. Eventually that's probably what I'll do with it. If it's plywood, the epoxy is resistant to the saltwater as well, so that wouldn't be an issue should I decide to do that.

 

[dprUsh83]

Progress was made today! I've been having an impossible time finding the right epoxy (at an affordable price). Tonight somebody supplied me with this link: http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/11733

That helps out that much more! Thought I'd post it, as I certainly can never find this epoxy by searching. Now that I have an exact name brand I may be able to find it cheaper as well!

 

[dprUsh83]

Well because I found a dirt cheap 150 on craigslist I'll be scrapping this project, which is great because I'll save money...but kind of disappointing as I was really looking forward to the build. For future reference, if anybody has any questions on this project I've done a buttload of research so don't hesitate if you have any questions!

 

[dprUsh83]

Do you have any links bookmarked? If so, could ya post them?

I'm doing a 7x4 or 8x4 next year and want all the info I can absorb.
Thanks

Sure, I don't know how original they are, but that doesn't make them any less valuable.

The most important, obviously, is www.garf.org -- Use that as a DIY guide for all of your instructions.

The biggest challenge I had in preparation was finding the right epoxy...at the right price. The absolute best on the net (that I was able to find) is located here

From what I've read and gathered from various locations...and I don't have the websites anymore, regretably....Be sure to sand your wood very smoothly on the inside. Put on a coat of epoxy, let dry, then sand. Continue to do that at least 4 times. Start with a coarse sandpaper and move towards a finer sandpaper as you continue on your coats. When you move the tank try to put it down level as much as possible. Some people I've talked to have set it down on an uneven surface (even to hold it for a short time) and the problem they encountered was it broke a small crack in their epoxy....but it's not something I'd worry about too much, just something to keep in mind.