600 Gallon Plywood and glass

[Gator]

Why settle for the ordinary when you can build the extraordinary for less! We all dream of a monster tank but we all can’t afford to buy one. A tank of comparable size to the one I built made of all glass or acrylic will easily run you $3000+ USD and that’s not including shipping if you have to do so. It took me approximately 3 months of planning and designing and another 5 months to build, mostly due to not having the $1500 it took to buy all the materials at once. The first step for me was where to build. Obviously in a 77 year old house like mine or just about any other house, your limited to where you can build a tank that will hold 5000 lbs of water. For me there was only one place and that was the basement. Luckily I had a drain and water line close by in the location I planned the build. After I picked the location I had to see just how big I could go with the tank and still have room for filtration and tank access. The over all outside dimensions were 104.5”x 56.75”x67” with the inside dimensions of 96”x48”x30.5” for a total of 608.4 Gallons.

Designing

While I was waiting to start the build because the basement being waterproofed I found a cool free program from Google called Sketchup that I used to design the frame for the tank and to give me an idea of what the tank would look like once built and the wall put up. It took me a while to really get the hang of the program.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/545Gtankv2.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/545Gtankv2view2.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/545Gtankv2view3.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/basement2.jpg


Building

Once the waterproofing was done I got out the tape measure and chalk line to snap the lines where the tank base would be laid down so I could put the drywall up later and have nice square corners in the room.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1020109.jpg
Next I put down a layer of 2x6 that I would build the tank on making sure it was square then using Tapcons I secured the boards to the floor.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1020122.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1020131.jpg
Next came the vertical risers using 2x6’s 12” on center then 2 layers of 2x6 overlaped in the corners for added stability.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1020233.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1020234.jpg
I should also mention I used 3” deck screws for the base framing. In normal home construction floor joists and wall framing is placed 16” on center.

Over top of those I used 2x8 as horizontal joists 12” on center and placed directly over top of the 2x6 risers. Since I couldn’t place every joist or riser 12” OC all the way across I started on the ends and worked my way in the center staying 12” OC then when I got to the center I just split the distance and placed a riser and joist in the dead center.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1020250.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1020463.jpg


After the base of the tank was done it was time to start framing the walls of the tank itself but now using 2x4’s and 2.5” drywall screws. I started off the same way as the base but I used 2 layers and overlapped the ends for extra stability. The once again keeping everything 12” OC I finished framing in the tank and ended with another double layer on top with overlapped ends.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1020688.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1020698.jpg
Now that the Framing was done I used 5/8” plywood only because I got it for free where my original plan was to use ¾”. I used 2” drywall screws about every 6”-8” to secure the plywood to the 2x4’s
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040172.jpg

When the plywood was in I measured out where the bulkheads would go which was 2/3 the way up the side of the tank so all I would have to do is open a valve and 30% of the water would be drained then close the valve and refill. I drilled the holes out now so that when I sealed the tank I could also seal the cutouts in the plywood as an extra precaution. Before the sealant could go on I needed to cover the screw heads and fill in the seams with something that would bond to wood and the screws and have the ability to let the 2 part epoxy bond to it and for this I used plain old automotive Bondo which I learned from some door installers at work holds very well to wood.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040169.jpg

Now that the framing and plywood was in place I used Sweetwater Epoxy from Aquatic Ecosystems Inc. for the sealant. I had read of others using drylock and other marine grade sealants but the Sweetwater brand was specifically made to be fish safe. And it was only $57 per gallon with a $20 hazmat shipping fee.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1030781.jpg



Before I used the epoxy I had to get painters plastic to seal the area I was working in from the rest of the house so I wouldn’t chase the family out of the house from the fumes.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040168.jpg
I also went with two colors of Sweetwater thanks to a tip from someone else that had used the product who informed me it was much easier to tell if you missed any spots when applying additional coats or if I was applying to thinly.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040178.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040181.jpg
I also sealed the back of the plywood where the bulkheads were in case of any leaks.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040180.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040182.jpg
To apply the epoxy I used normal solvent resistant ¼ nap rollers and mixed the 2 epoxy parts in graduated plastic paint containers from Sherwin Williams. The other nice benefit of the Sweetwater Epoxy is that it has a good working time especially for first time users such as myself and there is no sanding required between coats.

After the Epoxy was applied and set for a week I cleaned the surface in preparation for the glass with a non-sudsing ammonia as the directions suggested by AES and started dry fitting the plumbing. For the plumbing I used 4x 2” bulkheads and 2” PVC to the sump and on the return from the pump I used 2” pipe I had left over then built under gravel jets using 1” PVC so there wouldn’t be any dead spots in the tank and to keep the waste suspended in the water until it can get sucked out to the filter. To make the jets I used 2” cut pieces of 1” PVC heated up and pinched with pliers.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040333.jpg


For the glass I used GE Silicone I Window and Door. Be careful not to use Kitchen and bath silicone or any other silicone that has mold and mildew inhibitors like the kitchen and bath or the new GE Silicone II with the bio-seal. The glass dimensions are 84”x29”x.5” Tempered. Getting the glass in was a little tricky we used towels so we wouldn’t gouge the epoxy coating then laid the glass flat in the tank the applied a thick bead of silicone around the edge being very careful not to misalign the glass with the opening when putting it in place. Then when the glass was in place I used clamps and 2x4’s with towels around the ends to protect from gouging the epoxy.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040220-1.jpg
Once the glass was In I used pieces of EMT with the ends flattened and holes drilled in them for the 2” bolts that would hold them in place to keep the tank from bowing once filled.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040256.jpg
I also filled the predrilled holes in the top of the tank where the bolts went with silicone before putting them in. Now that the glass was in I waited 7 days for the silicone to fully cure but in the meantime I finished the plumbing by gluing the pipes together. The reason for the way the pipes are run is to make it just like an over flow. the water lvl in the tank depends on where the pipe starts to go down.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/waterpipe.jpg
The reason the pipe is open on the top is to stop any siphon effect. Its also a great place to dose any meds.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040200.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040201.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040251.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040252.jpg
The pipe running to the ground is the drain pipe and the one you se at the top of the pic is the ball valve used to adjust the flow from the pump back to the tank.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040253.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040249.jpg

The only place I didn’t glue the pipes was where they went into the bulkheads to hold them in place I wrapped the PVC pipe in a few layers of Teflon tape then pushed them into the bulkheads. Almost a year up and still no leaks using the Teflon tape. For the sump I used 2 cleaned out Brine tanks from whole house water softening units. Ones a 40G and the other a 30G. I had to connect the two with a siphon tube because there was too much draw from the pump to only use the 40G. Combining the two gave me more water reserve to work with.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040312.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040313.jpg
For mech filtration in the sump I use egg crate covered by foam filter pad and filter floss underneath that.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040330.jpg
Bio Media for the sump
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040350.jpg
The pump was originally a Beckett 3500 GPH pond pump but even with a ball valve in there I couldn’t get the flow reduced enough to keep it from blowing the fish all over in the tank. So I ended going with a Gen-X submersible 8500/lph pump (about 2300gph) which I still needed to tone down with the ball valve. For secondary and mainly Mech filtration I used an FX5 which works great.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040395.jpg


For lighting I used 2 basic 4’ double T12 shop lights but I have plans to soon upgrade them to T8’s so I can plant the tank.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040685.jpg

The substrate in the tank is 400 lbs of well rinsed leveling sand from Home Depot and the driftwood is from Lake Erie. When I originally set out to build this tank Ihad the intentions of stocking it with Malawi cichlids then before I was done building the tank I changed my mind and went with SA cichlids and an arowana only to find out in the winter time it cost me about $40-$50 just to heat the tank So I made the decision to go with North American Native fish. Which I can honestly say I’m extremely happy with.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1060591-1.jpg

All thats left now it to finish the drywall, paint the room add the trim to the viewing area of the tank to "picture frame" it in then some updated lighting and new carpet and I can sit back watch the fish swim and catch the game in the Man Cave! :headbang2 which is right next to the Laundry room...:banher:

[p3t3rc]

nice looking tank.

[Davey_8313]

Nice tank and i love the stock man... nice planning also.

[Edwin]

very nice work. love it. how long it took you from start to finish?

[Eleven Bravo]

:headbang2 amazing. Awesome job!! cant wait to see it stocked!

[UNKNOWN_MALONE]

Did a very good job, It looks amazing! I bet your very happy with it aswell!!

[SuperDave]

Very cooL, nice Work!

[Adamnjess]

Great work Bob the Builder...lol...the tank it awsome...wish a had any sort of creaftmanship...thanks

[syndicate]

great job

[pounder]

wow man you really got some skills!! nice job!!

[Johny]

very nice!

[Casper]

Damn that's awesome! Very inspirational. Is there any way you could specify what you did to brace the tank? Not familiar with EMT's.

[wise175]

Man, great job! Looks incredible:headbang2

[greatfulxdead]

Looks like fun.

[DRgrits]

tremendous tank .

[Gator]

Thanks for the compliments everyone.

very nice work. love it. how long it took you from start to finish?

About 8 months to build the tank and get it filled with water. 3 months planning and 5 building.

Great work Bob the Builder...lol...the tank it awsome...wish a had any sort of creaftmanship...thanks

I'm not a professional carpenter by any means. The best tip I can give you is Measure twice, cut once!

Damn that's awesome! Very inspirational. Is there any way you could specify what you did to brace the tank? Not familiar with EMT's.

EMT is Electrical Metallic Tubing. Its galvanized so its not going to rust. Its not something I would use if it were going to be submersed in water because it will leach out zinc. I probably should have mentioned the Stocking in there : 1 Longnose gar, 2 spotted/florida gar, 1 yellow perch there was 3 but 1 died from an infection where he was hooked and the other somehow jumped out. Then there are 2 Green sunfish, 1 Bluegill and 1 that I think is a pumpkin seed and a Jurupari that I thought I had taken out when I changed the tank over to a Native tank from a SA. He must have been hiding in the sand or under the log when I took the others out. He holding his own in there he gets chased every now and again by the pumpkinseed but I've never seen any torn or nicked fins on him.

[ECarbonel]

your a beast that tank is amazing!!!

[Gdub1221]

awsome

[Nic]

awesome... similar to how im designing mine but im coating every piece of plywood 100% incase of leaks im sealing all of it...

[seal]

Nice job mate. It's great, i like the gar's.

[cl0wn knife]

very nice =]

[Gator]

awesome... similar to how im designing mine but im coating every piece of plywood 100% incase of leaks im sealing all of it...

I thought about that too but then I thought if I get a leak inside the tank and the wood started to get saturated I'd never know untill the plywood faild from being saturated. One thing to watch for if you are putting in bulkheads like I did is to watch for the areas where there are voids in the laminates that form channels. I completely drained my tank because I thought I had a split seam. but it was from where the epoxy shrank when it cured and water got past the bulkhead seal and made it look like I had a split seam.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040317.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1040316.jpg

[orinocensis1]

that is a nice set up man!

[acerkai640]

sucks about the leak but it still looks good i wish i could have that
-acer-

[Gator]

sucks about the leak but it still looks good i wish i could have that
-acer-

LOL Tell me about it, I broke out into a cold sweat when I saw that. It only took a little silicone and 24hrs to cure to fix the problem.

[catfishlover106]

Awesome! =) Are you planning on adding anythinh else in their? I know you don't want to have too much fishes in the tank but im just curious...haha you have an awesome setup! Thanks for sharing!

[demjor19]

Hope the new Florida/Spotted does ok for you. be sure to post some new pics when you get him in there!

[Gator]

Awesome! =) Are you planning on adding anythinh else in their? I know you don't want to have too much fishes in the tank but im just curious...haha you have an awesome setup! Thanks for sharing!


Well I just added a 16" gar tonight thanks to demjor19 :D I'll get pics of him up tomorrow. As for more fish maybe 2 more perch but I'm worried my gars won't get to eat. Perch are much faster than gar going after food. So aside from the boat load of plants in dec after the new lights are up not many more fish if any. I think it will be awesome seeing a feeder fish swimming a long then a Gar popping up out of a bed of Dwarf Sag and snatching it up!

[beantickler]

Great design and even better build bro...

[gravelly-bottom]

Really good thread, should inspire a few people. Me included!!! NEV'.

[TheFishJunky]

nice work man-youve obviously done framing b4 huh?like the headers:headbang2seriously man-AWESOME!!!!:WHOA:

[Gator]

nice work man-youve obviously done framing b4 huh?like the headers:headbang2seriously man-AWESOME!!!!:WHOA:
lol Thanks. I worked for a carpenter once before for 3 days doing framing but that was back in 93 or 94. Anyways I have the new gar pic and vid up HERE (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=181957)

[perfect_prefect]

beautiful tank, love the way you did it for thousands less. im rockin a $400 1200 gallon set up myself. not as pretty or sophisticated as yours, but it allows me to responsibly keep monsters.

[Ransom]

thats an awsome setup so glad to see how you broke everything down thats really cool of you thanks

did the SA survive btw?

[Gator]

Yes he's still alive doing well and holding his own.

[GiaLinh]

op!
Its very nice!

[Gator]

Thx GiaLinh

I made a surface skimmer the other day and I'm testing it out now. If it works good enough which it looks like its doing I'll add that to this thread with pics soon.

[fobrinkle]

Nice job. Ever Thought about adding a bowfin?

[Gator]

Nice job. Ever Thought about adding a bowfin?

Yeah I've thought about it but seems they get more aggressive the bigger they get and I really like my gars to much to do that to them.

[dimfer]

nice work Gator. Congrats

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

What was the total ending cost???

[Gator]

About $1500 but It took me a while to buy everything. If I had $1500 to start with I'd probably have at least 1000G :D

[new2natives]

where did you get the longnose?
are there any differences between it and the florida, other than the appearance?

also, i got a florida gar about a week ago, and i am surprised by its activity level. i thought they were pretty inactive, but mine is active about 75% of the time?? i probably have more current in my tank than in most tanks, but i was wondering how active yours are?

[Gator]

Mine are pretty active. The only time they arent really active is right after they eat a big meal.

[gimmiks]

man this one is legit it seems like a lot a work though ...

[Gator]

Not really, Water changes every other week about 200G each time then I treat the whole tank with prime for a full 600G. The mech filtration Floss replacement and rinsing out the sponges in the FX5 and the sump all together takes about 1 hr or so and I do that about every month and a half. I usually just stir up the substrate a bit to get whats on the bottom back in the water to get sucked out into the filters. The out of place Jurupari does a good job of eating all the excess food on the bottom, and I pull the pump out of the sump every 6 months to clean the sponge on it. I spend more time watching the fish than doing maintenance so its no biggie.

[mr_cool_guy]

that the main thing man, enjoyment

[Discus741]

Nicely Done! Where abouts in Cleveland do you live? I live on the west side in Sheffield Lake. I am in the process of building my own 500 gal.

[Gator]

Parma, about 2 min from Parmatown Mall

[ceeej31]

i like the design alot, do you mind if i copy it for the tank in my sig?

[Gator]

Not at all

[moosipher]

Nice tank, man. I am finding that this site is dangerous.. Now I am wanting to move.. purely to get into a house where I can build a stupid monster tank :)
What's currently going on with the tank??
More pics wanted over here, please !

[Gator]

I'll be ordering new lights very soon so I can get more plants in there, then the basement is getting finished paint, trim , carpet etc.

For the Lighting I'm looking at 2 of THESE (http://www.businesslights.com/elite-192w-6lamp-6500k-120v-t8-fluorescent-high-bay-fixture-p-1926.html) or THESE (http://www.businesslights.com/elite-216w-4lamp-6500k-120277v-t5-fluorescent-high-bay-fixture-p-1738.html) Most likely the first one since T8 are way cheaper than the T5HO's

[rnocera]

This tank is amazing.

[Tonster]

Awsome Native Tank!!!

[GiangNOOO]

wow...

[Thunderjack]

sweet tank man!

[ineedmoor]

Hi did you use fibreglass when making the tank water proof

[roadrunnermalwi]

awesome build!!

[Gator]

Hi did you use fibreglass when making the tank water proof

No just 2 part epoxy and bondo to fill in all the screwheads and seams.

I upgraded the lighting but I didn't get what I wanted to since I spent a little more than I expected on Christmas but the wife and kids are happy. Here is a pic of the extra pair of T12 fixtures. I also took out the crappy 4100K bulbs and replaced them with 6500K bulbs.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1080358.jpg
The 2nd set was off when I took the pic since they ae set on different timers. One set is on for 11hrs from 9am to 8pm and the other for 6hrs from 11am to 5pm to try and mimic the daylight.

I've also replaced the pump in the tank from a Gen-X 8500 to a Quiet One 4000. The current in the tank was a bit to much and the gars didnt seem to like the current to much before but now they have already started to swim around in other areas of the tank more often.

I took mew pics of the fish and tank and posted them in the photo section HERE (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201512)

[mertzlegacy]

Amazing! I have been looking into doing something similar for a while now. We are about to move into a different house and I have the perfect spot for a big tank. Your step by step was incredibly helpful. Thanks. I hope my project will go as smooth as yours.

[Gator]

Amazing! I have been looking into doing something similar for a while now. We are about to move into a different house and I have the perfect spot for a big tank. Your step by step was incredibly helpful. Thanks. I hope my project will go as smooth as yours.

lol I only made it look smooth! :D

[yani]

Awsome. That is my dream tank and probably my arowana too. Please could you tell me how much it cost. Thanks.
I think mine will probably be a bit smaller like 400 gallons probably.

[Gator]

Awsome. That is my dream tank and probably my arowana too. Please could you tell me how much it cost. Thanks.
I think mine will probably be a bit smaller like 400 gallons probably.

Cost was about $1500. Very cheap compared to buying a tank that size.

[Miguel]

What a great job!!!!!

More pix, please!

[yillant]

8 months hey thats not too bad.. it will probobly take me 8 years to plan my house made of glass

[titanfish]

i never get bored of looking at this thread, i love your tank

[dpiatz]

Very nice native setup!

[Gator]

What a great job!!!!!

More pix, please!

Ok here ya go. I played with Sketchup a little more to see what the tank would look like with the picture frame around it.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/framed1.jpg
And a bit of other work I've done on the room behind the tank.

Door to the back of the tank nothing on the right side yet. I was going to hang drywall there but I have an extra 2"x4'x8' piece of insulation that I'm going to put up that I can remove if needed to move any large stuff in an out.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1080368-1.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1080369-1.jpg
put up a little more drywall and the outlet box cover
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1080371-1.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1080372-1.jpg
With the smaller pump I don't have to use a reserve tank anymore. the blue stuff is a temp splash guard till I get something a little more pleasing to the eye .
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1080374-1.jpg
The next project is a real shelf for the FX5 and a place to store food and other stuff I use for the tank.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1080378-1.jpg
Nothing real exciting I know but its still progress. My wife is hounding me to finish the basement this month so I should have the completed man cave very soon!

[cudatim68]

Incredible job...the tank and filtration came out great....great craftsmanship......

[J-Aqua]

You have some skill my friend. Looks VERY nice. Well done can't wait to see when fully completed!

J

[Gator]

Thanks for the Compliments and it should be in Feb when the tank and basement are finished.

[PIRAHNA 21]

good skills congrats!!!!

[JimmyT22]

Nice, can't wait to see the completed room.

[nznativefishkeeper]

now i know what i have to do thanks,great tank

[noonein2]

Awesomeness.

[Hfish_Josh]

Nice tank man

[vivaladonald]

I WANNA SEE IT WITH SOME FISH!!!

[Gator]

I WANNA SEE IT WITH SOME FISH!!!

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[vivaladonald]

nice setup! really cool!

[vzgoth]

Please post some pics when you have it stocked.

[Gator]

There is a video on the previous page with the fish.

[gootswa]

excelent tank, great job building it, like the gars

[Gator]

A few updates on the tank. I redid the plumbing in the house this past weekend and finally ran water line to the tank so I don't have to drag the hose around. I'm also close to being done with the "Man Cave". Still quite a bit to do but the PIA stuff is over.

Tank picture framed in. Was also in the middle of a PWC while we took a break
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1080679.jpg
FX5 on its new shelf
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1080683.jpg
Modified the intake so I can run one line on the surface skimmer and the other a bulkhead that under the water. I did this so I dont have to close the valve i n the FX5 and lose any turnover.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1080684.jpg
New water line so I dont have to use the hose anymore to fill the tank. Glad we put new pipe in since the pipes were a mess! I had a mix of Copper, Galvanized and LEAD pipe... anyways hope you enjoy I'm uploading a video of the basement and new front to the tank and I'll post it in the video section when its done.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/P1080686.jpg

[moosipher]

Looking fantastic.. gorgeous fish. One question - how big is that tree trunk you have as the centrepiece? Looks as though it was a bizatch to get that in there..

[Gator]

Wasn't to bad to get it in there. Its just over 4' long and about 8" in diameter. My son found it when we went to Lake Erie. I should also update what the front of the tank looks like. I'm also designing a modular Filtration system for the tank to replace the sump so I can use water pressure above the pump heading to it to assist it rather than having it do all the work in pushing the water back to the tank on its own. Its going to require me to totally redo the plumbing on the tank but now that the basement is done I'm bored till I can start doing outside work on the yard in the spring. I'll post pics in the DIY section and link it here when I'm done with the drawings.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/CHBGator/cameraclear108.jpg

[VLDesign]

Looks awesome..

Can you detail the tops you made and how do you like them now that you have had time to use them.

I am looking for some top ideas.

[Gator]

hehehe the top I have is crap! Its an aluminum frame with plexiglass windows and piano hinges for the opening lids. I plan on getting some waterproof endcaps and polycarb bulb covers for the lighting so I can take the top of and just box in the top of the tank to the ceiling that way there is no more algae build up and water stain to have to constantly clean off the plexi so all the light gets to the plants.
Bulb Covers (http://www.1000bulbs.com/T12-Polycarbonate-Tube-Sleeves/) are so if a fish jumps into the bulb it will be protected and if the bulb does break glass wont go flying everywhere.

[vaine111]

nice tank man... just wish i could get my house sometime to make my dream tank.

[2foottank]

cool tank love the gars :asianarow

[coltsr2]

Great tank....its huge...but i would always be worried sick about leaks and the epoxy coating getting cracked or damaged ....one hole and the tank is ruined arghhhh!! that would be aweful.....i guess this is why you dont tend to see much heavy rockwork in a lot of DIY plywood tanks!....but i must say i am very very impressed with the quality of workmanship in this build......well done and fingers crossed it doesnt get any leaks....

Just out of interest what is the normal shelf life of a plywood tank before re-coating of epoxy resin?....i have never seen one here in the UK.....does the epoxy resin last for yrs?....

[Gator]

Thanks for the compliments on the tank. As for leaks If it does get a leak thats the beauty of epoxy, sand around where the hole is and apply a coat or two and let cure. As far as cracks in the tank thats always a possibility but thats why its very important to make sure every joint is as tight as possible so there is very minimal settling. I already have plans in 4 more years to drain the tank remove everything and re-coat the tank but as far as life expectancy of the epoxy coating I have no Idea.

[Gator]

As promised here are the plans for my new and improved filtration system!
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2861254#post2861254

[ForteThundaga]

I didn't know pumpkin seeds looked better than most cichlids.

[Gator]

Look up Longear Sunfish. Simply stunning.

[mr.reef24]

Love the tank look's good I was wondering where you got the information to build it I am looking to build a big tank and looking for site's and people for information.

thanks,

Mr.Reef24

:cool:

[Gator]

DIY section here is as good as it gets. My plan was based off of TheFishGuys design just smaller. His was 800G and he just recently added on to it to almost double it.

[VTfish]

Awesome documentation!

[busterbrown]

how much in lumber and glass did something like that run you

[norma]

very nice

[Gator]

About $1500 total. Glass, lumber, PVC, Epoxy and so on.

[Doden]

Nice tank sir.

[marine_hawaii]

Excellent thread. Thanks for the SketchUp tip. I've already downloaded it and am sure it will come in handy.

I'm in the planning stages for a 10x3x4 marine tank. Plywood, very similar to your construction. A couple things I've planned differently. I'll use 2x4's on the top to keep the sides from bowing. I don't want to use metal due to corrosion. I'm really cheating with my lights as I'll just use a roof tube (like a skylight) and have natural sunlight (in 2 locations, about 6' apart). Hawaii is in the tropics, so no worries about temperature or photo period.

The biggest difference is my structural design is the use of what I call a "plywood sandwich". Basically similar to your design, but using 2x4's sandwiched between 1" (or 3/4") plywood. The sheer strength of the plywood is incredible (we have an occasional earthquake here, so need some extra sheer tension).

I haven't priced it out, but I'm thinking it is a lot more economical than using 2x6 lumber (plywood is cheaper here than framing lumber).

Also, I've recently changed the plans to use 2 sheets of glass 36x54. So the front will have 2 viewing panes (instead of continuous view) but it kind of adds to the mystery of the tank (and is a lot cheaper and easier to install). (Just throwing that out there for others following this thread...).

The size tank that you built and your construction practices are no doubt a "best practice" (uses the best principles from other great threads on this site). I'll likely modify my plans after studying yours more. Many thanks for that.

Anyway, great thread and if you have any thoughts on the above plans, please let me know.

Aloha!

[Icetec9]

wow thats nice maybe a bit hard to move but vary bnice lol

[HypeMan808]

I really don't understand this concept.
I'm new to diy fish tanks and I was just wondering...Do use one sheet of glass?
If not then how many did you use?

[Doyle1431]

Insane job!! very jealous:headbang2

[Gator]

I really don't understand this concept.
I'm new to diy fish tanks and I was just wondering...Do use one sheet of glass?
If not then how many did you use?

The glass is one piece.

[chefjamesscott]

very nice thread kudos

just found it today very nice build

[toby5678910]

wow sweet tank

[ajaxleon]

Very,Very nice Job.Congratulations!!

[i.baptista90]

amazing tank man, I'm hoping to build a similar one soon

[vlcek81]

Sweet tank bro. Wanan build me one lol

[Gator]

Sure if you have the cash! :D

[l3raD]

How do you heat the tank man?
Wats ur heating ?
Nice tank btw
So sweet!

[Gator]

Thanks. No heating needed on the tank with natives. But now that I switched to RBP I'll use submersibles right now the water temp stays about 74*F (23*C) which is room temp in the basement. Keeping a well sealed lid on the tank keeps a lot o heat in and I'm also going to have to insulate the room itself more.

[Doyle1431]

Nice tank

[l3raD]

Wow..... Your water stays 23*C
If i didnt have a heater in my tank it would drop to 14*C
LOL!
rbp will look wicked

[leg89]

quick question Gator: why didn't you put the overflow input at a lower level? i mean, crap always sit on the bottom of the tank, it would have meant less vacuming, wouldn't it?

[jeepn4x4]

Tank looks awesome. Very impressive. One question I have is how did you connect the floor of the tank (joists) to the stand?

[Gator]

quick question Gator: why didn't you put the overflow input at a lower level? i mean, crap always sit on the bottom of the tank, it would have meant less vacuming, wouldn't it?

I probably could have on one or two of them but with the position they are at now I only have to open the drain valve to drain 33% of the water then close and refill.

Tank looks awesome. Very impressive. One question I have is how did you connect the floor of the tank (joists) to the stand?

3" deck screws.

[jeepn4x4]

Did you use angle clips? Or did you just toenail in screws?

[Pharaoh]

The whole setup turned out great. Fantastic job.

[Gator]

Did you use angle clips? Or did you just toenail in screws?

Toenailed the screws. No clips anywhere. I've thought about it but its not really needed.

The whole setup turned out great. Fantastic job.

Thanks. I'm still planning on upgrading the filtrartion with a big DIY caister system (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222358&page=5) but between vacation, the house, kids and restoring my boat the cash flow has been limited.

[jeepn4x4]

Just curious haw the tank is holding up. I am still trying to decide on what to coat with. Are you still happy with the Sweetwater paint?

[Gator]

Holding up fine, no leaks and its coming up on 2 years with water. Very satisfied with the Sweetwater Epoxy.

[jeepn4x4]

Hey Gator. Are you using a spraybar for your return or some other way?

[Gator]

UGJ and 2 jets above the water line.

[Capsaicin]

Balls to the wall doesn't even begin to describe your dedication to this hobby...amazing tank is all I can say right now.

[jeepn4x4]

Hey Gator how long in between coats did wait before re coating? Was it dry or still a little tacky?

[rickwesh]

Truly impressive! I have often thought of building a monster tank with plywood and was never certain how to go with it! Your post is well laid our and easy to understand.

You had mentioned something about not using bathroom silicone. Why is that? Does it cause an adverse affect on the fish?

Also with North American fish are you still not using a heater(s) and how is that working out?

[shrimpy1]

Just saw this post. Amazing work!

[Gator]

Hey Gator how long in between coats did wait before re coating? Was it dry or still a little tacky?

As long as your next coat is within 24 hrs you don't need to sand between coats. Which was nice because I could keep the rollers and roller pans wrapped in plastic and left out in the cold and you could reuse them rather than using a new roller for every coat.

Truly impressive! I have often thought of building a monster tank with plywood and was never certain how to go with it! Your post is well laid our and easy to understand.

You had mentioned something about not using bathroom silicone. Why is that? Does it cause an adverse affect on the fish?

Also with North American fish are you still not using a heater(s) and how is that working out?

Kitchen and bath silicone contain chemicals that inhibit mold and mildew. This chemical also leaches out into your water and kills beneficial bacteria. I also removed the natives and will be adding heaters this winter since I am keeping RBP's now. Only a small shoal of 7 but I hope to have about 15-20 when fully stocked.

[jeepn4x4]

how many coats of epoxy did you put on?

[Gator]

5 coats.

[jeepn4x4]

Hey gator do you remember what your mix ratio was? The can states a 3 to 1. But there website states a 4 to 1 ratio. I ran out of activator with 1/2 gallon of paint left. I just emailed the company to see what they have to say.

[dwightdstjohn]

you can now get resin that is biologically safe;(compared to the olden days)!! reading that label is critical; the anti-mildew in silicone used to be DDT until it was banned! What they put in now I do not know, but it will kill fish, and particularly invertibrates. I'm using the bio-safe resin this week and just found out where to pick it up. Resin Activator, in comparison, is inexpensive and any body shop/car part store should have it.

[Gator]

you can now get resin that is biologically safe;(compared to the olden days)!! reading that label is critical; the anti-mildew in silicone used to be DDT until it was banned! What they put in now I do not know, but it will kill fish, and particularly invertibrates. I'm using the bio-safe resin this week and just found out where to pick it up. Resin Activator, in comparison, is inexpensive and any body shop/car part store should have it.


Just make sure your getting a resin that is meant to be submerged in water.


Hey gator do you remember what your mix ratio was? The can states a 3 to 1. But there website states a 4 to 1 ratio. I ran out of activator with 1/2 gallon of paint left. I just emailed the company to see what they have to say.

I had the same problem If I remember correctly it was 3:1 ratio when I used it and ran out of hardener as well that's why I didn't do 6 coats. I bought 2 gallons and had to combine the two hardeners to get enough for the 5th coat. I'm beginning to think they screwed up their directions! a 4:1 ratio of paint to hardener will probably make a difference.

[jeepn4x4]

That is what I thought to. I sent them an email so I will see what they have to say. I have close to half a gallon of paint left that I was planning on using for a sump. I hope they will just send me some hardner. I don't want to buy it because it will costs about $67 shipped with the hazmat fee. I ended up doing 5 instead of 6 coats also.

[marauders30]

thats pretty damn cool

[Savage Bliss]

Have you got any recent pictures to put of this? It would be great to see.

[jeepn4x4]

Where did you buy non sudsing ammonia?

[Gator]

Hardware or drugstore.

[Super Turtleman]

Great tank build.

[180monsterkeeper]

wow that looks great i wish i could do that.

[Gator]

Why can't you?