I have completed my 6' X 6' X 34" fish tank. I set out to build it as cheap as possible without sacricing strength, durability and function.
Here is how I did it. SOLID CORE WOOD DOORS.
Yes... I used 10 previously used solid core wood doors. I purchased them at $100.00 for the lot. These are your standard 1 3/4" thick doors with the pressed wood and glue type composite inside. I ripped down the previously drilled portions where the door handles were at. I also shaved the edge the hinges were on to get it flat. For the top and bottom of the tank I used 3 cut doors, each side I used 1 door.
I used max bond thixotropic (EBAY) to glue everything together on assembly and used stainless screws to hold it all together. I then sanded everything good with heavy grit sandpaper cleaned with acetone and coated with 2 heavy coats of an aquarium safe black tinted epoxy called MAX ACR (EBAY). The epoxy was only used on the inside of the tank and to fill the peep holes. I coated the bottom extra thick to handle the large amount of rocks and boulders. I used a regular black exterior house paint for the outside.
The viewing windows are 2' x 4' 1/2" acrylic sheets I got through grainger. The price per sheet was 100.00. I screwed the acrylic to the inside of the tank after applying a good amount of silicone. I obviously had to predrill and countersink the acrylic prior to screwing it to the epoxy coated wood.
The stand is simply cinder blocks stacked 3 high with a fabric cloth drapped around to hide the blocks and filters. The filtration is 4 FX5's I choose because of the good luck I have had in the past and simpicity.
The bulkheads were a challenge which required me to use stainless sink drains as bulkheads and numerous clamps hoses adapters ect. I am confident they will never leak a drop of water.
I did have to go in my crawlspace and support the flloor with a barrage of bottle jacks, cinder blocks ect. to keep my house from caving in.
Tank has been up and running 3 weeks or so and I have had no issues what so ever. The tank is very stiff and solid. When I moved it I got no cracking of the epoxy or anything. When I filled it I didn't even hear a creak, or see any shifting or warping of the tank what so ever.
Everyone was pushing fiberglassing to me. I found this would be very labor intersive and un-neccesary.
I am pretty happy with how it came out. However... with more time and money invested you could build something much larger or nicer I am sure. But you can say that about anything, and my wife made me draw the line somewhere. So here are some pictures for you to look at.
This is my old 210 which is now my Bait tank Holding food for Flatheads.
Here is how I did it. SOLID CORE WOOD DOORS.
Yes... I used 10 previously used solid core wood doors. I purchased them at $100.00 for the lot. These are your standard 1 3/4" thick doors with the pressed wood and glue type composite inside. I ripped down the previously drilled portions where the door handles were at. I also shaved the edge the hinges were on to get it flat. For the top and bottom of the tank I used 3 cut doors, each side I used 1 door.
I used max bond thixotropic (EBAY) to glue everything together on assembly and used stainless screws to hold it all together. I then sanded everything good with heavy grit sandpaper cleaned with acetone and coated with 2 heavy coats of an aquarium safe black tinted epoxy called MAX ACR (EBAY). The epoxy was only used on the inside of the tank and to fill the peep holes. I coated the bottom extra thick to handle the large amount of rocks and boulders. I used a regular black exterior house paint for the outside.
The viewing windows are 2' x 4' 1/2" acrylic sheets I got through grainger. The price per sheet was 100.00. I screwed the acrylic to the inside of the tank after applying a good amount of silicone. I obviously had to predrill and countersink the acrylic prior to screwing it to the epoxy coated wood.
The stand is simply cinder blocks stacked 3 high with a fabric cloth drapped around to hide the blocks and filters. The filtration is 4 FX5's I choose because of the good luck I have had in the past and simpicity.
The bulkheads were a challenge which required me to use stainless sink drains as bulkheads and numerous clamps hoses adapters ect. I am confident they will never leak a drop of water.
I did have to go in my crawlspace and support the flloor with a barrage of bottle jacks, cinder blocks ect. to keep my house from caving in.
Tank has been up and running 3 weeks or so and I have had no issues what so ever. The tank is very stiff and solid. When I moved it I got no cracking of the epoxy or anything. When I filled it I didn't even hear a creak, or see any shifting or warping of the tank what so ever.
Everyone was pushing fiberglassing to me. I found this would be very labor intersive and un-neccesary.
I am pretty happy with how it came out. However... with more time and money invested you could build something much larger or nicer I am sure. But you can say that about anything, and my wife made me draw the line somewhere. So here are some pictures for you to look at.
This is my old 210 which is now my Bait tank Holding food for Flatheads.
Wow!! Very nice!
