115 gallon TALL (5 foot) tank build

[Zman12]

This tank has been sitting in the corner of my mind since I started keeping fish again. I discovered in the last 8 months that aquariums could be made out of materials other then glass and acrylic. This gave new life to the monster sitting in the corner of my mind. I now had a way to make this a reasonable project cost wise. I have been doing my homework for several weeks, gather prices, running the math, trying to find sources for products. And buying the few tools I would like to have for this project that I didn’t have on hand.

After doing all my work quickly this morning, to try and by myself free time, the day turned slow in my little cubical. So I finally knocked out this monster in 3 dimensions completely drafted exactly as I plan to build it. (This draft is to ideal wood dimensions, not true dimensions because nothing is actually what it is labeled at the lumber yard.)

It is roughly 5 foot tall and 30 inches deep on the inside of the tank. (Bracing bumps up the foot print some.) Those stats put the gallons a little over 115 if I were to fill it all the way to the top. I am still toying with making it an even 3 foot deep (36 inches) which would push it over 150 gallons but the jury is still out on that.


I am planning on about a 2 foot stand with an emergency overflow box in the bottom of the stand able to hold over 20 gallons just in case, or as a sump if I decide to go that route in filtration. I may actually move this stand/sump to the top and make it a movable sump filter above the water line.

Bracing for the ¾ inch plywood are 2x4s spaced at 5 inches, on the wall and across the bottom as well. (See pictures, thick sections are 2x4s thin is plywood.)

I plan on sealing the plywood with Hurculiner unless some one thinks that’s a really bad idea… There are also a lot of boat manufactures in the area I may look into getting it glassed by one of those.

I have the courage and the skills to build this. I just want some feed back before I start spending money. Because this is one strangely sized tank that I haven’t seen any one else attempt any where in my researching. Besides I have to keep working out any potential problems while I free up space in my work shop.



I need to rework my glass calculations again...
So questions, comments, concerns?
And yes cleaning the bottom in this thing is going to be a HUGE pain I know that...

 

[Zman12]

I reworked my math and realized that I was going to have to buy two full sheets of plywood no matter what I did. So I rebuilt the tank to 36 inch walls (still 5 foot tall).

I also have come up with a method to reinforce the bottom seam. I was really concerned about it flexing over time due to the weight of the water. That could cause the water-tight seam to crack and start leaking. I think this should completely eliminate that problem I just have to make a lot of router grooves in my studs.

I plan on cleaning out the garage tonight and start to get supplies tomorrow.

Still would like any feedback people have.

Pictures of the newer blueprints attached.


Here is a blow apart to show all the parts.

 

[Griller]

OK - you need to work out what acrylic you are willing to use, that will be the expensive part at 5' deep.

With the $$$ you are going to spend you might as well build a higher volume tank. Volume has no effect on the pressure vs depth equations, so for not much more money you can make a bigger tank.

The big tanks I've looked at don't seem to need much to support the acrylic. If the bottom of your tank is solid it should hold it together quite well.

 

[Zman12]

I need to rerun my equations but the acrylic is going to have to be over an inch thick. I understand the fact that I could go higher volume and this wouldn't effect my thickness of the glass or acrylic.
My issue is that I am trying to get a small foot print and still have a high water volume. I also just want a tall tank. I am going to measure my door frames one more time and see how much bigger I cold go and still get them in and out of a standard door. If I have the room I may push it over 36 inches, far as I can and still get it through the door. I want to be able to move this easily when I move here in the next year or two. (I already know I am going to be moving with in that time frame.)
I am not really concerned as much with the acrylic/glass needing support as I am the water column needing the support.
You mentioned in a message about checking into sealing it with liquid rubber. Would that need any special prepping or bracing to seal/affix acrylic to it?

I do also understand that the surface area being so small the water will absorb less oxygen I plan on keeping the water as highly oxygenated as possible using air pumps.
　
　

 

[horrifier]

that looks sweet man, can i ask what u plan on keeping in it? most ppl push for length and width bc they want to keep monster fish, so am intersted in what livestock u had in mind for such a tall tank

 

[Griller]

My issue is that I am trying to get a small foot print and still have a high water volume. I also just want a tall tank.

I think tall tanks look incredibly cool! Why do physics have to work against such things???

You mentioned in a message about checking into sealing it with liquid rubber. Would that need any special prepping or bracing to seal/affix acrylic to it?

Here is some info about using liquid rubber:

[FONT=&quot]Hi Alex,

Thanks for your enquiry regading using Liquid Rubber for your project.

Liquid Rubber "Zavlar" would be the product I would reccoment for this. The only issue is that silicon won't adhere. You would need to use a fast cure poly urethane e.g. Bostik FC
I would recommend checking out the alternitives to silicon for this as most waterproofing/corrosion coatings will not work with silicon.

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Do you mean using the fast cure polyurethane as an alternative adhesive?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As and alternitive for Silicone for fixing glass[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Could you give me a rough idea of how much it would cost to coat the entire tank inside and out with the inside acting as a seal? I can work out surface area if you need it.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]You will need approx 1L per m2[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I presume that the product is UV resistant? How long does it last outside or submerged?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]UV stable. Depending on cured membrane thickness 20+ years full UV exposure and 50+years submerged based on 2.mm DFT [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I was considering using a two part epoxy paint as an undercoat for the steel and then painting the liquid rubber over that. Can the product adhere well to epoxy paint?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]No need for epoxy. Liquid rubber does not need priming and will in fact adhere better to bare steel than epoxy.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]In this case I can silicon the windows over the epoxy and then apply the liquid rubber over the glass. Will the liquid rubber adhere to glass? [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Silicon will disolve Liquid Rubber, use poly urethane fast cure. Regular poly urethane will take up to 3 weeks before it cures through. Cannot be over coated until fully cured. Liquid Rubber will adhere to glass when fully cured. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Do you have any indication of how well this product insulates a body of water from heat loss? [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Sorry I have no R rating for our products. It would probably not make much of a difference at the thickness you would use. I do have a thermal rated top coat in colours that can be applied over Liquid Rubber that will help heat transfer by around 25% (exterior only). [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Please note Liquid Rubber only comes in black. I have a range of coloured top coats you can use if you need, including an internal one that is suitable for constant immersion. (Costs are the same as listed above.) Coverage for colour coats is approx 0.5L per m2. If you do this you can reduce the amount of Liquid Rubber by the equivelent top coat membrane thickness so m2 costs are effectively the same[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]PS Colours are White, Sandstone, Light grey, Charcoal, Blue (min 20L on all colours)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Thank you very much for your time. Your product sounds like the best option for this job.[/FONT]

Seal N Flex FC Bostik Seal N Flex FC is a fast curing, high performance one component polyurethane elastomeric joint sealant/ adhesive. When fully cured Seal N Flex FC will provide a tough, flexible seal capable of cyclic expansion and compression to 50% (25%) of original joint width without primer on most substrates. Seal N Flex FC is unaffected by ultra violet radiation, atmospheric contamination or pollution. Its excellent weatherability enables it to retain its original properties after years of exposure.

Hope this helps.

 

[Zman12]

that looks sweet man, can i ask what u plan on keeping in it? most ppl push for length and width bc they want to keep monster fish, so am intersted in what livestock u had in mind for such a tall tank

I am currently thinking of some larger schools of smaller fish. (Perhaps a monster sized school of something, that might be really cool.) Not completely sure yet on what exactly.

I have considered getting a school of discus but our tap water is harder then a stone. I don't want to have to treat every water change to get the PH down to a manageable level.
I guess I will wait to tackle the exact fish I want when I have the tank cycling... Until then I will just window shop on what I would like to get and that can live in our crappy rock hard water.

I think tall tanks look incredibly cool! Why do physics have to work against such things???

“Because if gravity didn't suck so much we would float into space.” (As the joke goes) Yeah the physics involved in a tank this tall get to be quite a pain when I start running numbers.

Do you mean using the fast cure polyurethane as an alternative adhesive?
As and alternitive for Silicone for fixing glass

In this case I can silicon the windows over the epoxy and then apply the liquid rubber over the glass. Will the liquid rubber adhere to glass?Silicon will disolve Liquid Rubber, use poly urethane fast cure. Regular poly urethane will take up to 3 weeks before it cures through. Cannot be over coated until fully cured. Liquid Rubber will adhere to glass when fully cured.

So is that sealant this kind of stuff? it’s the first several listings I found when I went and googled “fast cure polyurethane “
http://www.westmarine.com/1/1/12580-fast-cure-4200-polyurethane-adhesive-sealant-polyurethane-adhesive-white-10oz.html

I am going to have to see what the strength difference is between teh regular and the fast setting is. I might be willing to wait the extra 3 weeks if its going to make extra sure nothing moves. There is going to be a LOT of water pressure toward the bottom of the tank.

 

[Zman12]

I figured out that the maximum size I can go and still get it through a standard door with out having to do any extra work is actually 48 inches. At that size its basically 34 inches from the front glass to the back corner. Giving you a few inches to clear most standard sized doors. I still have to work out how big I can go with out having to buy more then two pieces of plywood. That is going to be the deciding factor on how big I go. I think 42 inches but I am going to have to plot out saw cuts to make sure.

For the numbers:
34 inch wedge at 5 foot tall is 115 gallons. (Original plan)
36 inch wedge at 5 foot tall is 168 gallons. (Current blue prints)
42 inch wedge at 5 foot tall is 240 gallons. (Leaning toward this.)
48 inch wedge at 5 foot tall is 299 gallons. (To big to fit on two sheets of plywood, so this is not going to happen.)

On a side note I almost have the room cleaned out enough to work on this. And I get paid today, I think a trip by the lumber yard / Lowes is in order this evening to finish my pricing of lumber.

 

[Griller]

I'd go bigger mate, bigger is better for the fish.

 

[Zman12]

I'd go bigger mate, bigger is better for the fish.

Yes I know bigger is better; but there comes a point, especially on my budget, when it gets to a size you can't go over. I think on mine its at about 42 inches or so in this case.

If I had the room I would just build a garden in my house, including trees. Complete with a massive pond with viewing windows. However at this point I don't have room for it, or a house that I can what I want to with it for that matter.

------

Griller - I have gotten to page 86 on that thread you suggested I read about liquid rubber being used in a big tank. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?275939-4300-Gallon-Plywood-Build-(3600-Take-2)

------
I really need to finish cleaning out the garage today. I had some stuff come up yesterday and I never got a chance to, and I didn't make it to Lowe's either. Hopefully today.