Considering a Plywood tank

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kavin2845

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jun 26, 2012
985
1
16
Malden,Massachusetts
Hey guys!

gonna be moving to a new house in about two months and was thinking of a new tank to bump up from the 55 and 35 and 40 i have, wanted to do a Rubbermaid stock tank but realized i wouldn't get much enjoyment out of it, there is a wood shop at my high school and im really good friends with the wood shop director and he said it sounded like a good idea and if the principal ever asks why were doing it, we would say its a class project! lol!. So basically the wood for tank and the stand would be free, i was planning to build a 180 - 240 gallon tank, there are a couple question i need to be answered

1. Where can i get the glass?
2. How thick should the glass be?
3. How much would it cost?
4. Are there any online dimensions of tanks 180-240 gallons online?
5. How do i waterproof it?
6.How much would the waterproofing method cost?

I was thinking to get a silver arowana and maybe a ray so what size tank would be best?

Thanks!
 
If you're looking to build a long-term home for a silver arowana you will want to go for at least 8x3x2', which with a plywood build won't cost much more than 8x2x2' as the glass (which will be the single most expensive part of the build unless you can source it used) window will be the same.

Can't advise where to get it, but the window for a 2' tall tank should be at leasst 10mm thick, 12mm would be better. You may be able to find a cracked tank for cheap that you can salvage the window from.

There are plenty of good plywood builds on here that you could take inspiration from as to how you waterproof and construct it. Read through some of the threads and learn the pros and cons of each method and decide which one best suits your skills and needs.
 
David R said:
If you're looking to build a long-term home for a silver arowana you will want to go for at least 8x3x2', which with a plywood build won't cost much more than 8x2x2' as the glass (which will be the single most expensive part of the build unless you can source it used) window will be the same.

Can't advise where to get it, but the window for a 2' tall tank should be at leasst 10mm thick, 12mm would be better. You may be able to find a cracked tank for cheap that you can salvage the window from.

There are plenty of good plywood builds on here that you could take inspiration from as to how you waterproof and construct it. Read through some of the threads and learn the pros and cons of each method and decide which one best suits your skills and needs.
Click to expand...

Hey thanks for the response, do you watch uarujoey's vids online? Did you see his 240 gallon plywood tank? I pm him for the dimensions for that tank, I think not sure but it's 5ftx3ftx2ft in length would that be suitable for like a silver arowana or jardini? 8ft seems a bit too big I'll have to go back to the house and measure to see if I have space.


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I've seen that video a long time ago. 5*3 would be a good grow out, but a silver aro should grow to around 30" in captivity, so 8' length is really the minimum space required. Check out bdereks tank in the arowana forum if you want to see how small adult arowana make an 8' tank look.

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David R said:
I've seen that video a long time ago. 5*3 would be a good grow out, but a silver aro should grow to around 30" in captivity, so 8' length is really the minimum space required. Check out bdereks tank in the arowana forum if you want to see how small adult arowana make an 8' tank look.

Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Click to expand...

well then i that case i wouldn't go for a silver arowana i wouldnt want the bare minimum for a fish, are there any smaller arowana species that would be suitable?

any other species of fish you think would go good in a 240? 5x3x2? i was thinking some rays always look so sweet but i never had em and some people say there really sensitive? idk

i would love to get the 8x2x2 but my car wouldn't be able to move it to my house and i would need to get a uhaul and i dont think my house has the space for the 8ft tank maybe there would be other dimensions that would be better.
 
David R said:
I've seen that video a long time ago. 5*3 would be a good grow out, but a silver aro should grow to around 30" in captivity, so 8' length is really the minimum space required. Check out bdereks tank in the arowana forum if you want to see how small adult arowana make an 8' tank look.

Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Click to expand...

well i read up and realized my tank would be too small for any rays so scratch that lol

i might get a spotted or Florida gar since those would be more suitable
 
A 5x3x2' tank would be great for all sorts of aquarium fish, just not the real monsters like arowana, rays, big cats etc. Plenty of cichlids (South America, Central American or African) that stay under 12" long and could make a very interesting community in a tank that size. Plenty of oddballs too like Polypterus, spiny eels, smaller knife fish etc.
 
David R said:
A 5x3x2' tank would be great for all sorts of aquarium fish, just not the real monsters like arowana, rays, big cats etc. Plenty of cichlids (South America, Central American or African) that stay under 12" long and could make a very interesting community in a tank that size. Plenty of oddballs too like Polypterus, spiny eels, smaller knife fish etc.
Click to expand...

yeah i thought that too, what do you think about the gars?
 
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