What to use to seal plywood tank?
- Thread starter suds1421
- Start date
Wish everyone here would start off with smaller projects or with something under 50 gallons. Then gradually work their way up to the 400+ gallon monster tanks. The learning experience is priceless. Worst enemies for DIY'ers is lack of experience, small budgets, and plain old ignorance. We all need to start somewhere. Start off with building an aquarium stand and/or a canopy hood since some need to learn some basic cabinet making techniques. Some need to learn how to use tools properly and safely. After a few dozen or so builds, we all become experts, and hopefully there's no more eye balling it. Make blueprints, jigs, and guides for everything.
It's like how rookie fish keepers start off with a bucket brigade, then discover the python hose water change system, then once they become well advanced they'll get into drip systems or automatic water changers. Tank building methods probably should be learned the same way. One step at a time. Building an aquarium shouldn't be about trying to save some money. It's about learning a craft and getting the self satisfaction of being able to do it yourself.
I doubt that many people who build their own tanks are doing it for the experience, they simply want a cheap tank.
Letting someone know that there is a cut off point for diminishing returns on this sort of thing is just good mojo.
Letting someone know that there is a cut off point for diminishing returns on this sort of thing is just good mojo.
I agree with this... "experience" is irrelevant as small builds 200gal or less do not react the same as builds of a larger scale. Practices/methods may work on your "test" build and fail miserably on a larger scale. You can gain experience in the process but its pretty much just a waste of money as spiff noted. You end up paying more for homemade tanks of lesser quality as there is most definetly a cutoff point for builds. Ive picked up 200gal acrylics in great condition for a dollar a gallon. I guarentee its cheaper to buy a used tank 500gal or less. The price point of saving money on tanks really doesnt come into play until 500-1000gal or larger....even then its debatable. For example it cost me around $2k to build my 650gal, about $500 for my 1400gal....and ill come in around $1500 for a 3200gal. Proof is in the punch lol... first tank i built was a 60gallon that cost me $300-400, only thing i learned is it was a complete waste of money and my time.
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Very true. Also not many build or buy a large tank first, then get the fish. The DIY'ers probably already have completely overstocked tank(s) or have large fast growing fish that need a bigger home.
I've been an active member/lurker at several DIY fish forums for over 10 years. What burns MFK and other DIY forums is the large percent of build threads that don't see completion. I'd guess that the failure rate is about 75%. Lots of DIY'ers just disappear off into cyberspace. My assumption is that their fish died during the build, so they quit. Or they have to move/relocate, and need to sell everything off. Or they get married, or have kids, or have growing responsibilities and expenses. Monster fishkeeping is pretty much for those with some disposable income and time to waste. Can't have too many other hobbies or vacation plans either, as fish require constant care, with daily feedings, and frequent aquarium maintenance. The hobby turns into non-stop fish husbandry and babysitting. Most important, you can't neglect the fish while your building the bigger tank.
