I am not a fan of blue color inside tanks but this is going to be an awesome setup. I'll say it again glad you're back at it!
1300 Gallon Plywood Tank Build
- Thread starter djseverson@yahoo.com
- Start date
Thanks. The blue is darker than I was hoping, but I don't think it will be an issue once the lights are in. I have two brands of LED hanging Shop lights. 3 or 4 of each. I have one brand on a tank in the basement with great success no problems. I have the Costco one on my 200 tank and I can't control the string algae, that tank has more direct sunlight as well. I am going to have to isolate weather the sunlight, nutrient level, or LED light is the biggest cause of my algae issues. I didn't have the problem when I had a warmer lamp in the tank.
Most of the tank bottom half is going to be either the glass windows or shelved with rocks and caves. Below the bags are multi colored 3/8 crushed rock for the gravel substrate. 1600 pounds should cover the bottom 3" deep. I also have the plexi glass shown that I am using for extra liner protection on the tank bottom. 1 @ 4' x 8' sheet and another half sheet of 1/4" thick acrylic ran me about $300. Bluemax ran between $500 and $600 for two 5gal buckets, seam tapes, and delivery, probably would have been fine with a single bucket of trowel grade, but more is better.
I am showing one possible concern for tank failure however. Bluemax says to use their seaming tank on a flat seam. It is not intended for the corner application. As the thickness levels built up on the seaming tape, I noticed my front corner seam shrunk a little and pulled up out of the corner creating a sweep instead of a 90 degree corner. I am hoping the coating and the seam tape together will stretch rather than break once it is filled with water.
Well hopefully it won't be an issue. As for the algae could be either or, you'll have to isolate one or the other to see. Possibly both for a week or so to help kill off the algae you currently have. My guess is the sunlight.
Hard to tell what's going on in that corner. The whole finish looks super irregular though. I've never used the product and of course pics/lighting make it hard to tell. Does the whole tank look uniform in color?
BTW..bad ass build..keep the updates coming
BTW..bad ass build..keep the updates coming
I have "painted" on the last few coats in a wavy pattern, that and the high gloss finish and low light give it quite a bit of dimension. At this point the blue shade is pretty deep across the tank, but still not uniform. The product is semi transparent, so it has always had a darker color over the areas that were coated with thinset.
Glass set into tank. 2 cross bars installed. I need to seal the glass, finish cross bars and water proofing. Then to plumbing.
I bolted shelf brackets to the cross bars to keep the glass from falling backward. Once it is sealed in the brackets shouldn't be necessary, but it makes me feel better. Glass dimension 63" W x 44" H and .75" thick. End window 42" x 44" high x .75" thick. Tempered and about 2.5" overlap of glass and frame.
I bolted shelf brackets to the cross bars to keep the glass from falling backward. Once it is sealed in the brackets shouldn't be necessary, but it makes me feel better. Glass dimension 63" W x 44" H and .75" thick. End window 42" x 44" high x .75" thick. Tempered and about 2.5" overlap of glass and frame.
Hot damn!!! Just put fish in it already, or open it up to the public for swimming lessons!! Amazing job so far!
The ames/blue max will turn a very light blue color as pictured on the can when submerged. It also gets pretty soft under water, the acrylic under ur substrate was a good choice as u can almost peel off the ames with ur finger over time under water. Do some digging on here theres another tank up and running with ames blue max from a few yrs ago. Not sure if shes still holding but worth looking into. I use it for wood lids on 1 tank and as a waterproofer for cinder basement walls...
My apologies for not being able to link this for u...def. worth reading through. Some good points on silicone not adhering to liquid rubber that should help u with the window seal.
