600g DIY plywood build

[DIFish]

1 year pic update! Bedsides the stingray taking a spill over the overflow and nearly scaring me to death, there are no issues to report. Cannot express how satisfied I am with the whole build. Zero problems and almost zero maintenance. I spend more time taking these pictures and feeding the fish than I do working on the tank.

 

[Killduv]

Looking good so far. Glad all is well with the tank. The fish looks great and full of life.

 

[Killduv]

Looking good so far. Glad all is well with the tank. All the fish look great too.

 

[EighthNotch]

Excellent build man. Keep us updated every so often, I love tuning back into old threads.

 

[nzafi]

Stupid question, do you only do one layer of screws? Meaning it looks like you used 1.25in screws so I'm assuming you glued your main pieces of plywood and then put the screws through then frame around the main pieces. Or did you use small screws to hold the main pieces of plywood together?

 

[DIFish]

Excellent build man. Keep us updated every so often, I love tuning back into old threads.

Thank you! I plan on it, will be nice to see how the tank ages and changes as well as if the plywood holds up for years to come.

Stupid question, do you only do one layer of screws? Meaning it looks like you used 1.25in screws so I'm assuming you glued your main pieces of plywood and then put the screws through then frame around the main pieces. Or did you use small screws to hold the main pieces of plywood together?

There is indeed a small layer of 2-inch screws holding together the main 5 sides as well as the top bracing in place underneath the reinforcement bracing. I also glued everywhere that the plywood meets.

 

[nzafi]

Thank you! I plan on it, will be nice to see how the tank ages and changes as well as if the plywood holds up for years to come.

There is indeed a small layer of 2-inch screws holding together the main 5 sides as well as the top bracing in place underneath the reinforcement bracing. I also glued everywhere that the plywood meets.

So you used 2in nails and 1.25in nails? Is there any risk of splitting the plywood when you join them? Guess you need to be pretty accurate

 

[DIFish]

So you used 2in nails and 1.25in nails? Is there any risk of splitting the plywood when you join them? Guess you need to be pretty accurate

Yeah the 2 different sizes were all I used. There's always a risk of splitting the wood, but I didn't have a problem using the specialized screws and going slow. You could always predrill your holes if you are that worried, but as there are hundreds of screws I just bought good ones and didn't worry too much about it.

 

[john73738]

This is an amazing build. I built a 240 about 6 years ago, and am now looking to upgrade to a 500 in the next year or so (Have to build a camper first).

Hope you get many great years with that tank.

 

[DIFish]

This is an amazing build. I built a 240 about 6 years ago, and am now looking to upgrade to a 500 in the next year or so (Have to build a camper first).

Hope you get many great years with that tank.

Thank you very much! That's good to hear, good luck with the tank, let me know how it goes.