100 Gallon glass and hardwood tank

[BIG-G]

Very creative I must say. I like were this one is going compared to the taped tank. I may be wrong, But I just don't think that the tape would have held up in the long term. Keep it up, new ideas are what keeps this hobby interesting and moving forward.

 

[toweraquaticservices]

I decided to use the 1/4 inch hardi and drylok method. I 45'd all seams, glued screwed and caulked the hardi with acrylic latex caulk. Then I will bondo all seams, which I think will be better than just siliconing them. Then put 4 coats of drylok, tinting each time to assure coverage. I will wait a full week after bondo for drylok and then I have a question....

Is it better to put additional coats of drylok on every 3 hours or 24 hours, it seems to me that having additional coats every 3 hours will help make one thick layer of drylok instead of 4 layers dry on each other and cause peeling later. comments?????

Also, which bondo product would work better for concrete....

 

[toweraquaticservices]

this is my idea for one side of the filter tower....It will go in the left side of the desk, space is limited, so I need the grow area to be 20" deep x 10" wide x 12" tall to be able to work. Would like to have some kind of natural filtering (what plant would be best?) as well as the bio and mechanical, I would also try to raise the RCS or ghosts in there for food for turtle and either barbs or cichlids.

Found the bondo and will pick it up today and cover all seams and corners......

 

[toweraquaticservices]

Well, here is the new and improved (i hope) version of the desk conversion. 1/4 inch hard over plywood, 45'd seams, caulked with acrylic latex caulk everywhere.....will start the drylok painting Sunday or Monday..

 

[toweraquaticservices]

I put the third coat of drylok yesterday....
Going to install the glass tonight, then 2 more coats of drylok tomorrow, then dry until Saturday, probably friday night becasue I have no patients.
I have the multi-stage filter/sump figured out, I will post pictures once I know this thing will hold water.
I would like to add that after 3 coats of Drylok, this thing looks to be pretty solid and waterproof.

 

[toweraquaticservices]

I only put the one small piece of glass in last night, i'm goin to put the other in tonight. then 2 coats drylok on thursday, then water saturday, hopefully my christmas present will be a dry floor.

I would definately like some comments.....something.....please someone......

 

[imusuallyuseless]

Wish you luck certainly this one will hold up better

 

[toweraquaticservices]

I installed the 15x36 inch front pane of glass last night. Something I learned from installing the little window...tape the tank and glass prior to siliconing, its much easier to clean up after, and if you pull the tape off when the silicone is still wet, makes for a nice seam. Being this is a one piece system, its quite large and heavy. Not too heavy when empty for two men to carry, but to flip it around on its side and front to install the glass, pretty ackward by yourself. I know i keep changing whats happening next all the time, but with Christmas this week, I have to move my priorities around. But.....1 more coat of drylok tonight, and two tomorrow as I have the day off and let dry until Saturday then fill and test for Christmas. I will take some more pictures tonight and post my progress on the filter system.

 

[Mysta513]

nice build.. i think i will try this myself

 

[toweraquaticservices]

Thanks Mysta....I believe it to be a good plan being a one piece unit. Time to put another coat of drylok, so far I have 2 coats of white and one coat of the tinted drylok. Will put 3 more coats of tinted before I fill with water. More pics and info tonight.