115 gallon TALL (5 foot) tank build

[Andyroo]

I've often thought that a built-in corner tank would be interesting. Yes, fitting filtration underneath, lighting above and reaching in to deal with it would be the issues. A DIY canister (or several) would be the trick, with intakes in a perforated 1/3ed 3" PVC pipe sealed into the back corner, with a big bubbler putting bubbles up its face to keep it from getting blocked. Lights: a tray ceiling with a couple of high-intensity LED pot-lights, sealed from the humidity with a thin glass panel. Maintenance: To take a 5 or 6 x4 piece of 1/2" glass and affix (silicone cement) a welded angle-steel frame (epoxy sealed) around it, one could set a permanent steel "female" frame into the wall with thumb-screws that fit into the "male" steel around the glass and a (greased?) silicone tube gasket to fit between. In an 8" tall room, you could have 1.3' under-tank space of cupboard, 5' of glass/tank, 4-6" of drop-ceiling for the pot-lights and a little bit of access to add fish & food & meds & scoop out floating plants etc... Glass cleaning by magnet (and snail & pleco).
Set and decorate and everything with the glass out, then set the (framed) glass and thumb-screw it in against the gasket and fill it up via a direct plumb to the filter. Yes, my walls are concrete so I'd only need to epoxy seal 'em. Only small & juvenile fish would fit in the top, and heaven knows what the programme would be to remove fish to drain the tank for maintenance... all part of the fun, I suppose. Maybe a secondary panel at the bottom, such that you drain down to 2" via the filters/plumbing then open the panel (with fish) into a big tupperware bin. Or just a low spot in the bottom to keep the fish until I get the panel out.
Seems like a headache, but would look very groovy with tetras & discus & altum angels & nice, long plants set into decorative pots & an interesting bit of texturing & fake roots for the back walls.
A

 

[Zman12]

Andyroo - You pretty much listed what I am thinking for stock. The idea of mine being built is is not an option because I want to be able to take this with me when I move. I have been considering LEDs to light it. That's still in the air though. The bubbles under the intake might work to keep some debris off the grate. I will have to consider that idea.

 

[Zman12]

Well I got some work done on the tank this afternoon, after I unloaded the wood I bought yesterday.

I have (if I counted correctly) all my wall studs cut. Still need to notch those, not looking forward to that.

With the scrap off of those cuts for the walls and two more 2x4s I got the stand mostly done. I still need to add the bracing across the front and the braceing across the bottom and the top.

Still have lots of scrap to play with any were I feel the need for extra bracing.

Decided to go with the top trickle filter today.

Any way pictures of some of the supplies and the partially compleated stand. Still not sure if you could call it a stand though its only 10 inches tall (if I remember the hight correctly... I have trouble remembering these things when I am not working on them... )

 

[Griller]

Fantastic - the vision starts to become reality. Thanks for the pics. Nice woodwork.

 

[Zman12]

Nice woodwork.

The pictures are deceiving. I am not very happy with my cuts they are not as square as I would like. A chop saw would have made this SO much easier. They aren't going any where, their solid just not pretty.

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I have been thinking I am going to have to coat the outside of that trickle filter with something other then liquid rubber. I am under the impression that it remains tacky. If that is the case I am concerned that the weight of the water combined the pressing down on the liquid rubber coated wood may bond it to the top rim of the tank. I am afraid to the point that it may be hard to get off, or even worse you wouldn't be able to take it off with out destroying the coating. Its a little idea that crept into my mind last night, it just sits there making me feel uncomfortable about that filter box.

I have some left over drylock from my 55 gallon hood. I may use that on the outside of the sump.

 

[Zman12]

GRR! I just realized I made my side 6 inches to short!
Some how I got numbers crossed in my head! I got all the cuts perfect to the numbers even checked before and after cutting its spot on 39 inches square! It should have been 45 inches; I think I am going crazy.

At least this is the stand so I can fix it, and it wont impact the structural stability of the tank. Still frustrating to no end though.

Glad I caught my mistake before I started on the base of the tank and couldn't figure out why the plywood didn't fit!

Well now I know what is first on the list after I get the plywood when I get off work.

 

[Zman12]

Well I got a little more done tonight.

Fixed my mistake on the stand, cut one sheet of plywood put in the cross bracing on the bottom of the stand to keep it square, and mounted the bottom of the tank on the first row of 2x4s.





I have to get some filler before I get any further I have a hole/seam in the plywood that I didn't notice tell after I had cut it out. I tried to miss all of those and make them on the top edge of the wall apparently I missed one.


^ I just want to make sure I don't have any gaps that the liquid rubber can force its way out of.

I have quite a bit I can do before I have to worry about filling that crack so I will wait as long as I can. I hate messing with auto body filler and want to do it all at once if I can.

 

[Griller]

I am under the impression that it remains tacky. If that is the case I am concerned that the weight of the water combined the pressing down on the liquid rubber coated wood may bond it to the top rim of the tank. I am afraid to the point that it may be hard to get off, or even worse you wouldn't be able to take it off with out destroying the coating.

Yes, that is a very valid point. That is a major drawback of liquid rubber

 

[Zman12]

Got a whole wall put up today and skinned with plywood. Not bad for less then 3 hours of work. Didn't get much done yesterday other then finishing the stand I was to tired and it was to hot out in the garage.

I changed the plan and didn't notch my vertical supports I decided it just wasn't worth it. To much of a hassle and no real benefit. Instead I shoved a piece of plywood and glued it down then screwed through the 2x4 into the plywood and then into the other 2x4.

Apperently te Plywood didn't come out square despite my efforts. So now I am going to have to shove a shimm in the back corner to cover up that mess. Then trim down the front side flush. I also ran into another snag in that one of the 2x4s I was using for testing the length of the walls some how got cut shorter then the rest. I am wondering if I just labeled a piece of scrap wrong or something. But I am going to have to throw a small band of plywood on the top to make it flush with the 2x4s. Its an easy fix, just going to need some bondo. I think I am going to need the jumbo size...

As I have heard it said paint and filler will hide a lot of imperfections.

Any way pictures, and one for scale. I am a 6 foot tall hair guy, to put the size in perspective.

 

[Griller]

I hope the patch up plywood won't compromise your tank. Make sure it's strong.

Looking fantastic Zman, keep up the good work!