120 gallon plywood/acrylic tank

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
well guys ive got some good news and some bad news. the good news the tank is fully constructed except the stain and sealer on the out side. the bad news is i decided to fill the tank today and got half way full when i did a walk around the tank and noticed a small leak on the right side window near the bottom corner. after draining the tank and drying it all up i believe i found my culprit. i did not like this corner when i put the acrylic in but i thought i got it sealed but it turns out there was a section that only got a partial bead of silicone on it and this is where the water found its way out. so the plan is to take a drinking straw and tape it to the caulking gun and try to force some more silicone into the void and also put another layer of silicone around all the seams of the tank. the bummer part is now i have to wait another three days to fill the tank again. oh well i guess that will give me time to get the other odds and ends done.

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aw man, that sucks. But at least you caught it and it wasn't some horrible, unfixable mess. Also, if you wouldn't mind I'd like to see a pic of your off-center brace, and if there's been any noticeable issue with that, or if it's working fine for you.
 
well since i have to wait till Monday to re fill the tank, i decided to start messing with my lights. i went to the local pond supply store and picked up two aquascape led light rings. well my first impression was these suck they work great as a spot light but not very good as a flood light. so i started playing with them and found that if i added light refractors like what is used on florescent lights and presto i had some flood lights. so i decided to put the two lights that i bought under the basking area to light up this section of the tank. i will be getting a small 24-30 inch florescent light to go on top of the tank to light the rest of the water area. my original plan was to use the two lights at the two front corners to light the entire water area. i liked the look but the wife did not so that idea was out. it was kinda dim anyways. mean while, i put some wood filler over all my nail holes and now i wait till that drys so that i can sand it all down and get to staining.

my next hurdle, will be the ramp from the water to the basking area i have not decided how to do this yet any ideas? from my guesses the basking area will be about 1 to 2 inches above the water surface


to answer your question taninsama, i have not found any ill effects as of yet but i have only filled the tank half way so i am not sure yet if i end up with issues i will add another brace the same distance from the other side

the brace is under the tile that is in the pic

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all stained now i just have to give it time to dry and then seal and the tank will be done except adding the acrylic to the ATBA. so should i screw it in or silicone it will not need to hold water so i think i will screw it in

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I love your new project, good work. also your wife was right about the lights ;) as for the ramp and platform, why not go for something natural looking such as corkwood bark, or if you want to make it less of a ramp and more of a stairway, try siliconing pieces of slate to make steps, I have done that for my turtles and they seem to like it.
 
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