135g build out

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
yogurt_21

yogurt_21

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 5, 2009
1,087
1
0
AZ, USA
So as the title suggest I'm building out my 125g tank with a broken front panel into a larger tank. After some discussion (read begging) with my wife I was able to get to a maximum footprint of 8x3 and decided on 30" for the height.

This will make a 450g tank with a 24sqft footprint, this will be a salt tank.

the tank will be a plywood build and will have to be decent looking as per wife demands.

I've attached some mock up images I did with sketch up to show the basic design the stand will be made out of 2x4's and plywood and will be 8' x 3' by 34" (the same height as the 125's current stand, I'll be re-using that lumber in addition to the extra needed).

I've resealed the free 135g I got from a freind and that will be going into the den shortly to house my freshwater fish until the pond is finished. This project will take place in tandem with the others.

Have to have all of this wrapped up before december when the new baby comes but I expect the pond to be done by the end of the month and this to be done close to the same time if I do it right the first time, If not I'll default back to the december date.

450g tank2.png

450g tank.png
 
Nice! Isn't it amazing how the desire for larger tanks easily brings us to our knees in front of our significant others?

Can't wait to see the build, you've got a heck of a lot going on right now, especially with a kid on the way!
 
yeah that's kinda how it goes around here, I did the same thing before my daughter was born, ran through the gauntlet of projects before she was born because I knew i'd have no time once she got here.

same goes for this one.

the 135g is the immediate finish followed by the pond and the start of this project. My back patio is strewn with tanks and equipment right now. I'm almost ready to apply for the redneck patio of the month, just need to put the toilet out there. lol
 
yogurt_21;4365491; said:
yeah that's kinda how it goes around here, I did the same thing before my daughter was born, ran through the gauntlet of projects before she was born because I knew i'd have no time once she got here.

same goes for this one.

the 135g is the immediate finish followed by the pond and the start of this project. My back patio is strewn with tanks and equipment right now. I'm almost ready to apply for the redneck patio of the month, just need to put the toilet out there. lol
Click to expand...

Just make sure there's something filled with ice and beer, or else it isn't really redneck enough!
 
finished the reseal on the 135g, now i just have to wait until it dries to test it.

Once I can ensure it holds water I'll get it setup and move my fish over there.

then that will give me time to sell my 100g, 55g, and 10g tanks and equipment (will help finance the project and i simply have no space to store them anymore)and disassemble my diy stand for the 100g as I'll be re-using the lumber.

first pic is of the broken side on the 125 that started this project, all others are fine and take a note of the location and that the break spans the whole height of the tank, this is why that top center brace is important, I could have easily had 125g on the floor, as it was there was barely a gallon becuase of how slow a leak it was.

second pic shows the resealed 135g (6'x1.5'x2') That has it's own stand filtration decorations and the works so it'll be a nice temp home until the pond is done

on that note, i'm out of mortar and will be getting more tomorrow as well as the base lumber for this tank and stand.

final pic shows the cabinet dorrs off of my 125g's stand that I had to throw out due to mold. (whole other mess with my a/c broken at the same time a pump on the tank went out)

these will be sanded and restained to match the rest of the tank there's 4 of them just like there's 4 on the sketchup (coincidence, I think not!)

btw the white things on them are child safety locks.


so hopefully tomorrow I'll be at least cutting 2x4's for this project.

100_2078.jpg

100_2079.jpg

100_2082.jpg
 
picked up some 2x 4's and 4 4'x8' sheets of plywood, this will make up the tank. Hope to get started when I get home. I only got 11 2x4's at the moment because, well after 60 pieces that's all that was straight and i was tired of digging at that point. Should be enough for the tank and I'll get teh others for the stand at another time.


The plan is to use the 2x4's and plywood as the base of the tank and then a thin layer of hardwood (or a nicer sanded plywood, like redwood, oak, or maple) on the outside to make the pretties.

This way I can get decent bracing without an ugly outside look.

still looking into the waterproofer but homedepot carries the following anyone used any of them before?

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

http://www.homedepot.com/Paint-Exte...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
 
Well, the second two both say they resist mildew and fungus, so I'd think that they're not safe. I'm not sure about the first one. You could buy a gallon, build a mini-tank, coat it, and then put some fish in it for a few weeks or months. If they don't die, maybe its safe?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom