225 Gallon Plywood Tank Build

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
yea i found it kinda locally i got it on a trip i did not too long ago. and yea a piece that size would have cost a lot. for the tank i built the frame then attached the plywood to the inside and the bottom. also all the corners are beveled/mitered so i have a lot of surface area in the corners. also i put titebond III in all the joints then screwed the corners from both sides. i did a destruction test on this idea and it took me about 10 whacks with a 5 lb hammer to get the joint to break and that was without glue. when it broke it ripped the screws out of the wood
 
sounds pretty damn sturdy then. I'll be contemplating some sort of exterior bracing, I'm just not sure about the exact design. I will have a 6" lip around the entire top and through the center for support so I might not go too overboard with the exterior bracing. thanks for the idea though! I'm always happy to learn more about plywood builds especially considering construction isn't my best skill lol
 
most external bracing that i have seen have the 2x4's configured like a wall in a house. i decided to go the way i did was because from my research i could have gotten away with 3/4 inch ply but to get the tank to its final destination i will have to flip it onto its end to get it through a hallway and doors so i figured the extra bracing would fair better than not having it.
 
true. my tank most likely won't leave it's spot in the basement unless a miracle happens and I earn enough to move out of my parents lol but I for sure will consider some exterior bracing. even if its only an exterior trim around the top and bottom of the tank im sure that will help significantly. I may use some sort of design similar to the stand build for my bracing, but I won't know for sure until I get to that point.

My actual build design came from this build video by UaruJoey. He is a member on here, but I'm not sure what his MFK username is:
http://youtu.be/cdyANDq_x_s?hd=1
It's a bit larger than my tank build so I figured this design would work just fine
 
So I am still trying to figure everything out on SketchUp, but this is a very rough and un-finished version of what the tank will look like when done. All The black surfaces will be coated in Liquid Rubber(obviously). Two access panels in the top and one large window in front. I'll have better models as I get better at it. Starting a MAJOR cleaning in the basement as well so HOPEFULLY I will have some updates for everyone by next week.

workinprogress.jpg

workinprogress.jpg
 
Here's some better models. It took me a while to figure out SketchUp, but these came out a lot better. The first one is without glass and the last 3 are with glass. I painted the bottom with a sand groundcovering to mimic the sand I will have in the tank. Now I just have to get off my lazy ass and get this finished!!

Finalized without glass.jpg
Finalized with glass.jpg
Finalized with glass2.jpg
Finalized with glass3.jpg

Finalized with glass.jpg

Finalized without glass.jpg

Finalized with glass2.jpg

Finalized with glass3.jpg
 
looking good. i do all my designing with sketchup. the biggest problem i had with the program was i came from a cad background and all the stuff i did in cad did not transfer over. now that i have it down you can do a lot with it. i even designed and built a rc airplane with it. good luck on the build keep us posted
 
looking good. i do all my designing with sketchup. the biggest problem i had with the program was i came from a cad background and all the stuff i did in cad did not transfer over. now that i have it down you can do a lot with it. i even designed and built a rc airplane with it. good luck on the build keep us posted

yeah there's still some small tricks and things I am figuring out, but I can see myself doing a lot of mock ups with this software. For being a free program it's pretty good. I've already started doing other models for future tanks builds and projects

looks cool!

thanks! I should have some updates soon. The stand is done, I just need to get the actual tank started.
 
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