300ish Gallon plywood - First attempt

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
JK47;4681363; said:
What are you using to cut lids? I ask because I need to fashion something together as well for the cold months of the year on my 120 gallon.
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I've got a bunch of glass left over from various things and my dads fish days.

I have glass working tools. A glass cutter will only cost a few dollars. Home depot should have them. It's just a handle with a diamond wheel on it. The 2 I use have an oil reservoir in the handle that lets oil out when you push down it. Mine are probably 25 years old or better.

Here is a link for home depot cutters. Glass Cutters

Use a straight edge. Measure a few times. Steady pressure. Possible to need two passes. Then support the glass from underneath just off the carpet or pad you use for cutting surface. Then tap along the bottom of score lightly with the ball end of the cutter.(the opposite side of the score line) It will splinter the cut line and should either break on the score made or need a bit of pressure.

WARNING- The edges will be EXTREMELY sharp after the break. You'll need a stone to smooth the edges. I have a tool that has 2 stones that does both edges at the same time. Look around for glass stones. They are like course knife sharpening stones.
Mine looks kind of like this.

Glass seamer.


Wear gloves and glasses and take your time. The little glass shards are near invisible but fly around when your tapping on the score.
 
Kcameron;4686706; said:
A little late in the game, but I'm subscribed. I'm in the works to buy a 210gallon tank but would like to know if it would be more cost efficient to make one. A tank this size would be perfect.

How much, in total, has it cost you so far?
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This has been addressed in the past but I'll go over it again.

Plywood tanks don't really become cost effective until you get in the 500+ gallon range. Although a smaller one is good practice your probably going to spend a similar amount to a prebuilt glass or acrylic tank,

UNLESS you have some way to keep the cost down. In my case I have a woodworking shop and a lot of materials left over from various projects. I think it cost me about 20 bucks to build that stand. That was the cost of paint and screws. Everything else I had on hand. So if you have special access to some of the materials needed and the skills needed to build something of this in a safe manner I would stick with prebuilt tanks.

I really haven't kept track of the cost as this is more for fun then anything else.

The stand cost about bucks.

Plywood for tank - $200
Glass 71x29x 0.5" - $200
silicone - $40
Rubberised sealant paint - $40
1900GPH pump - $180

So about $660 so far over time. Which is a chunk of change all at once but it you bargin shop and spread it out its not bad.

Using the same piece of glass I could have made this tank 8 feet x 8 feet with the 72x30 view window and only spent a little more on 1 or 2 sheets of plywood. Everything else would remain the same. That would be about 1200 gallons for the same $660 bucks. See how that becomes more cost effective. But the size wouldn't work for me so 300 gallon it was.
 
Muni;4686893; said:
Rubberised sealant paint - $40
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Are you saying you only used one gallon of the InsulX on this build? Or did you use one new gallon plus the leftover from the test sump?

Assuming the latter, what was the total gallons of paint used on just the tank?
 
CJH;4686941; said:
Are you saying you only used one gallon of the InsulX on this build? Or did you use one new gallon plus the leftover from the test sump?

Assuming the latter, what was the total gallons of paint used on just the tank?
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Less then 1 gallon for the sump and tank. 3 coats each with recommend drying time of 4-8 hours between coats but no more then 24 to prevent peeling layers.

The first coat soaks into the wood. The others just stack on. It goes on fairly thin and looks to me very much like the rubber base used in truck bed liners.
 
Muni;4687314; said:
Less then 1 gallon for the sump and tank.
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Do you happen to know the interior square footage of the tank and sump off the top of your head? If you don't I can go back to the beginning and figure it out.

I'd like the calculate the approximate dry mill thickness the material was applied now that we know it's been holding water for a while.
 
Muni;4686893; said:
This has been addressed in the past but I'll go over it again.

Plywood tanks don't really become cost effective until you get in the 500+ gallon range. Although a smaller one is good practice your probably going to spend a similar amount to a prebuilt glass or acrylic tank,

UNLESS you have some way to keep the cost down. In my case I have a woodworking shop and a lot of materials left over from various projects. I think it cost me about 20 bucks to build that stand. That was the cost of paint and screws. Everything else I had on hand. So if you have special access to some of the materials needed and the skills needed to build something of this in a safe manner I would stick with prebuilt tanks.

I really haven't kept track of the cost as this is more for fun then anything else.

The stand cost about bucks.

Plywood for tank - $200
Glass 71x29x 0.5" - $200
silicone - $40
Rubberised sealant paint - $40
1900GPH pump - $180

So about $660 so far over time. Which is a chunk of change all at once but it you bargin shop and spread it out its not bad.

Using the same piece of glass I could have made this tank 8 feet x 8 feet with the 72x30 view window and only spent a little more on 1 or 2 sheets of plywood. Everything else would remain the same. That would be about 1200 gallons for the same $660 bucks. See how that becomes more cost effective. But the size wouldn't work for me so 300 gallon it was.
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haha thats what I thought it would be. And its a few bucks less than what I'll be spending on the tank (and I'd have to scrounge for wood supplies lol). Thanks, I'll just enjoy your build :)
 
This has got to be the most comprehensive DIY guide/thread i've read on MFK so far. You're really an inspiration man. I'm thinking of doing something like this but using pond liner instead of waterproofing the plywood. Will have to see how. I live in an apartment, second floor. Kinda' cramp in here but i'll try. Looking to get a 72x30x36 tank done in the near future. Looks like i'll be doing some saving up. It's hard when i'm 19 and have zero experience in carpentry. I really applaud your work and i'm looking forward to seeing your future black arowana(s)!
 
CJH;4687470; said:
Do you happen to know the interior square footage of the tank and sump off the top of your head? If you don't I can go back to the beginning and figure it out.

I'd like the calculate the approximate dry mill thickness the material was applied now that we know it's been holding water for a while.
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I'd have to calculate it out.

(72 x 32 x 2)/144= 32 for bottom and top.
(72 x 30)/144= 15 for back.
(30 x 32 x 2)/144= 13.3 for sides.

So thats 60.3 SQ ft. approximately for the tank.
 
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