450 Gallon plywood build

[OLroy]

So this is my first attempt at building a tank but have read most of the successful ones and have a pretty good idea on how to do it. My plan right now is for a 6'x3'x40" tank works out to just under 450 gallons. will be in my basement on a concrete floor so weight is not an issue.

I lucked out in the most expensive part of the tank was the glass, gotta love Kijiji got 2 sheets for free . I will be picking up the wood next month and starting the build in February. I just have a few questions for the filtration, as I am going to be building my first sump and over flow system. I need to get around to reading the sticky about the over flow before I go asking questions that are already answered in the sticky. any advice before I start or suggestions on what I should do are appericated

 

[john73738]

Look forward to seeing what you do as I am beginning a plywood build myself.

Good Luck

Bear

 

[brianhellno]

My only suggestion: Piranha. Lots of piranha.

 

[dsaavedra]

you seriously lucked out on getting 2 sheets of glass for free dude!

 

[Pharaoh]

What is the thickness of the glass that you have? You might compare it to the calculators in the sticky to see how they match up.

 

[OLroy]

I was planning on putting Large mouth bass in the tank as it is going to be in a garage that is cold in the winter, so I don't want to have to heat the water and pay $50 a month for the electricty. The glass is 12mm so it matches with the sticky

 

[big dovii]

Hey I see your in Canada bro. Do you know what your lining your tank with? I have a product I ordered from Nova Scotia and its the best $50 I've ever spent. PM me if you have any questions.


Quinn

 

[briflikk]

The glass is 12mm so it matches with the sticky

for a tank that tall 12mm wont be enough .. especially when that largemouth hits 6-7 lbs and decides to enter you garage floor

 

[mdb_talon]

I was planning on putting Large mouth bass in the tank as it is going to be in a garage that is cold in the winter, so I don't want to have to heat the water and pay $50 a month for the electricty. The glass is 12mm so it matches with the sticky

I am not sure what stick you looked at so maybe I am way off I am not an engineer. Personally based off what I have seen though that would really seem to be pushing it with a good safety factor. It is hard to tell from the picture, but I would think with 12mm glass you would want the bottom of the glass to be 3 or 4 inches off the bottom of the tank and max water height 2 to 3 inches from the top. Then I think you leave yourself a much safer situation as the max depth pushing against the glass would be more like 34 or 35".

 

[Rivermud]

Not sure what par of the sticky you were looking at... I decided to run the numbers with my calc and I show that with 12mm glass (unsupported) the sf is .82. I wouldn't imagine it's going to be significantly better even with a wood frame at that depth. At 30 inches of water depth 12mm glass unsupported only has a 1.79 sf. With a wooden frame you may be safe at 30 but I wouldn't tempt fate at 40 myself.

Note: if you are planning on trying to layer the glass you might want to reconsider.. It's bad news