500 gal plywood aquarium update.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Ok, I tried laying fiberglass to my inlay as a two part process, results where good. So I've got the useless inlay problem addressed. Now I'm going to try and lay some resin and chopped mat vertically to the sides of my aquarium. Was hesitant cause not sure if it'll sagg or puddle.
Well I did get one side done and results where ok. It didn't sagg or puddle, but it was lumpy and resin penetration was inconsistent. Wasted quite a bit of resin in the process. Looks like I'll have to flip my entire aquarium on it's side tomorrow to do the rest. It'll be more work but I know I'll get better results that way. With this much time and money invested into this project, may as well just do it right. Better safe than sorry.

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I've enjoyed reading this so far. It's been very informative and I've been making notes for my own build. Good luck. I can't wait to see how everything comes along.
 
Ahhh... I see why now you had issues with fiber glassing the vertical surfaces... Your using Mat!! Had I known this last night when you asked me via my thread I would have recommend flipping the tank for sure bro.. I was under the impression you were just doing cloth in the corners when you asked me about it because that's all I did for my build. Mat on the other hand a whole different story for sure and I can see now why it was probably dripping all over the dame place I bet.. Crap oh la...

Anyway I see your on the right track now, flip, flip, flip, flip...Done, done, done & done ;)

Sorry for the confusion brother cant wait to see our builds up and running with water soon!! I'll be getting a lot done on my tank this weekend and will finish the rubberizing, install the glass, fabricate my spray bar & plumbing and jump on the light stand thingy I made up...Hate the lights sitting on top of the tank ;)
 
Jmart159 said:
I've enjoyed reading this so far. It's been very informative and I've been making notes for my own build. Good luck. I can't wait to see how everything comes along.
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What I've learned so far, 24 oz fiberglass cloth not needed. Neither was the 7.5 oz cloth. Fiberglass chop mat is all I'm using for my next build. Two full layers of mat and resin followed by a layer of just resin is enough. The inlay was pointless and wont happen again. It's worth calling around for prices before you start spending hard own money. Make sure you have a good place to work. Monster p bass's aquarium is probably far cheaper to build.

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808_fairladyz said:
What I've learned so far, 24 oz fiberglass cloth not needed. Neither was the 7.5 oz cloth. Fiberglass chop mat is all I'm using for my next build. Two full layers of mat and resin followed by a layer of just resin is enough. The inlay was pointless and wont happen again. It's worth calling around for prices before you start spending hard own money. Make sure you have a good place to work. Monster p bass's aquarium is probably far cheaper to build.

Sent from my LG-P509
Click to expand...

I wouldn't agree with that statement - I've already spent over $800 just in materials for the tank & stand. Not including the other 150 just in pipe and fittings I bought today plus I still have the stand to finish with skirting and doors etc and the framing for the above hanging lights... That right there puts me over the $1200 mark not including fixtures etc, only items that will be build. Also I'm looking into a skin and trim for the tank itself which will be around another 150 for the stuff I'm looking at.

I'm guessing when all is said in done just in materials I'll be around $1500 total. last you said you'll be around 1k. Plus apparently I get better prices then you, due to location -

So saying it's a cheaper out to go my rout is clearly not the case - ;)
 
Wow. Yeah my initial 1000.00 estimate was conservative. Where I'm currently at with my project, I'll no doubt eclipse 1200.00 when done. I honestly didn't think you'd be spending more than me. To be honest, I wish I'd kept all my receipts cause I'm having a hard time keeping track of how much money I've spent.

Sent from my LG-P509
 
Ok, update for today. Applied a full layer of chop mat for the bottom of my aquarium measuring 94.50x33 inches. Chop mat turns out to a very thirty material to use. I had to use 1 whole gal of resin to get a good complete saturation. 7.50 oz cloth only required 1/2 gal. Fully penetrated chop mat is also very dense. I am not going to do 3 full layers of mat and resin like previously stated. 7.50 oz first layer, chop mat second layer, and last layer of just resin with pigment for color should be plenty. I have one more gal left and will need to get one more to finish it up. I will be reinforcing the seams with as much leftover as possible.

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Can't wait to see it done what color you going with almost want to empty my tank now just to make room to start a build like this I'm taking notes on everything

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The resin pigment is blue but I've never used it before so I don't know what it'll look like till I use it next week. I'm hoping to get all my remaining layers of chop mat done on Sunday, but I'm running out of resin again.

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Update for today, I applied a layer of chop mat to the back of aquarium. Didn't need to use a whole gal of resin as being my aquarium is shorter than it is wide, but none the less, I'll need to wait till Thursday to buy 2 more gal of resin. Next time I'll just buy a 5 gal bucket of resin. Today's results was very good. The next aquarium I build will be half the size @ 210 gal. I'll probably need only half the resin I'm using now. With that one, I'm just doing one full layer of chop mat w/h additional reinforcing layers at all seams. My BGK and his catfish buddies need their own aquarium. And than I'll build another half size one for my Eel and be done with it.

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