500 Gallon Construction Questions

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

Damali

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 13, 2010
19
0
0
Philadelphia
Hi,
This is my first post. I have been studying and pouring over different plans on how to build my first Monster Tank. I feel pretty confident about almost every aspect but two construction questions come to mind.

1. Could I possibly make an Acrylic tank with the dimensions of:
L 72'', H 36,W 36 with the base made out of sealed plywood?

2. I saw someone building a monster tank ( I think 800 gallons?) he put the glass in by drilling a hole into the plexiglass every four inches. He then used a stainless stell bolt with a rubber washer and a metal one. He then covered each nut and washer with silicone sealant. He quit his thread before finishing the project. Does anybody know of the success of this process? Did it leak? I believe that I wouldd really prefer to put my Acrylic sheet in that way other than the usual silicone sealant only. I know it might sound a little ugly but I can always cover the perimeter with a cool trimming to you would never know that there were bolts ever there.

Any feedback would be really appreciated!
 
You want 4 acrylic sheets, 4 viewable sides, but the bottom only made out of plywood? For the time, cost, and trouble why not just make the bottom out of acrylic as well?

Its been well proven that other methods of attaching acrylic to wood are just as secure and water tight without the added trouble of bolts, although I'm not sure i've seen anyone try just using a plywood bottom. It would require *very* exacting cuts and perfect 90 degree corners. Any wave or even a 1/2 degree error in your cut would cause the acrylic to bow and potentially leak.

Typically projects that abruptly end ended badly, or else never got finished. Its been well proven that other methods of attaching acrylic to wood are just as secure and water tight without the added trouble of bolts.

I would just make the entire thing out of acrylic in this case.
 
I cant think of a way to attach a plywood bottom and have 4 acrylic side. I 2nd the comment that if you are going with 4 side, go with the bottom as well. As far as securing acrylic with bolts, the only time I have seen a need for that is when a liner was used. If you are going with a "standard" plywood build, if there is such a thing, use silicone. There are silicones that work well enough with acrylics to seal a window. I think Dow 795 is a good one.
 
I think it can be done! Easy actually. I'm planning a very similar build. I have two used 125's, one with a broken bottom and one with a broken side given to me free. I want to disassemble the tanks and make a large 6X6 foot ray tank that's 18 inches deep. The bottom will be a fiberglass sheet of plywood possibly painted over with some kind of pond coat for waterproofing. I'm going to make the bottom 3.5" larger so I can put 2X4's laying flat on the outside perimeter of the tank. This will hold the glass in place and also provide a good spot for my beer when I'm watching the fish. The 2X4 will be on the outside of the glass, acrylic in your case, all the way around the perimeter of the tank. Screwed to the plywood fiberglass base, then the glass will be silicone in place making sure there's a nice bead of silicon between the glass and the fiberglass covered plywood. The 2X4's will hold the base of the glass securely at the bottom of the tank. The top of the tank I was going to euro brace. The acrylic version will need an acrylic top just like a normal acrylic tank. Does this sound possible or am I wack?
 
Hi Egon,

Yes, that is exactly how I was picturing it. Except I thought about cutting a 1/2 inch deep groove in the plywood bottom filled with silicon. Then I would Supported all around like you said with 2x4's for added security and bottom bowing prevention. I think I will still have a bar across the top because I am going to build a canopy for it. so you wouldn't see it anyway.
 
I wouldn't even think of mixing materials but you could use 3/4 plywood and I'd connect with a Red Seal Carpenter at a minimum, and a student design engineer and see if he/she could do it as a school project with you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom