8'x4'x2' DIY Plywood - Help!

[FLESHY]

This build has some pretty good documentation to it: 600 Gallon Plywood Build.

Thanks yes it is. We are going now today to buy wood of sorts...we are building some other stuff as well.

Update on the tank. We are currently in violation of firecode, and this aquarium design is too big for the space we have. So we are wondering if we could have three windows in the front, and angle it in from 3' to 4' in the middle. If you can imagine that.

We are going to start with a smaller 8'x20"x22" (replaceing some shelf tanks) to just get the feel for it...and see if making something angled like the plan above would be okay.

Is there an easy way to make a tank with a 20" width? Or will that just be a waste with how we basically build two walls? I feel like with only 20" to work with we are going to lose a lot of space and the width wont even be worth it...such a big tank that could only hold small fish. Somewhat of a dissapointment.

The only other solution is that I make our original tank either 3 or 3.5' in width (not sure which one would be the max we are allowed) we have nowhere else to put this thing - this is crushing because with the fish we have planed 4' width was a minimum I would want. Bugger.

I believe that VLDesign used pond armor on his 2600 build that he's finishing up now. He's had a lot of minor(but aggravating) setbacks, and ended up reinforcing all the corners with fiberglass and highly recommends doing the same. If you haven't checked out his build it would be a great read since it covers all the changes that were made and what did and didn't work out.

I have seen this thread, and how he has chimed in. Thanks, this is what I think I will do if we continue this route.

And I have step by step instructions (In my signature)

Use the fiberglass & Resin in the seams and corners. Ask Butch from Pond Armor what he thinks about using Fiberglass in with the pond armor. I think he says that works jsut fine.

You can also get Max ACR from Ebay. Link in my PDF.

Sweet - I cant believe I didnt notice this in your thread.

For tanks like we are talking about building could the outside be built with something less than 2x4s? Or could we at least orient them vertically so that the walls wouldnt take up so much room?

Do you think that pond armor is a good fit for what I am trying to do here? Do you recommend pond armor?

Is Max ACR a kind of fiberglass?

Thanks for chiming in on this.

 

[littlewangzfan]

This is going to be an interesting build. Will be following this thread because I'm planning a similar size for my next upgrade. You're off to a good start because experienced builders are chiming in. Good luck, buddy.

 

[VLDesign]

For tanks like we are talking about building could the outside be built with something less than 2x4s? Or could we at least orient them vertically so that the walls wouldnt take up so much room?

I have built a few 2' tall tanks with just 3/4" plywood and no outside support. Just the plywood glued and screwed at the seams and top 2x4 supports across the top. So, I would think 2x4s on edge along with a layer of 3/4" plywood should be more than enough support for the walls.

Do you think that pond armor is a good fit for what I am trying to do here? Do you recommend pond armor?

Pond Armor is a good product, it's just so damn expensive. $75 a quart and needs to be applied with a bondo scraper as it's pretty thick.

Is Max ACR a kind of fiberglass?

Max ACR is another epoxy that is much cheaper but at the same time it's thinner. Can be rolled on with a high density foam roller without issues.

I think if you were to calculate the cost of both they would come out to the same cost so it's a toss up on which one to use. I think I would suggest Max ACR at this point.

 

[Wiggles92]

It seems like a waste to me to build an aquarium with such a small width and such a large length; you might be better off trying to find another place to put it in order to be able to make the originally planned one.

 

[FLESHY]

This is going to be an interesting build. Will be following this thread because I'm planning a similar size for my next upgrade. You're off to a good start because experienced builders are chiming in. Good luck, buddy.

Yea good to see some names in here...I have to start building some stuff for the university. We are on a tight budget and at the same time its up to me to see that we maximize our space and that all our animals are properly housed. Gotta go big now, or go home.

I have built a few 2' tall tanks with just 3/4" plywood and no outside support. Just the plywood glued and screwed at the seams and top 2x4 supports across the top. So, I would think 2x4s on edge along with a layer of 3/4" plywood should be more than enough support for the walls.


Pond Armor is a good product, it's just so damn expensive. $75 a quart and needs to be applied with a bondo scraper as it's pretty thick.


Max ACR is another epoxy that is much cheaper but at the same time it's thinner. Can be rolled on with a high density foam roller without issues.

I think if you were to calculate the cost of both they would come out to the same cost so it's a toss up on which one to use. I think I would suggest Max ACR at this point.

What about the max ACR would give it the edge in my application? I really need these things to stand the test of time.

The most recent thing my boss has suggested is almost three feet wide, eight feet long, and about 24" deep. We will see. Trying to do this is getting harder and harder.

Even if I only use 3/4" with 2x4 outside framing vertically - Im still losing 5 1/2" out of the twenty inches of space I have on our shelf. Probably not worth it. Actually a downgrade at that rate from the two 75g's that we currently have there morst likely. I will have to figure out a different way to build that tank I guess.

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...ve-HerpetologyIchthyology-Lab/196651933735925

That is the link to my lab so you can get a better idea of the space that we are working with. We are trying to build three tanks that take up a whole entire shelf of one of these racks. Its just the person who designed this lab didnt make the shelves very thick.

 

[VLDesign]

Assuming you can use the cinder block wall as support then you can skip the 2x4s. Let the wood rest against the wall if it needs to.

IMO 3/4" ply can handle a 2' tall tank without issues with the proper top support. If you wanted to add extra security to the build you could bump that up to 1" plywood.

If you want to be 100% sure the tank will last for a long long time then I would actually use both Max ACR with fiberglass cloth as the under coat for strength then top that off with Pond Armor since it's thicker. but if you wanted to save some money then just use the ACR and cloth.

 

[FLESHY]

Assuming you can use the cinder block wall as support then you can skip the 2x4s. Let the wood rest against the wall if it needs to.

IMO 3/4" ply can handle a 2' tall tank without issues with the proper top support. If you wanted to add extra security to the build you could bump that up to 1" plywood.

If you want to be 100% sure the tank will last for a long long time then I would actually use both Max ACR with fiberglass cloth as the under coat for strength then top that off with Pond Armor since it's thicker. but if you wanted to save some money then just use the ACR and cloth.

I wont be able to sit it up against the cinder blocks, but I could make it fight tightly up against the metal parts of the shelf. Do you think that will be enough?

Guess we are back on to building that 8'x20" one. Super cool.

Ill be researching those two products you mentioned now.

As far as building it goes we just presink holes and drill all the plywood together, and coat then right? (If metal supports work - dont see why they wouldnt)

 

[VLDesign]

I would use some waterproof glue as well as the screws. Then yes all that is left is to coat the tank.

 

[FLESHY]

Done. Ill try to build this, and then we will come back and talk about building the original planned tank, maybe one half foot to a foot narrower so I can be up to fire code...yes, regretably that is what is restraining me. Wanted that extra foot for the gars pretty bad.

Any sort of glue that you have heard of that is better or worse than another?

 

[VLDesign]

I've used Elmers water proof glue and have heard Gorilla glue (the original) is waterproof and it's supposed to be even better.

Fire codes suck sometimes.. lol