Building a tank the right way!

[OSCARLOVER]

I see all these people making there own Plywood tanks and later on in the future they have to trash them cause the wood swells ,cracks and leaks and you eventually WILL run into problems! My sugestion is to use fiberglass inside.
Get what you need at your local hardware store, You might spend a few more dollars. In the long run it would be worth it, your already saving a assload of money making it yourself. I'm telling ya gotta line the inside with fiberglass it will last a lifetime. I just hate to see people saving all this money on DIY tank and a year later bam! Monster flood in your home.

 

[softturtle]

And we don't like monster floods.

 

[rallysman]

I thought everyone already did that, or used epoxy

 

[soren]

good advice.... I used epoxy paint, which was good, but as an after thought, I believe the fiberglass may have been a more sound solution. I've developed a small leak and I'm having to reinforce with fiberglass now.... NOT FUN.

 

[adc-aquatics]

Does fiberglass bond well to silicone?

 

[mjime714]

Are you talking about buying pre-made sheets of fiberglass or actually mixing the resin and applying the fiber by hand? Is it safe for the inner part of the aquarium? I am assuming so since you are suggesting it.

Seems like a cool idea because you can do a custom background if you are laying the fiberglass yourself.

 

[grenade3]

if you were going to use fiberglass inside why not just spend the extra money and get 3/8 inch acrylic. you can save yourself a lot of money by taking care in your work building an acrylic tank. i am about to build one, i just need some more money

 

[RowingMunkeyCU]

I've thought of going the fiberglass route myself, but I've heard the problem with them is that fiberglass is much too rigid and inflexible for a plywood tank. With the bowing of the plywood, it can crack, unlike epoxy which is a rubbery plastic and can flex with the wood. Can anyone verify this?

 

[Recycling Works]

Does fiberglass bond well to silicone?

yea it seems to, give it a week cure time, i also goop it on pretty heavily, couple layers

oh yea, they say any clear will work, i use ge II, in clear

Used bondo fiberglass resin in mine, all fine so far, will let you know if i run into problems

 

[joeytoe]

When I get around to building a Plywood Tank, I have plans in the works. But id say renforced Fiberglass on the inner seams, Epoxy Paint on the inner surfaces. Plus foam Insulation inbetween the inner Plywood an the outer Plywood, not to mention like 10 coats of Poly on the Outside of the tank itself.