can i use tank glass to build a larger tank ?
- Thread starter new2natives
- Start date
dominicolas;2633560; said:
I have a plywood tank that is about 20 years old and shows no signs of deterioration. It has a fibreglass liner, I repainted it 3 years ago and it has 2" angle iron as a frame on all edges with two iron braces along the top (pretty heavy for a plywood tank). I think it'll outlast me.
You could use plywood on the bottom with a fiberglass layer and epoxy paint. Glass would be cheaper. My 270g tank had its bottom shattered (by the previous owner) and he put another pane siliconed on top of it (now 1" thick). Hasn't leaked in 5 years. You could use more than one sheet on the bottom siliconed together and put a narrow piece on the seam (just in case).
gthumbus;2633749; said:
thats what my girlfriend said! (i'm just glad shes going along with my DIY ideas
)and thanks car ... i think if i do a larger tank, i may go the fiberglass and epoxy route. i'm not sure if it would be worth the cost or hassle for a "small" build.
and i had also considered doing a steel frame of some sort as well for larger projects in the future. do you have any pics ??
note to anyone who decides to try this ...
tearing a frame off is a PAIN IN THE @$$
and even with the frame off, getting the panes to come apart (removing all silicone) is even more difficult
going on 3 hours now ... on the first 30g ... i did not forsee this being such a problem! after this, everything else will be downhill, hahah!
tearing a frame off is a PAIN IN THE @$$
and even with the frame off, getting the panes to come apart (removing all silicone) is even more difficult
going on 3 hours now ... on the first 30g ... i did not forsee this being such a problem! after this, everything else will be downhill, hahah!
new2natives;2634616; said:
Lemme know how the rest of this goes, I'm pretty good with metal and wood. I will also add that I've noticed that when deconstructing 5 pieces of glass that were designed to "stand the test of time"
patience is definitely a virtue.haha, agreed ... makes me wonder how tanks ever fail!
this is only a little 30g!
i would bet money that after taking the frame off, and removing a good bit of silicone that i could still fill it with water and it would hold!
this is only a little 30g!
i would bet money that after taking the frame off, and removing a good bit of silicone that i could still fill it with water and it would hold!
new2natives;2634021; said:thats what my girlfriend said! (i'm just glad shes going along with my DIY ideas
and thanks car ... i think if i do a larger tank, i may go the fiberglass and epoxy route. i'm not sure if it would be worth the cost or hassle for a "small" build.
and i had also considered doing a steel frame of some sort as well for larger projects in the future. do you have any pics ??
Here is an old picture of my 320g plywood tank on it's tubular steel stand with the 60g sump. I'll have to look for some more recent pictures with water and fish in it!
i think the easiest way to get the panes apart would be a thin piece of wire, used like a saw thru the silicone (the same oldskool way to take windshields outta cars)
canucksfan1;2639460; said:
thats a good idea ... i need to buy a razor knife, and i was going to try that route ...
as for the wire, where could i buy something like that? and what size do you think i would need?
Try a guitar string or piano wire, they are quite thin and very strong. You can attach each end to a piece of wood doweling (piece of broom stick) so you don't cut yourself. I used a box cutter before but the blades tend to snap, I'll try wire next time. Old tanks are really hard to take apart, the glass tends to splinter if your not careful.
