Cheap Big Cardboard Aquarium?

[J. H.]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...SbTrxYp80fClua4Gw&sig2=NlyYHwQt-1-MGtJwMJGcsA
Basically, take a cardboard box (I would double or triple it), paint it, line it with shopping bags (either HDPLE or LDPLE, both aquarium safe) (I would double or triple these, too) and melt them together with a soddering iron or a heated flathead screwdriver, cut a hole for a glass/acrylic window, line the inside with a 3D foam backgrounds to protect the bags, cut a nice sheet of wood to hide the cardboard, stick that in front, put the whole thing on a piece of plywood on a fish tank stand, and you have a big tank for (almost) free. You could use 2x4s for braces or reinforcing the cardboard.

 

[J. H.]

To build a stand:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...t_cvS9HsEC8SContA&sig2=iP9Ig9M6FLfz95DQiMwFiw

 

[J. H.]

It appears the strength of the cardboard comes from the direction you lay it in.

take a cardboard box (I would double or triple it)

This would only work for a smaller tank. A bigger tank would need many little slivers of cardboard stacked on to of each other.

 

[M@T!@$]

Until it breaks..

 

[J. H.]

Until it breaks..

Why would it be more likely to break than anything else? It will not survive a car hitting it, but neither will a concrete, fiberglass, or all acrylic tank. The biggest drawback I see is the time it will take to fit together.

 

[wannadivesteve]

I would not expect that to pass the test of time. It would be interesting to see the engineering on how cardboard does with a constant stress over time. It can be pretty strong stuff.

 

[M@T!@$]

I don't think I'd trust that over time. Or even to start with. Could be a cool experiment though?

 

[J. H.]

http://wikkelhouse.com/
They seem to be building houses out of it. YOu can buy one, but there is a waiting list. I don't know how they are preserving it.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct...JayA5FNoX0xqsaA-0BaNyvbw&ust=1493349551253629
This guy coats cardboard with fiberglass, even biking across the USA pulling a mini airstream made out of the stuff.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct...JayA5FNoX0xqsaA-0BaNyvbw&ust=1493349551253629
School buildings in China made of cardboard.
It can be done. Maybe not easily, but it can be done. I have school and am not allowed any more tanks right now, so it will wait.

 

[Dieselhybrid]

Go ahead do it. Make a thread and update it. We will all take side bets on how long it will last before it blows.

Seriously why? Short on cash? risk taking type?

 

[J. H.]

I tried a shopping in a small box with no window tonight. Worked like a dream. I may follow with more experiments, just to see if it will work, but I really am in a position where I cannot set up any more tanks