concrete aquarium window

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onetrickpony

onetrickpony

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Feb 23, 2006
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DALLAS
Hello all
I want to build a concrete aquarium
It will replace a window in the bedroom and be on the outside of the house with a shed enclosure, I am planning on 96x48x36 l-w-h
I want to build it out of concrete blocks then pour them with grout
The only problem is the bottom of the tank has to be 36” off the ground
So I am not sure how to support the bottom
I was thinking of using concrete blocks at the ends and middle for support
They would be supported by a concrete slab on the ground level
Pouring a rebar reinforced slab for the bottom of the aquarium, so the bottom of the tank would be level
But I am not sure how thick the bottom needs to be, the span between the legs would be 36”
So what dose every one think?
Thanks
Ken
 
I think it sounds like a good idea! Just make sure that there is enough support so that the concrete doesnt crack!!! that would not be a pretty picture!
 
I think the concrete and grout would totally screw with your water parameters.
 
if you do construte this Id suggestcoating the Inside with fiberglass an or Epoxy resin, Plus itll add to the strength of the inner seams.
 
i remember reading that you need to seal the concrete with fiberglass or epoxy cause eventually the concrete will leak. concrete is very porous and will leak water.
 
no matter what u do you are gonna need a building permit for this or u can get screwed. when u pull the permit they will tell what needs to be done. but as a concrete worker i would say 8-10" for the bottom. it needs to be sealed or it will leak.

important things to remember.
permit
distance from property line
local deed restrictions
inspection of elec and plumbing

good luck i'm jelous
 
Lunch is correct. You are going to need a building permit. The local building code is going to dictate some of your parameters. The local authorities may require an engineer to sign off on the design if they think it is too out of the ordinary.

Other than that use rebar in the cells of the block walls and fill with concrete. Probably use an 8" slab with #5 rebar 12" on centers for the bottom. Make sure the walls are supported by the bottom and tie the rebar in the walls into the rebar going through the cells. Seal everything as suggested by others herein. You should be good to go.

If the local building codes get in your way, you can come build it at my place. I will even keep some fish in it for you.
 
Hi there
hope that i can help you out, since i have 16 of such tanks. The slab would need to be at least 7 inches thick and i would highly recommend that you use concrete with synthetic fibres added to it so that it will not crack. Once you complete the construction you would then need to grout the tank, you can do this mainly in two ways. Either use epoxy or fibreglass or swimming pool paint or else you would need to use a cementitious grout (like i did). The thing is that I am from Malta and the brands available here I do not know if they would be available for you. There are mainly two good products, one is by sika which is sikatop and the other is by mapei which is called idrosilex. For the glass there are various methods how you can attach it. Either make a ledge with the concrete so that the glass is pushing on the concrete or else use a frame (like i did) of angle stainless steel (i used 304 stainless steel since i have no intention of keeping marine). I have encountered different views on what sealer to use to bond glass to concrete, i was a bit diffident of using silicone since silicon bonds weakly to porous substrates, of course you would impermeabilise with grout but still i was not convinced. Instead i used a polyurethane sealer from sika - sikaflex and with great results. I am currently finalising my setup. Please do not hesitate to ask any further questions. My largest tank is 1.8m x 1.2m x 0.9m
 
my bro runs a concrete company and i would say for sure on the fibers that they put in the concrete and he suggested to me using a type of water proof concrete mixture then coating it with epoxy hey he knows more than me hes the federal concrete inspector for my area and he has a freakin degree in the crap who knew a concrete dr
 
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