Custom DIY 330g plywood bottom tank Build

[Sean Shields]

Hey everyone, my name is Sean. I am new to the forums here but have been reading them for a while. A few months ago i decided I was going to build a tank to house a couple stingrays. I really didn’t know exactly what I was going to build until about 4 weeks ago when I came across a post for a free 330 gallon tank that was being given away by a demo crew.

They were tearing down an old seafood restaurant and they had this massive live fish / lobster tank that they wanted gone. So I rented a uhaul and drove 2 hours to pick it up. It came with a large fiberglass bottom that I knew I wanted to get rid of.

Then I remembered this plywood bottom 540 gallon build from the DIY king on YouTube. His tank was 6x6 and the glass I had just picked up was 6x4.

So that’s where this all started!!

Here are some pics when I first picked it up. I’ll post comments and updates soon as I have already began construction.

Please follow this thread if you want because this is going to be an adventure of not only my new stingray tank, but I have also decided to convert my garage into my new fish / critter room.

 

[Sean Shields]

So to get the tank out of the door we had to cut the entire stand apart. I called Marineland who was the manufacturer and they said they were made as a solid unit. So destruction was the only option.

It took about 3 hours to get it out, and 2 more to drive home.. here is what it looked like the day I got it home.

 

[Sean Shields]

I decided I was going to follow Joey’s (DIY King) build from his 540h stingray tank pictured below



I wanted the tank to be about twice as biathlon off the ground.

He used cinder blocks as a base and wrapped them in plywood after he was finished. He only stacked his cinder blocks 2 high, So instead of only using 2 cinder blocks stacked for the base, I am going with 4 stacked cinder blocks cemented together with GE Iron Grip adhesive.

Here is the start of the base.

 

[Sean Shields]

Went to the Home Depot last night and got the necessary plywood and 2x4 for the bracing. I’ll also be adding some metal corner braces just for peace of mind. I’m using shop grade birch for its strength.

Nothing is cemented into place yet, this is all just a test fit before I lock it all down.

(Almost caught up I promise.)

 

[krichardson]

Welcome,this has the makings to be a great thread.....looking forward to seeing how the project progresses.

 

[Sean Shields]

Today I got out my saws, face mask and goggles to begin cutting off the fiberglass.

The fiberglass was super easy to cut.

After and hour or so of running a razor blade around all of the silicone I finally was able to pry off all the fiberglass.

This glass is almost an entire inch thick!!!


So here we are, time to clean up this glass, build the bottom, pond armor the wood, silicone it to the glass and then get 5 people in the Delaware area to help me set it in place.

I hope you all like this so far!! Please leave your comments, questions and suggestions. Glad to be here and glad to be sharing my build.

 

[Sean Shields]

Welcome,this has the makings to be a great thread.....looking forward to seeing how the project progresses.

Hey thank you!! Can’t wait to get it finished.

 

[Gpdriftwood]

Looks like u got it under control man. U picked a great build to copy. How do u plan to filter it? I ask because using the cinder blocks for the stand doesn't really leave room to put filtration under the tank. Which is fine if u don't mind losing space outside the tank. It would cost u more, but building a 2x6 stand would allow u to utilize the space underneath the tank. Gonna be sweet either way. Good score. Good luck.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Will be watching as you progress, do you plan on using plant filtration?

 

[Sean Shields]

Looks like u got it under control man. U picked a great build to copy. How do u plan to filter it? I ask because using the cinder blocks for the stand doesn't really leave room to put filtration under the tank. Which is fine if u don't mind losing space outside the tank. It would cost u more, but building a 2x6 stand would allow u to utilize the space underneath the tank. Gonna be sweet either way. Good score. Good luck.

Hey, I am actually going to build a sort of double sump/trickle tower... let me explain. the plan is to have a PVC overflow come out the right side and down into the trickle tower which will be off to the right of the tank to make for easy access to the media and mechanical filter. then I'm going to have a PVC pipe drain from that tower to a large tote underneath the stand which is where the return pump and heaters will be. I was also considering mating a third chamber before the heater and return pump that would have some plants growing in it... I'm going to make a diagram to better explain what I'm talking about lol...