Custom DIY 330g plywood bottom tank Build

slipshodman

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Oct 26, 2016
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Thanks for sharing S Sean Shields

I will be following your build, i also use Pothos in some of my tanks
 

Sean Shields

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 13, 2018
18
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35
Delware USA
hey thanks for the photos everyone. I actually want to keep the tank as clean as possible as far as the look is concerned. im going to keep it bare bottom also because the pond armor is white. im going to be keeping a stingray or two and an arowana. what plants do you recommend for underneath the tank, with low light, to keep nitrates under control.
 

BIG-G

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Dec 12, 2005
3,856
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NC
As far as growing fast and exporting nitrous waste Duckweed will do it. It grows well under less lighting also, because it's right on top of the water.
But, My god it gets everywhere!
Once it's in the system its a pain to remove, if you change your mind.
 

Sean Shields

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 13, 2018
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Update: 7/16/2018

Today I measured and cut the plywood, the glued the 2 sheets together. I also measured and cut the 2x4 bottom bracing/trim.

9A27340B-BA6D-45A6-AC23-BF6F06CAB81B.jpeg F51719D9-656D-4D12-884E-8DE7046D6442.jpeg
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I was cleaning up the glass with my hose and some rags, when I realized that the glass was double pane. I know it was double pane but I didn’t realize that it was hollow in between the 2 pieces of glass. There is some bad calcium looking buildup in between the glass on the one side.

I’m now trying to figure out how to clean in between the 2 panes.

Do I remove the seal on the bottom and attempt to re seal?

Do I suck it up and just use it as is and try and hide that one side?

Or do I say screw it and take apart the whole aquarium and then re silicone it back together only using the 1/2” glass...

Here are some pics...

8EFDEEE3-1AA6-44CE-BBA1-74B9A10E8C1F.jpeg A1EBD39B-875C-4CA4-B876-19BDFAC5418E.jpeg C29832DE-0C3A-4AF0-9015-C38542A5BA9B.jpeg 9126E74B-ACB6-4F63-83C3-6DF7BF58895A.jpeg 5D7D3931-5809-4641-A699-4C9A6AD44A0F.jpeg
 

Gpdriftwood

Silver Tier VIP
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Apr 26, 2017
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Tough call. I think I would try to hide it and run with it. Alot of work to take it apart and put it back together.
 

Sean Shields

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 13, 2018
18
15
3
35
Delware USA
I think I am going to completely disassemble the entire glass portion that I have and then just re use the .5" glass for the aquarium. I can always hold onto the .25" glass sides for another build or to make some type of bracing.

I am also going to try my very hardest to keep all of the plastic bracing in tact so I can re use it to brace the top of the tank. I'm thinking about getting some .5x2" strips of wood, coat them in pond armor and then insert them into the top bracing to fill the void of where the old glass would have been to ensure a nice and snug fit... that's the plan for now anyways...
 

twentyleagues

Bronze Tier VIP
MFK Member
Apr 5, 2017
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Flint town!
Smart. That's probably the best way to go. If you're going through the trouble of pond armoring wood anyway id say just use wood as the trim. You may want to brace that tank with something though, 2 across the middle or at least 1.
 

Sean Shields

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 13, 2018
18
15
3
35
Delware USA
Smart. That's probably the best way to go. If you're going through the trouble of pond armoring wood anyway id say just use wood as the trim. You may want to brace that tank with something though, 2 across the middle or at least 1.
yeah I am actually thinking about how I want to do that now. the tank never used on before but like I've said before, I would rather just be safe. I can not stand euro bracing though.. not at all. maybe an aluminum frame around the outside of the aquarium and then 1 or 2 aluminum strips across and bolted to the outer fame. I could always coat the aluminum to prevent any damage to both the glass and metal.

any other ideas for bracing this aquarium? euro bracing is an absolute NO lol.
 
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