diy fiberglass tank

[rotccapt]

hi all i am going to be making a 85-90 gallon tank to house a couple turtles. my plan is to make a frame out of 2X4's and then build up the tank with 1/4" foam and some spray foam shape to my liking line with chicken wire glass with 1/4" mat with "X" resin once cured apply another layer of resin and then glass the bottom side of the foam.

so is my idea sound or should i change my design? also what resin should i use epoxy or polyester resin?

 

[CJH]

hi all i am going to be making a 85-90 gallon tank to house a couple turtles. my plan is to make a frame out of 2X4's and then build up the tank with 1/4" foam and some spray foam shape to my liking line with chicken wire glass with 1/4" mat with "X" resin once cured apply another layer of resin and then glass the bottom side of the foam.

so is my idea sound or should i change my design? also what resin should i use epoxy or polyester resin?

Unless it will be a very deep tank you probably could just use plywood for your frame. No 2x4's needed.

The styrene compounds and solvents in polyester resin will dissolve the foam board so you should use epoxy resin. A 100% resin. It is also more flexible than polyester which may be helpful for this project.

 

[rotccapt]

epoxy it is then do you think the chicken wire is necessary? i have a bad habit of over building things

 

[CJH]

epoxy it is then do you think the chicken wire is necessary? i have a bad habit of over building things

Hard to say. I'd really have to have a better idea of the size, depth, etc., not to mention the design.

 

[rotccapt]

well after some more though i have decided to go a different route in a different part of the room the new tank will be pretty much a plywood tank that will be 7 ft by 3 feet and 2 feet deep with a glass or acrylic front. i will still be using foam and fiberglass in it but most of the strength will be from the plywood. i have estimated that my new tank will be close to 200 gallons and will be much better suited for turtles

but to answer your question the original idea would have been 45" by 36" and about 20" deep shaped like a typical pre made pond liner. here is a pic of my original idea