DIY Plywood tank

[Kash]

I've decide to build a 180g plywood tank with front and side windows for when my fish are fully grown. I've looked at pretty much every build on this site and think I can manage pretty well. One question I have though, is that I want to set up a front and one side viewing pane rather than just the front. In some builds I saw, each side was framed and the glass installed as in a window. My question is, do you guys think using 3/4" hardwood birch plywood, will the tank hold if I make the front and one of the side trims for the glass U shaped, so the two pieces of glass meet in the corner and are siliconed together as a regular glass tank would be? This is to avoiding having plywood covering the corner and having an unrestricted view from one side to another.

The dimensions of the tank are going to be approximately 72" x 24" x 24". I'm trying to get the most out of the plywood sheets so the height and width would be slightly smaller based on the width of my circular saw blade. I'm also considering making it a bit narrower but taller, and would be more than happy to listen to any suggestions you guys may have. The main residents of the tank are going to be a Brown African Knife, a Senegal Bichir, an Ompock Catfish and some snails and possibly a pleco type fish depending on any algae issues.

Any opinions and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Kash

 

[DIDYSIS]

I have seen lots built with the glass coming together in the corner. Just depends on how good you are with getting it all together. Sounds like a good build.

Sent from my DROIDX using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[Kash]

Do you by any chance remember how thick the frame around the glass was compared to the height of the glass? I'm thinking about 3", but not sure if it needs to be thicker since that's all that is going to be connected in one corner.

 

[Kash]

Here's a question about the overflow and sump setup. What are the advantages/disadvantages to having the tank drilled for over flow pipes, making the overflow pipe system that I've seen on here (the DIY that goes over the edge of the tank) or having an over flow box on the back of the aquarium (having the back piece shorter than the rest so the water over flows into the box and down the pipes, possibly using durso standpipes)? Since I'm building the tank myself, I'm able to do whatever setup I like and would like to know what works best.

As far as the sump goes, I'm planning on making a planted sump, to help with removing nitrates from the water while also having some biological media for the BB. Any ideas on if this is a good way to remove nitrates and if not, what would you guys recommend.

Just for a reminder, this is going to be a fresh water tank mainly for my Sen Bichir, Brown Knife and Ompock catfish.


Thanks,

Kash

 

[Kash]

Also, I forgot to ask, I've read on here that I should use 1" pipes for my setup since I won't need a bigger diameter for anything under 350g or so. What type of bulkhead should I get if I end up going the pipe in the tank or overflow box on the back route? I looked up bulkheads and there seems to be over a dozen different kinds and I don't know anything about them.

Thanks again,

 

[Steve Manly]

just a couple of pointers

for the pump, sump and overflow.

id recomend a pump that turns the water over at least5 times an hour so 900g an hour.

id recomend a fluidized bed sump built out of ply wood with a glass front built into the frame!

bulk head/ weir or stand pipes/weir are both suitable. the diy up n over build it but keep it for emergencies!

simply set it up, make joining lines with a sharpie, so you can get the correct angle when not on the tank and pvc weld them (dont smell it....maybe, no...DONT)

as for the tank. go for the largest foot print you can (also the deeper the tank the thicker the glass!

 

[Kash]

Thanks for the response. A few questions though. What do you mean by bulk head/ weir and stand pipes/ weir?

I'm gonna have to read up on this fluidized bed sump since I had never heard of it before. All I know is it has something to do with pushing water up into the sand substrate!

For the sump, I've decided I don't want anything longer than 3 feet (so that I can place some braces at about the half way mark under the tank. So I was thinking about something about the size of a 40g breeder. This way, if I decide to build it myself, I can get away with using the same 3/8" glass that I'm using for the tank itself.

 

[Kash]

Ok, just figured out the weir thing! lol

Now, is there a specific builkhead I should be using that can go through 3/4" plywood?

 

[Iwhoopedbatman]

Thanks for the response. A few questions though. What do you mean by bulk head/ weir and stand pipes/ weir?

I'm gonna have to read up on this fluidized bed sump since I had never heard of it before. All I know is it has something to do with pushing water up into the sand substrate!

For the sump, I've decided I don't want anything longer than 3 feet (so that I can place some braces at about the half way mark under the tank. So I was thinking about something about the size of a 40g breeder. This way, if I decide to build it myself, I can get away with using the same 3/8" glass that I'm using for the tank itself.

You could also use two separate sumps and connect them (you have to connect them) to go around the bracing. Just an idea, it's what I did under my 135.

 

[Kash]

Thanks again!

I was hoping to use the other half for storage since I'm running out of room here! But I suppose I could have a planted sump, and one full of bio media. Do you have a picture of your setup? I could also put a divider on the over flow box I want to build and have each sump have it's own drain and return plumbing, would this increase or reduce performance any if I go the two sump route?