first diy tank build, gathering supplies open to ideas
- Thread starter robr0924
- Start date
Glass might be tempered if its for table, should look for a stamp. Tempered glass isn't as strong for aquariums.
Tempered glass is plenty strong, dont worry about that. The key with tempered glass is to watch those edges. You bump 1 edge/corner the wrong way and its gone. Take a look at my thread below. On the first page is my stand. I wish I could remember who I barrowed the plans from to give them credit but its a great stand. I think 2x6 framing is fine on the stand. On the tank I'd go 2x8s 12" OC. That will give you added strength and give you a wall cavity to hide the plumbing. What do you plan on sealing the tank with?
this might help with the stand it will only convert to 225gl but you could get a great idea from it http://www.fishandtips.com/index.php
What I mean by not strong is that you need a high safety factor when looking at thickness versus tank depth. The tempered won't accept any kind of flex in it.
BadOleRoss;4254950; said:
Thanks Ross, I have been watching your build and pretty much thought I was going to go your route. Right now the old people have moved in with us, until they figure out what they want to do. Florida or stay around here in Texas. I going draw up plans, money and get supplies.
In my life I have worked as a body shop apprentice painting cars, with Laquer (80's). Then I have worked in marine repair (fiberglass) repairs and painting sail boats with epoxy 2 part paints. And today I am as far away from that as possible and I am a production manager/ certified records manager. AKA I watch people work and maintain the data.
The glass is not tempered (no stamp) my mother had it cut and sanded the edges. It has one small chip in the corner because it was dropped during a move. It takes four men to move it. When I get it out of storage I ll take pictures.
These are my concerns:
1. Weight
2. ability to move it. (plan is to build in the gargage and run it for awhile then move it into our sun room. It has french doors so I have room to move it in and out the doors. (thinking of incorporating jacks w/ wheels so I can raise it and move it in and out. (empty of course)
3. Coating (liquid pond coat) or fiber glass it and paint with epoxy. Cost is a factor.
4. Filter? I have never done a sump pump wet/dry system. I have always used caniters.
5. placement of the glass (how to hold it in place and not leak) and any spot where the plywood is joined together.
Overall height 7 foot. So it can go through the doors, I would like to get it done in 6 months if possible.
So hince I in the planning stage and I'm open to suggestions and ideas. Once complete I'll move my arrowana, peacock bass and shovel nose cat and oscars into it. I have pic's of my 220 gallon, I built the stand and top, and light set up on it.
thanks for the input
rob
leather;4256250; said:
Tempered glass flexes like a big dog! If you go to youtube you can find dozens of video of people jumping up and down of sheets of tempered glass trying to break them. The issue with tempered glass is that if you hit the edge the wrong way or even the face with a edged object it can break.
With the glass not being tempered you might want to consider having it cut down so it's not so tall. A 48" deep tank is going to take sure serious lumber to keep it from bowing and I dont really see a way to make a tank that size easy to move. But, it would be a shame not to use the 1" glass to it's potential. As far as sealing the tank, liquid rubber was great to work with and I really dont have anything bad to say about the product. One of the benefits in using LR on a tank this size would be the ability to flex. LR would also take care of seams in plywood. Just use body putty over major seams and sand it smooth. Sumps are easy! And very effective. I made the mistake when I build mine of trying bulkheads to feed the sump. I ended up cutting the bulkheads out and replacing them with overflow boxes. The boxes work great but they would have looked a lot better if I would have gone that route in the beginning. As far as holding the glass in place while it cures. If you build the tank and stand seperatley you can lay the tank face down and let the weight of the glass hold it in place while the silicone cures.