After countless hours of reading this site and not being able to find a decent priced tank locally, I decided to build my own. I have an odd hallway that I didn't have much use for but after looking at the floor joists, the corner seemed to be a good place to put a tank. The tank is is a pentagon with 2 sides measuring 48", 2 sides measuring 18", the front which is 42", and it is 18" Tall: when filled up to the overflow it is exactly 85 Gallons not including the sump. Instead of using plywood, I decided to use 2x10 dimensional lumber to build the tank. I had some some pieces of pond liner left over from an outdoor pond I built this past spring so I used a piece to line the inside instead of epoxy because it was free and I wouldn't have to deal with the smell in the wintertime. The window is 1/4" acrylic (12"x33"W), at full compacity the water level is about 11" up the window. I basically used the same method as most who have pond liner tanks with windows; sandwiching the liner, silicon, and acrylic, however I did drill holes through the acrylic and the wood (grommet I guess), that way the window wouldn't have a chance to move. Being my first tank I didn't want to take any chances springing a leak so I spread way more than enough silicon across the seems on the window. The stand is made from 2x4s and 4x4s, it is open right now but the 2x4s stick out 1/2" from the legs incase I decide to put sides and doors on it. I drilled a hole for the intake and ran the tubing behind the liner so I wouldn't create a possible weak spot and drilled a hole for the overflow. I didn't buy a bulkhead for it, instead I used a small piece of pvc and 2 couplers with silicon in between to seal it. When I tested the tank out, it had a very small leak from this spot but a tube of silicon covering all around the pvc solved it. Ive read quite a few posts on this site saying silicon doesn't stick to pond liner but its been holding nicely. The sump has a small rubbermaid container which has a bunch of batting and a heavy layer of activated carbon which drains into a larger container that can hold about 25-30 gallons but has about 15 or so when running. The return pump is rated at 900 gph so the tank cycles 9 times per hour. The only thing I seemed to overlook was my overflow. I drilled it as close to the corner as I could then when it came time to place it on my stand it didn't match up because one of the legs was where the overflow should be.
It has been up and running for two weeks and is now the home to my 13" Dragon Goby, 5" Raphael Cat, 2 Spotted Perchs? 2", and 3 small Silver Dollars that I just picked up. Hopefully, my lfs will get in a healthy retic stingray that I can add to my tank for the next year or so.
I have a very dim light on my tank so I'm sorry some of the pics are kind of hard to see.
It has been up and running for two weeks and is now the home to my 13" Dragon Goby, 5" Raphael Cat, 2 Spotted Perchs? 2", and 3 small Silver Dollars that I just picked up. Hopefully, my lfs will get in a healthy retic stingray that I can add to my tank for the next year or so.
I have a very dim light on my tank so I'm sorry some of the pics are kind of hard to see.
look good