First Tank Build - 400 Gallon

[bubbles123]

Right on thanks bubbles, yah I'm kind of on the fence with the shift work, it is nice having days of during the week, but I hate working half the weekends... I like your schedule more than mine, I don't have any long changes like that. I go 2 days, 2 off, 3 nights, 2 off, 2 days, 3 off, 2 nights, 2 off, 3 days and so on, 7:30 to 7:30. What do you do for work?

I'm an HEO for one of the mines near Fort McMurray. That's a crazy schedule. I'd screw up and miss work with that schedule.

I just checked out that thread you linked me to bubbles, looks like a good product, I just hate how it turns brown, really would prefer and black tank.

There have been some experiments like letting it cure in the sun; I know kinda difficult for the next few months. On liquid rubber's website, they talk about a topcoat to colour it. I'll email them to get more info. I bought a couple of buckets of zavlar a while back but then other projects got in the way of building my tank, but I'm finished them so I get to start with my tank again.

 

[cockroach]

Nice start. Subscribing

 

[Grant427]

I'm an HEO for one of the mines near Fort McMurray. That's a crazy schedule. I'd screw up and miss work with that schedule.

Right on, yah I do the same thing at a mine south of Edmonton. What's it like working up north? I've though of going up there.

There have been some experiments like letting it cure in the sun; I know kinda difficult for the next few months. On liquid rubber's website, they talk about a topcoat to colour it. I'll email them to get more info. I bought a couple of buckets of zavlar a while back but then other projects got in the way of building my tank, but I'm finished them so I get to start with my tank again.

Awesome thanks let me know what you find out! Have you started building your tank yet?

 

[Grant427]

So today I cut and installed my inside corner bracing, I laminated two 2" strips of plywood together and then used PL Premium in the corners and screwed all the braces in, tomorrow the old man is coming up to help me fiberglass all the inside corners (I've never worked with the stuff and he's a pro), so if all goes as planned should have the majority of the fiberglassing done buy tomorrow night. I've pretty much decided to use Zavlar since it's fairly inexpensive and seems to work well, also I can get it locally. I'll try and come up with a picture to show how I'll be mounting the glass, but basically there's a frame around the inside of the front that the glass with sit into, with the ledge fiberglassed and a quarter inch of play to either side.

In glass related news... I've been trying to find somewhere locally to order it for me, I should find out tomorrow what is happening there, glass probably will be in shorty after the new year. My goal for a test fill is going to be the weekend of January 20th, going to be crazy busy the next month with work/weddings/etc so progress may be slow.



Just a shot of the corner bracing.

 

[Grant427]

Hopefully this will make more sense now. So the corner bracing (green) is what I just installed and outline the glass like a frame with 1/4" on all sides. The ledge (brown) is where the glass sits and will be fiberglassed along with the corner bracing.

 

[Grant427]

Got all my inside corners fiberglassed, now there's no way she can leak through them! My liquid rubber will be here Tuesday.

 

[Grant427]

Probably won't be making much progress on the tank until after Christmas sometime, most likely after New Years... Decided this morning to do a little more fiberglassing, applied resin to the whole bottom and up about 6 inches on all sides. Still haven't heard on the glass from my local supplier so may have to go with a place in Edmonton, it'd by $190 there, but then an extra $100 to get it crated so I can transport it here. Figured it do another update on the current costs list.

Costs
Stand
(16) - 2x4 8's - $31.84
(300) - Assorted Screws - $5.19
Total = $37.03
Tank
(4) - 4x8 G1S Pine Plywood - $184.88
Fiberglass Resin and Cloth - $103.12
Total = $288.00

Grand Total = $325.03

I'm not sure what the total will end up being, about $300 for glass, $100 for Liquid Rubber and any other things that may pop up, hoping to keep it between $800 and $1000...

 

[Grant427]

So I've decided I'm not a huge fan of fiberglassing lol it's messy and the whole house has smelled like it for like a week now! Oh well... I think it added alot of strength in those corners as well as made it water tight in case I was to miss an spot with the Liquid Rubber. Should have a coat of that on tomorrow if it comes in as planned.



Fish are looking forward to their new home!

 

[Pharaoh]

Good progress so far!

 

[Dieselfool]

Hopefully this will make more sense now. So the corner bracing (green) is what I just installed and outline the glass like a frame with 1/4" on all sides. The ledge (brown) is where the glass sits and will be fiberglassed along with the corner bracing.

Question.... how much overlap are you putting the glass onto the plywood? I'll be starting pretty much the same build as your's in the spring and I'm just wondering if 1" overlap would be safe? I already have my glass, 84"x24" and I would like to do the window as big as possable. So I'm thinking 96"x32"x30" on the outside, giving me around 350gal inside with a viewing window of 82"x22".
Op or anyone else is welcome to respond.
Great build by the way.......I'm watching closely.
Al.