FLoor leveling and other advice for 2500g tank build
- Thread starter Kentrob11
- Start date
It's used in water tank, speedboat hulls, bridge abutments many applications. You would need a polyurea contractor to spray it on though. Everything I've read about it sounds good..really tough, durable, waterproof... If I were building a tank, that's the way I'd go.
Here's a company I've dealt with. They actually supply the polyurea to a company that makes 3D backgrounds. (Polyurea plus crushed rock = 3D backgrounds).
http://www.specialty-products.com/
http://www.specialty-products.com/industry-solutions/industries-served/food-beverage/
If it can be used in potable water applications, it can be used in fish tanks.
If I were building a tank, whether out of plywood or cement, this is the stuff I would line it with.
http://polyurea.com/spps/ahpg.cfm?spgid=89
I found a polyurea contractor from this site
http://polyurea.com/
Here's another site:
http://foammesa.com/roofing/roofing.shtml?roofingtabs=4
Why not go with an industry standard rather than go with a product you read about in the DIY section of a fish forum that may or may not work and which may or may not hold up for who knows how long. If I were building a tank of any size, I don't want to cross my fingers and hope whatever I painted on works. I would want to KNOW that it will work.
Thanks for the links! I am definitely going to look into that...So do you think concrete block would be the best way to do this?
With his 2400, 5000 and 10,000 gallon builds, John PTC is the one you should contact regarding concrete block builds.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...7-2-400-gallon-Arapaima-Gigas-Tank-by-JohnPTC
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...on-Arapaima-Gigas-Tank-by-JohnPTC-(1-Viewing)
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?74523-tank-conversion-5000-to-10000-gallons
It seems as though there are a lot more builds using the lumber framing method than concrete blocks...Is that because it is easier or just plain stronger/better?
It depends on what you're comfortable working with.
On MFK, John is definitely the king when it comes to building tanks with concrete blocks. I would say that Ted (AlmostAnythingFish) is the king of the outdoor plywood tank builds with his 2400 and 8000 gallon tanks.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...onstructing-a-Monster-Aquarium-Yourself/page3
You don't have to look too far in this DIY tank section to find a 2600 gallon plywood build that had months of grief with leaks, and a 4300 gallon tank that still hasn't got the leaks fixed. Leaks scare me. My husband wanted to build our tank, but I was too afraid, so had an acrylic tank made, hopefully, to avoid any leak problems. I should have had more faith in my husband's ability, because he would have done a great job. (Our DIY addition to house the tank is beautiful.) From all I've read about polyurea, that is what I would use to line the tank if we were doing a DIY tank, no matter what the tank was constructed with.
Read John's and Ted's threads on their tank builds, and you will probably formulate an opinion on which direction you want to go. BTW, you asked a question about the 5,000 gallon tank and whether it was still in use. John constructed a second 5,000 gallon tank adjacent to it, then knocked out the wall between the two tanks, making one 10,000 gallon tank. Many of us read his thread with baited breath. It was an incredible build.
I know this is a bit of a derail but:
I just learned so much from this thread in the 5 minutes I'm sitting in a bar waiting on a friend.
Great example of why I love MFK.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
I just learned so much from this thread in the 5 minutes I'm sitting in a bar waiting on a friend.
Great example of why I love MFK.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Well, I got down and inspected the floor a bit closer with a level and as it turns out, it's pretty level after all. I spent a bit more time discussing this with my buddy with the 20K tank and we decided on interlocked 2x8's stacked about 6 high at the bottom and top and then wall stud style mounted 2x8's about 10-12" apart on the side walls. We would then do 2 layers of 3/4" plywood and then a layer of 1/4" black pvc sheet inside. I would glue in 2x2x.250 extruded angle pvc on all of the seams which should give me an extremely strong and leak proof tank. One think i didn't ask about was if I could simply start building it on the floor or if it was wiser to build it on a 2x4 or 2x6 frame or "stand" if you will. Any input on that?
I got a framing build diagram put together showing what I've got in mind now...comments welcome....
I'd be going with either poured concrete (like this guy; link) or blocks like JohnPTC. I know many people have successfully built huge ply/timber tanks, but for me once you get to the size you're talking about it seems like concrete/blocks is the way to go. If you're confident working with timber though and don't mind spending the money then go for it, either way I look forward to seeing your progress!!
