Frame idea wanting some opinions

[Binge]

I am considering a 4'x4'x17" indoor pond build. I have a gorgeous piece of tempered glass that is oval shaped I will be using as the top and kinda turning it into a coffee table in what will be my fish cave.

For the frame I want to use 8'x3.5"x3.5" pressure treated fence posts cut in half then laid out alternateing sides so from the edge it will look like this

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111---------111 1111 being lumber
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111---------111 sorry for the poor imagery I am at work and cant do much with pics ect.
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I will drill holes at the four corners and half way point of each side then drop .5 inch rebar into it for strength. the bottom will have a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood screwed into the lower beams to keep it from going accordian on me. The top will be 3/4 inch ply wood with the center cut in the shape of my glass . If I feel the glass needs more support I will cut braces out of PVC to run across the middle( may happen any way as a way to mount lights under the glass). going to filter it with sponge filters.

So with my measurements should be around 175ish gallons.
-Will my frame support the weight?
-Can I get away with a pvc Liner since it will never see the sun?( I need to keep liner in the $60 range if possible) may even try to find an abandon intex pool and cut to size.
-Can I Just sandwich the liner beween my top and the piece beneath it or should I bond it to the wood? If so what with?
-Can I protect the ply wood pieces with just tompsons water seal or do I need to use an epoxy? Is there a cheaper way than epoxy since it is just trapping moisture not holding water.

this will be my first attempt at a build so I may have frequent stupid questions....I had a similar post in DIY for my first concept (didnt realize there was a pond section) But I would rather not use concrete.

 

[Blaz1n1t]

This might give you other ideas to run with. My father and i, built this pond for my porch for right around 200$ cheapest i can think of without being flimsy. This is 8x4x2 right under 400gall. I only used 2x4 on frame then put 1/2inch plywood over 2x4s to strengthen the frame, i also did not put any center braces or a bottom on the frame itself. also don't no if it helped but i used 2 6inch tapcons on each side to screw to concrete.





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[Blaz1n1t]

-Will my frame support the weight?
-Can I get away with a pvc Liner since it will never see the sun?( I need to keep liner in the $60 range if possible) may even try to find an abandon intex pool and cut to size.
-Can I Just sandwich the liner beween my top and the piece beneath it or should I bond it to the wood? If so what with?
-Can I protect the ply wood pieces with just tompsons water seal or do I need to use an epoxy? Is there a cheaper way than epoxy since it is just trapping moisture not holding water.

Also to answer a few of your questions.
-if you are using 4x4 post i dont see any reason for it to not hold the weight you put on it.
-pvc liner should work just fine, ether shop ebay for one, or just go to lowes or homedepot, should be able to get what you need for around 60$
- not sure about bonding it to the wood, i cut and stapled my liner neatly all the way around, then place trim boards over that to make look nice.
- also not sure on protecting the wood from moisture. I also wanted to do this but never did because i was lazy.
Hope i was somewhat of help.




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[Binge]

With the fence posts my materials cost will be
5x posts at $7.77 (cut in half I have my 10 pieces)- 38.85
1x 4x8x3/4 plywood at $24
8x 18 inch rebar at $1.68 each-13.44
1 x box of wood screws have not looked up about $12
1x 8x8 liner (found a 45 mil firestone in that size for $59 yesterday dunno about shipping tho)

so $148.29 plus or minus 10-12 bucks for shipping, and I may be able to get a cheaper liner. I may add some kind of center brace to the middle of my beams just for safeteys sake Im sure I have some scrap 2x4 I could use.

Blaz1n1t that is most helpful I was not sure if it was a good idea to puncture the liner at any given point. Is why I was thinking about bonding it to the wood . But if staples will do Im good there.
Now I just need to figure out what to water proof my top with and I am good to go. will probably start the project in a couple weeks.
I need to build the stand all of my other tanks will sit on along the wall first. I am short so I am going to set it about 20 inches high. It will be cinderblock every 3 ft with 4 inch beams supporting a 125 gallon,75 gallon, 40 gallon breeder 29 gallon, 10 gallon, and a 5 gallon as well as maybe another 29 gallon. My 55 alreeady has a lowboy stand so it will stay on that.