How Long Could a Plywood Tank Last?

[Ocean Railroader]

I'm new to the threads and when I joined this website I have seen a lot of people building giant fish tanks out of Plywood lined with speical epoxy liners that keep them water tight. But I have also heard stories of what happens when the linners fail and leaks break out in them. But I kind of don't like the idea of something out of wood I think cement or arylic would be better but at the same time I noice that people have had a lot of sucuess with building giant plywood tanks. And I would keep a open mind about trying to build one or asking someone to build one day as a dream tank. But I'm woundering how many years do plywood tanks uselly last with out any leaks? Also what kind of repairs they have to go under every few years to keep them running and in good shape?

Up intill becoming a member of this website I didn't really know that plywood tanks existed or that they could be built to such large sizes.

 

[gregg]

its been discussed before and its been said that its a pretty new thing but if done well it should last long

 

[greenterra]

I expect no less than 20 years out of my build. Using quality marine epoxy resins in conjunction with fibreglass will ensure longevity. It will vary with most tanks though as many who opt for Plywood tanks see it only as a cheap alternative of getting a larger tank and will often skimp on the material quality in favour of upfront costs. Ones skills and knowledge or lack of will also play a large role in the life span of a tank. In the end, I suppose it comes down to what you are happy to settle for in relation to costs versus longevity IMO.