My 800 Gallon Plywood tank build

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Gator;2364291; said:
So... If you know the silicone doesn't stick why are you using it the way you are? There is a way to get it to stick tho if you have some epoxy left over. Paint the area you are going to apply the silicone to on your acrylic sheet and let it cure then apply the silicone. The epoxy will bond to the acrylic and give you an area that the silicone can to stick to.
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Have you used this method? The silly-cone does not need to stick, the pressure of the water will hold the window in place, the silicone is more of a gasket, than a glue..

Not saying the epoxy on acrylic wont work, just never saw it before...
 
Lil_Stinker;2364852; said:
Have you used this method? The silly-cone does not need to stick, the pressure of the water will hold the window in place, the silicone is more of a gasket, than a glue..

Not saying the epoxy on acrylic wont work, just never saw it before...
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I hear what you are saying about the silicone acting as a gasket and that is what I always read. This is the first time anyone ever said to epoxy the edge of the panel before putting the silicone down. The way I have it should still let the silicone act as a gasket but as a few told me this silicone I am using should stick to the panel and give the silicone more than just a gasket effect. Hopefully this will work and I do not have to start over with new silicone. The silicone cost alot and it is getting cold outside.
 
marinelife;2364232; said:
More info, I my layers ended up being:
layer 1: West Systems Epoxy
Layer 2: West Systems Epoxy and fiberglass cloth over 90% of the tank
Layer 3 MAS Epoxy and fiberglass cloth over 90% of the tank
Layer 4 MAS Epoxy
Layer 5 and 6 West Systems Epoxy
Layer 7-10 SweetWater Blue Epoxy Paint
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Nice to see such a tall plywood tank. Looking forward to the end result. Can you describe how the tank was framed? In one of the pictures it looks like you have 2x4 lumber sandwiched between the two plywood layers but I'm not completely sure.

Also, why the use of two different resins? I understand why you would use the Epoxy paint as a topcoat but wonder if there is a method to the madness of two different resins. I'm assuming you just needed more and went with another product?

Any noticable differences between the two resins?

And was there any sort of logic or reasoning behind the order of the layers? Or was that just how it worked out?
 
The tank is two sheets of Plywood glued and screwed together all the way around making the walls 1.5" thick. I have 2x2s cut to 45s in the corners and edges. The front is supported by 2x4 both above and below the panel. I have 2x4s going around the top as a brace. Now that the panel is in I will be adding a 2x4 across the top middle for support. I have a T made out of 2x4s going across the back and down to the bottom of the tank. This is to add support for bowing and a place to mount corals.

I started out wanting to add fiberglass as the first layer but the wood soaked up so much epoxy that I ended up just doing on layer of epoxy first. Why I did different layers by different manufactures was really just to try them and get the best of both worlds. The MAS System was not as easy to work with and smelled really bad compared to the other. I would recommend the WEST Systems epoxy to anyone doing it. It mixed easier and was better to work with. The Epozy paint was the best and easiest to use.
 
im really looking foward to seeing your tank up and running, i was expecting a FW setup untill i read your fish list,

congrats too you for doing such a huge tank, it will be worth all the hard work
 
I guess I'll be the first to express some doubt about the design. That seems awfully deep for a wood box with no outside support, even with the dual layer of plywood.

I hope I'm wrong though.
 
spiff;2368281; said:
I guess I'll be the first to express some doubt about the design. That seems awfully deep for a wood box with no outside support, even with the dual layer of plywood.

I hope I'm wrong though:screwy:.
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Didn't you see his line up of 10 layers?
And the fact that he has 2- .75" thick plywood?
10 layers over 1.5" of plywood, can you say bulletproof?
 
marinelife;2368334; said:
Spiff, first on this board but no the first. I will be adding some metal brackets on the outside back corners and sides.
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I'm with the doubter here too. I would be scared to have a tank over 6' tall with 1.5" plywood. The pressure might blow the metal brackets straight out of the wood. I hope I'm wrong though. :eek:
 
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