My first 500g ply/GRP build.

[waynes world]

****All sizes in UK****

I think it time to sort this build out, well the first as next year or early the year after i will be building a tank around 1400g (11x6x4), but for now i am going to build the smaller tank of around 7x4x3 about 500g i think as this size is on the outside measurements.
This size came about as its the biggest i can fit in the house, it will positioned half under the stairs and half the front room, it will have 2 viewing windows in the front room 4x3 and 3x3 also maybe one in the conservatory of 4x3, that all depends as i need to knock through the twin skin gable house wall into the conservatory, not a hard job though realy.
Good point on this is thati am next to water point and drain so i can fit a overflow pipe straight into the drain incase of a disaster.

If i was good enough on a PC i would do a sketch of what i plan and post it up, LOL that would take me six months to draw.

I have not fully sorted the build spec yet so i am welcoming any alternatives to this, also the filtration need more work, upto know its a 100g sump or 2 50g one on top of the other to save space in the dining room, thats if i can sort the desgin out for that. The room i have is only 4 x 1.5, so that means if i have a 100g sump it will need to be around 4x1.5x3 high.

Up to know the build is..

Frame work bearers of 3x2 spaced at 18inch and set side on so the 3 inch side is against the tank side.
Ply lined with 18mm and 3 layers of 450g CSM then a tissue layer maybe, i am using 3 layers as this will take the pressure/weight of the water so i can reduce the wood frame size.

Oh i am going to find a program to try and draw a sketch of my plan, please bear with me a minute.....or 2.

 

[Ocean Railroader]

Sounds like a cool idea I like watching the 300 gallon plus tank builds. There was something I remember reading about a thing called a fish highway where someone would take a clear pvc pipe with two elbos at eatch end and then lay them across from one fish tank to another and then drain the air out of them and let the water flow though it from one tank to another. It could link the giant 500 gallon into the 1,100 gallon tank. They make the clear pvc pipe up to 14 inches across.

I plan to do something like this when I move out by linking up my old 75 gallon to a new 300 gallon tank with a six inch or eight inch across clear pvc pipe.

 

[waynes world]

Sounds like a cool idea I like watching the 300 gallon plus tank builds. There was something I remember reading about a thing called a fish highway where someone would take a clear pvc pipe with two elbos at eatch end and then lay them across from one fish tank to another and then drain the air out of them and let the water flow though it from one tank to another. It could link the giant 500 gallon into the 1,100 gallon tank. They make the clear pvc pipe up to 14 inches across.

I plan to do something like this when I move out by linking up my old 75 gallon to a new 300 gallon tank with a six inch or eight inch across clear pvc pipe.

I have seen similar thing on tanks also but i would be bothered if the TSNxRTC would get stuck in the tube chasing its dinner LOL, the big tank is for Bob (hybrud) and some Motoro rays and other fish he wont eat, this one is for other rays, gars and Arnie the aro which i have now with Bob in my 150g tank.

I have thought about the filter setup and come up with a twin sump filter, two 50g one above the outher, the tank will feed the top and go through to the end settle chamber then two 2 inch pipes set at the water level going down through the base to the bottom sump then through there to the pump chamber, all in all 6 chambers and 100g.

I cant wait to gte started on the build but the weather is a bit cold, -5 ish as i need to build a garden wall and sort that out, will not take long but the frost is putting plans on hold for a week or so. Once done i can get building the tank

 

[Ocean Railroader]

I've never have owned a sump tank and pump but I've woundered how do the fish keepers keep the water from over flowing out of the sump if the power goes out? Such as if I built a tank I've always thought of building the filter tank above the main tank with the fish it instead of on the bottom. I have a fear of the water emptying out of the tank.

It's been snowing and iceing all over here too I guess that most people build them in the spring and summmer? I think if I ever tried to build my tank I think I would spend the winter digging out the base for it in that in Vrginia the Springs and Summer are very hot in the 90F's most of the time.