I now have a home and an understanding wife!, the wife part beats the house, since she is the one allowing me to build my monster tank. On-wards, currently I have 650 gallons of aquariums of salt. Not to mention I have plans on adding another 100-150 gallons before I am done that system. My dilemma is my fowlr has 8-10 year old fish that are outgrowing their home (280). The basement entrance is limited to 30" wide. SO I am planning a tank build. I will be keeping my reef seperate, so as not to have to get a calicium reactor the size of my house, lol. It looks like I can a 10-14 foot long aquarium, and I am thinking 4 foot wide and 4-5 feet tall. I am a salt water pro, but a plywood newb. I have been reading and researching, but I need advice. I keep getting mixed answers, some people say no matter what u will have a leak, and yet I see people keep on setting them up!? lol I think thats a myth, unless u dont build it correct. But if u cheap out then ur asking for it. I am liking the idea of using liquid rubber and I saw the ways to mount glass/acrylic with it.
My first basement, therefore my first plywood tank!
- Thread starter reefcycle
- Start date
First thing that springs to my mind with a DIY timber tank and salt water is corrosion of the fastenings. I think you'd certainly want to use stainless screws and completely seal them just to be safe. IMO a build like green_terra's that was made from ply and fibreglassed inside and out would be safer with salt water, though I'm not sure if you're able to source 10' long sheets of ply.
Of course you're not "always" going to have a leak, but it is highly likely with any large tank build than not everything will go 100% to plan, as I'm sure you've found already being a "salt water pro".
Of course you're not "always" going to have a leak, but it is highly likely with any large tank build than not everything will go 100% to plan, as I'm sure you've found already being a "salt water pro".
Corrosion of the fastenings David R ? You do seal everything, i dont see how anything could corros when sealed?You will definetly have a leak way before that.
I mean the other fastenings outside of the tank, not all of them are covered by the waterproofing for the tank, I've seen many builds where the outside timber frame is left unpainted/uncovered. I found when I set up a small reef in my old fishroom the corrosion of anything made from metal accelerated rapidly. Steel stands, exposed screw heads in timber, even the cupboard door handles! Granted it was a fairly humid and poorly ventilated room, but if I were relying on steel fastenings to hold together a timber framed salt water tank I'd want to make sure every last screw is completely sealed off from the atmosphere and any potentially spilled water.
I will be going nuts and coating everything. I have made a saltwater stand before, for my 210 and I made sure to coat it all to protect it from constant exposure. But the question I have for u guys is, on every other site, all I can find is it will leak it will leak etc. All I see on here and finger lakes reef is, if u build it right it will not leak. I just want to ensure that is the case.
My plan is to build tank on a short stand, similar to the guy who built 2700 gallon tank. I will be keeping humidity in by building faux walls with ventilation that leads to outside house, and I will be building this tank heavy duty, fiberglassing the seams for strength, using liquid nail or wood glue and screw every board etc, sanding and preppping then applying liquid rubber till 50-60 mil layer has been achieved.
My plan is to build tank on a short stand, similar to the guy who built 2700 gallon tank. I will be keeping humidity in by building faux walls with ventilation that leads to outside house, and I will be building this tank heavy duty, fiberglassing the seams for strength, using liquid nail or wood glue and screw every board etc, sanding and preppping then applying liquid rubber till 50-60 mil layer has been achieved.
look up VLDesigns 2600G build, he did have a few slight leaks at first but determination helped him track them all down and it's been holding steady for a while now.
At work they make pretty big plywood-fiberglass tanks and the shop has had a saltwater display one for 3-4 years with 0 leaks, So like David suggested maybe the best bet is a full fiberglass body? I dont know if normal plywood tanks are effected by salt, I do know when I had saltwater in my fish room everything close to the tanks started to rust within a short period even the galvanized items where showing corrosion bubbles under 2-3 months, It certainly wouldn't surprise me if the saltwater can/will wear down a wooden tank.
^ my understanding is the frame is built etc then taken to a fiberglass spray place and they just blast it then good to go. There is no screws etc exposed and I have never seen one leak, even the ones I helped seal hold water so its pretty fool proof lol! this ones a 12x4x4 or something ridiculous the panel was a nightmare to lift.
^ my understanding is the frame is built etc then taken to a fiberglass spray place and they just blast it then good to go. There is no screws etc exposed and I have never seen one leak, even the ones I helped seal hold water so its pretty fool proof lol! this ones a 12x4x4 or something ridiculous the panel was a nightmare to lift.
Vldesigns was the 2700/2600 gallon tank I was referring too. Sadly once this building commences, I will not be able to remove it to fiberglass it all outside, it will have to be done inside. At the moment I have on other side of basement/fishcave 650 gallons of salt in glass and horse troughs. But I am happy to get confirmation of success. Its weird that every one on internet is so against this idea. I mean I know that people on the internet are angry and get to say what they want with little to no repercussions, but it was unnerving hearing it will leak guaranteed!
As far as screw's is it worth it to use products like thread locker, even if they are wood screws?
As far as screw's is it worth it to use products like thread locker, even if they are wood screws?
I wouldn't use a thread-loc type product for the wood screws, but I would certainly glue the joins as well as screw.
Sounds like it is going to be an epic build, great to see a salt water monster tank in the mix! If you can't get behind the tank to seal the wood/screws I would suggest either painting or sealing them before assembly to help keep the moisture away. Are you going to use treated timber?
Sounds like it is going to be an epic build, great to see a salt water monster tank in the mix! If you can't get behind the tank to seal the wood/screws I would suggest either painting or sealing them before assembly to help keep the moisture away. Are you going to use treated timber?