This is for someone contemplating building theire own aquarium i had been planning an aquarium build for several years but it seemed like it was more expensive than just buying one.I was searching the net for a good deal on a large aquarium and came across several sets of plans.
I started to get an idea of prices for material my work supplied me with some 3/4 spruce plywood and then i headed out for a price estimate on a piece of 1/4 float glass 8' by 14'' i had the money and bought it on the spot (I thought it it might have been more) probably my biggest mistake right theire.
By this point in time as soon as i had all my srews putty glue etc. i started to build right away after searching numerous hardware stores and phoning several paint dealers searching for marine epoxy resin as reccomended on garfs plans.
i ended up getting some fiberglass resin and started working outside with it not only did the front face seem really flimsy it started snowing like crazy while it was drying it was completly destoyed.
The next thing i did was replace front face with some 2 by 4 s and sheeted the inside with some 3/4 ply so pretty good.
went for a trip to home depot and they found something they thought i could use it was stone effects counter top coating i havnt found any problems with it but wow pricey for the amount i needed.
it cost me 50 dollars to coat my base alone i was able to get away with 50 dollars for the rest of the inside oh yes i ran a little short on the base and had to do two coats then after it was sealed up with the s.e i painted the outside and in my stupidity i decided to try and seal the paint with fiberglass resin.
By the next day after it had dryed i had bubbles and peeling
i cleaned it all up with some sanding and fiberglassed it again then it started to get to expensive for me to afford the next thing that happened is my 1 year old all glass 45 gallon fully stocked spilled on my floor this was a purchase.
all of my fish were placed in a 20 gallon rubbermaid bucket the biggest thing i had kicking around and proceeded in an attemt to build a cheaper large tank with the glass from the 45 gallon.
I searched some diy articles fairly long and came across somthing that seemed alot cheaper it said i could use a tub and tile epoxy as long as it read baby safe so i went ahead with it then paint went on really thin and i needed way more then i had planned.
i didnt cut the hole out for the glass for awhile once eveything was cured i decided to test it out i started small filled it ran a water test all good then i added some fish that bred like crazy a while back they seemed fine.
Time to get my fish out of the tiny bucket they started dropping like flies
ok so now i know that" not going to work and i won't ever try it again
time for scraping alot of paint someone replied to 1 of my previous threads that sherwin willams is a local paint dealer that would carry a product i could use duraplate and then i easily found its location it was 70.00 a gallon and i used this alone to seal my 100 gallon no problems and i have a tank thats being restocked.
i had enough left to paint my 150 gallon i had been working on and was able to finish it as well but after cutting some of it out and replacing the front i lost some lenght in the 150 i had purchased the glass awhile back.
Took the glass back to get it cut i wanted 3/4 taken out but it was a no go so he took of an inch i installed the glass let the silicone cure and filled with water in place.
I built the stand on the other side of the room while i was testing for leaks no problem.Then emptyd it and carryed it across the room and refilled it then it started leaking like crazy.Then i tried to reseal on top of the old silicone and just like dr joe said it didnt addhese.
My giving up point was when i cracked the glass trying to cut out the old silicone but i think the glass being short was a contrubuting factor because my 100 gallon fits tight and ive already banged around pretty good because i have to move all this stuff around myself.
i have absolutely no issues with the 100 gallon and i built a sump and plumbing and a stand.
Before starting this project do it right and it will end up being alot cheaper and easier in the long run.
Use only drinking water grade paints or gels FIND IT IT'S AROUND it will save alot of grief be patient and diligent i was in a rush.
I will be building a new one in the future i learned alot of the dues and dont's on my own even thogh i asked rush rush rush didnt stop to listen.
I started to get an idea of prices for material my work supplied me with some 3/4 spruce plywood and then i headed out for a price estimate on a piece of 1/4 float glass 8' by 14'' i had the money and bought it on the spot (I thought it it might have been more) probably my biggest mistake right theire.
By this point in time as soon as i had all my srews putty glue etc. i started to build right away after searching numerous hardware stores and phoning several paint dealers searching for marine epoxy resin as reccomended on garfs plans.
i ended up getting some fiberglass resin and started working outside with it not only did the front face seem really flimsy it started snowing like crazy while it was drying it was completly destoyed.
The next thing i did was replace front face with some 2 by 4 s and sheeted the inside with some 3/4 ply so pretty good.
went for a trip to home depot and they found something they thought i could use it was stone effects counter top coating i havnt found any problems with it but wow pricey for the amount i needed.
it cost me 50 dollars to coat my base alone i was able to get away with 50 dollars for the rest of the inside oh yes i ran a little short on the base and had to do two coats then after it was sealed up with the s.e i painted the outside and in my stupidity i decided to try and seal the paint with fiberglass resin.
By the next day after it had dryed i had bubbles and peeling
i cleaned it all up with some sanding and fiberglassed it again then it started to get to expensive for me to afford the next thing that happened is my 1 year old all glass 45 gallon fully stocked spilled on my floor this was a purchase.
all of my fish were placed in a 20 gallon rubbermaid bucket the biggest thing i had kicking around and proceeded in an attemt to build a cheaper large tank with the glass from the 45 gallon.
I searched some diy articles fairly long and came across somthing that seemed alot cheaper it said i could use a tub and tile epoxy as long as it read baby safe so i went ahead with it then paint went on really thin and i needed way more then i had planned.
i didnt cut the hole out for the glass for awhile once eveything was cured i decided to test it out i started small filled it ran a water test all good then i added some fish that bred like crazy a while back they seemed fine.
Time to get my fish out of the tiny bucket they started dropping like flies
ok so now i know that" not going to work and i won't ever try it againtime for scraping alot of paint someone replied to 1 of my previous threads that sherwin willams is a local paint dealer that would carry a product i could use duraplate and then i easily found its location it was 70.00 a gallon and i used this alone to seal my 100 gallon no problems and i have a tank thats being restocked.
i had enough left to paint my 150 gallon i had been working on and was able to finish it as well but after cutting some of it out and replacing the front i lost some lenght in the 150 i had purchased the glass awhile back.
Took the glass back to get it cut i wanted 3/4 taken out but it was a no go so he took of an inch i installed the glass let the silicone cure and filled with water in place.
I built the stand on the other side of the room while i was testing for leaks no problem.Then emptyd it and carryed it across the room and refilled it then it started leaking like crazy.Then i tried to reseal on top of the old silicone and just like dr joe said it didnt addhese.
My giving up point was when i cracked the glass trying to cut out the old silicone but i think the glass being short was a contrubuting factor because my 100 gallon fits tight and ive already banged around pretty good because i have to move all this stuff around myself.
i have absolutely no issues with the 100 gallon and i built a sump and plumbing and a stand.
Before starting this project do it right and it will end up being alot cheaper and easier in the long run.
Use only drinking water grade paints or gels FIND IT IT'S AROUND it will save alot of grief be patient and diligent i was in a rush.
I will be building a new one in the future i learned alot of the dues and dont's on my own even thogh i asked rush rush rush didnt stop to listen.
