Newbie with a plan for a tank!

[KatFish]

Hi all, someone on fishgeeks pointed me this way so here I am!

With luck next year I'm going to upgrade my tank, right now I have a 6 x 2 x 2 with barbs and catfish in it, there are 5 lemon fins growing nicely and I'm expecting a 2ft adult size so they're gonna need a bigger home Also my sun cat George has finally hit a foot, I'm hoping for another one outta him too.

Lucky for me I have a nice, big garage that only needs to hold my dogs' agility stuff, so I got a lot of space to play with

I'm thinking about a 10 x 4 x 3ft high, that leaves me 2ft at one end for bits and pieces and gives the fish a lot of room.

But, I don't want to go all glass - too pricey and I'm clumsy... a couple of people have suggested ply, I'm after any ideas for something strong, and not too pricey. Whatever I use I've got a 15 x 15 firestone pond liner I can line it with (have a 900g pond that's being filled in next year sos I can build a bigger, better one...). Will use glass or equivalent for the front bit of course!

Any tips for the stand would be great too, I want it off the floor so I can fit the current tank underneath as a planted sump (and so my clown barbs and cories can go somewhere without being eaten when the lemons and George are big enough!).

 

[stl2pab]

I'd also be interested to know if silicone bonds to pond liners. I've been tryin to cook up some plans to build a practice tank outta plywood and I decided that if this would work it'd be alot easier than tryin to epoxy or fiberglass the inside. bump.

 

[Dr Joe]

stl2pab

Use the sealer from the repair kit to bond to edpm, silicone doesn't work.

KatFish

I was going to suggest concrete 'till you said elevated.

100 points for cool factor...minus 3000 for structural prob.s

3400 kilos (7500 lbs) of water is going to make this interesting.

4"x2" box steel for a stand welded up properly is a start, then 3"x2" framework on top of that for the tank with double 3/4" ply for the walls, then the liner (used liner hasn't gotten hard has it).

Just an idea, would love to see you creation come to fruition.

I'm sure your already watching the other guys on here with their MONSTERS.

Dr Joe

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[KatFish]

I certainly am!

The liner's fine at the moment (if a little green but I could turn it round!), whether it will be this time next year I don't know. Will have to wait and see.

I was out in the garage yesterday pondering the whole elevated thing, and maybe on the floor would be better... I'm not particularly DIY minded anyway, I think the tank's going to be challenge enough! I do have my friend helping me prepare the garage to start with though (needs insulating and a false ceiling putting in).

I do have a lot of time to learn though so you never know! It may be elevated yet... Would be awesome to get my other tank underneath, plus it'd free up a lot of kitchen space

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Dr Joe]

Make the large one out of concrete block w/windows (you could raise it 2 blocks and fill in w/compacted dirt & a poured concrete bottom (easy to put drains in)) and put the 'little' one (1500 lbs) on top and gravity return the water.

Forgot to ask...Do you have a budget & is there someone who it has to be esthetically pleasing for?

Dr Joe

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[KatFish]

No need for it to be aesthetically pleasing, it's only me and my friend who are going to see it 99% of the time.

No budget as yet, I'm thinking cheap as possible! Just want to get an idea of how much it'll cost right now then go from there.

Would I need to be thinking about rebar for the concrete block? I was looking at that on the ubertank thread, of course mine isn't anywhere near as ambitious as that! Someone on fishgeeks mentioned it for my pond (the ground is very very soft here), but obviously that's not a factor in the garage as it's on a raised concrete floor.

 

[KatFish]

Just to add a Q, what do people normally seal their big tanks with when they don't use glass?

Just been pondering the liner and how I'm going to sort the corner folds out and sealing between it and the glass/plexi at the front. I'm guessing that liner goop or the joining tape would still work on a used liner (assuming thorough clean-up, of course)? That'd sort the corners out.

Weirdly, the more complicated this seems to get the more I want to do it... that would explain why i'm perservering with the awkard SOB piece of 4' apple tree branch that I'm trying to soak for the current tank Because I know it'll look great!

 

[CrazyBoutFish]

i would use acylic

 

[Dr Joe]

i would use acylic

10'x4'x3' !!! ACRYLIC ? Ok Mr Seaworld.

He's asking for realistic & economical help here, kets try and give it, not just increase our post count.

Dr Joe

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[Dr Joe]

For 4ft high I would drop some rebar in it to interconnect the block.

There's 3-4 products being used here in the States, check out some of the other builds here. Major problem is some are not available where you are or are cost prohibitive because of shipping. Best to check out some local pond and pool builders.


"Weirdly, the more complicated this seems to get the more I want to do it... that would explain why i'm perservering with the awkard SOB piece of 4' apple tree branch that I'm trying to soak for the current tank Because I know it'll look great!"

That's just normal around here .

Dr Joe

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