Outdoor tank Question

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michael30.06

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 18, 2010
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Townsville Australia
I've spent the last few weeks lurking and reading the build logs here, fantastic stuff. It has brought me back to an idea I came up with a few years ago, here's the thing.

I would like to build an outdoor tank from plywood and 2x4 either epoxied or lined with a 1m square window. It would be 1.5m wide and 1.5m high and 1m deep front to back. I have used an online thickness calculator for the glass and it comes up with 16mm. It seems a little thin, maybe I should get a quote for 20mm glass from the supplier as well.
What does your experience tell you? :D
 
If you live in a cold climate, it would get much too cold in that volume of water to support most fish, as its off the ground and for the most part ponds are bigger and are insulated by the earth. Thats the first thing I would think of. The second thing is that outdoors in the wind and the rain, as well as with the constant fluctuation of temperature, seams wear down very quickly. Esp. Silicone and glass. I left a normal tank that held water outside to get it rain-cleaned for about a month one time, and after it wouldn't hold water at all, so I had to redo all the seams. If you're doing an outdoor tank I think it would be more advisable to make it out of cement or fiberglass. thats just what I'd do
 
Sorry more details. The tank will sit on a concrete pad on the ground. I have a steep slope beside a path and the tank will be set against the base of the slope.
Also I live in a HOT climate. Far north Queensland Australia. Average night time temp 18 deg C day time 27-35.
The tank can be a lot larger as being outside there is plenty of space, I just realy want that huge view window effect, so the dimentions of the rest of the tank are being built around the window.
If I use a liner that should prevent any issue with seams becoming weathered should'nt it?
 
Possibly to protect the seems, you could use a window caulk to reinforce the aquarium grade silicone on the outside of the tank. This way the aquarium sealant wouldn't be exposed to as much weathering.
 
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