Q? for diy'ers-plywood tanks

[hellrazr1231]

Alright guys,
I am planning to build a 900g tank in the close future and have been out pricing some products. A few questions having gather in my brain since.
1) Has anyone tried OSB-aka particle board?
It is alot cheaper then plywood and is still strong. Once Waterproof it will not fall apart (even plywood will spilt if not treated and becomes moist) That said, plywood is alot better hence the price? Just curious if it has been done.
2) Where is everyone getting their materials?
3) What is a good price on 4x8x1/2'' or 3/4'' acrylic or glass?
In my search I have priced plexi 1/2'' at $350 and float glass around $425.
4) For guys with epoxy/fiberglass and rubbercoat guys- what would you have done different? It appears rubbercoat is the way to go since it can flex with the stress of so much water.
5) How are people sealing plexiglass to wood? Same silcone as used with glass? Been told by people that silcone does not stick to plexi very well.
6) How durable is rubbercoating (pond armour/wet)? I want to use large drift wood. What are the chances of tearing?
I have built several large reptile tanks before and some have been exposed to high moisture, so water tight is new to me but building large cages is not. I have read alot of links above and like so many have said-there is alot of chit-chat and random talking. Ideas that are thought of but never used and ideas never talked about but are used.
Thanks guy

 

[verruckt]

lowes is where i get mine.
im fiberglassing the outside with 3mm mat and resin for strenght reasons.
the inside is still up in the air, either fiberglass mat in the seams and resin everywhere else
my glass is 61.25" long and 21.75" wide and is $144.65.

 

[verruckt]

but @ a 4" tall pc of glass you have no choice but to go 3/4 glass or 1" plexiglass. someone correct me if im wrong but 3/4" plexty glass is only as strong as 1/2" glass

 

[verruckt]

ops *4 ft tall

 

[hellrazr1231]

I was thinking about a crossbrace if using 1/2 plexi. Form 4 windows which would keep it from bowing. 3/4 seems to more then double on price online. Only 3 foot x 7 will be exposed to pure water weight. I plan to use 2x6 on the front and want the plexi to be cover as much as possiable for best seal. I may have to bump the height down do to not being able to find 3/4 plexi. At 3ft height I would have a 2foot tall window which should be fine-or have seen this a few times.
I was orginally planning resin and fiberglass but read a few times on here where the fiberglass is pulling away from the corners after a few years or in cases of shifting the tank springs a leak. Maybe staple cloth down so it doesn't move?
Your lowes must be alot better then mine lol. They don't have crap and service is non-existint.

 

[verruckt]

i just got my wood, silicone and glue from lowes. im gettings my glass from glasscages.com and fiberglass from W&R (a local bodyshop supply store). ive not heard of fiberglass doing that but when i do it, step one is to mix enough resin to coat the whole back and sides and bottom and throw 10% acetone in that also, that will allow the resin to absorb into the wood real good, let that sit about 10 minutes or so to evaporate the acetone, then while its still sticky ill throw some mat on it and soak it all real good with resin. once it hardens it shouldn't go no where.

 

[BadOleRoss]

I would not even consider using OSB. Regardless of how it is sealed I have never seen it hold up when exposed to water. When I build my tank I went with an external frame so I saved a little on the plywood going with a thinner board that was sanded on one side. I paid about $12 a sheet for the plywood. I used liquid rubber on my build and the only thing I would have done different it to have included overflow boxes in my original build instead of having to add them. The build went pretty smooth once I figured out how to seal the glass. As far as liquid rubber holding up to driftwood I have not had any issues but I am careful about how I move things in the tank. My driftwood in over 5' long. So I don't go dragging it around. My lumber I got from Lowe's, my glass from a local glass shop. The liquid rubber I picked up in NC....I have the website at home on my computer.

 

[hellrazr1231]

I plan on exteranl framing. Going to insulate it so I want 2x4s to create the space needed for isulation. Probably use 2x6 for main support across the bottom and top. Still trying to track down a good plexiglass/glass store in central florida. Probably have to go to orlando. I never figured 1/2-1in would be a hassel for glass stores.

 

[john73738]

I would not even consider using OSB. Regardless of how it is sealed I have never seen it hold up when exposed to water. When I build my tank I went with an external frame so I saved a little on the plywood going with a thinner board that was sanded on one side. I paid about $12 a sheet for the plywood. I used liquid rubber on my build and the only thing I would have done different it to have included overflow boxes in my original build instead of having to add them. The build went pretty smooth once I figured out how to seal the glass. As far as liquid rubber holding up to driftwood I have not had any issues but I am careful about how I move things in the tank.

+1 on the framing with thinner plywood. With the height that you want to do a straight plywood tank would require 1" ply for piece of mind. I would not recommend the 1/2 acrylic even if you do the bracing. At pressure you could still end up with a blowout. Sorry if I seem rude, not really meaning to but don't be cheap on your materials. You are only going to get out of the build what you put into it. I built my 240 with the thought in mind that one of my boys is going to have this in their house someday. Use good materials, take your time and you will have a pure piece of art in your house that will last for many years rather than a total disaster.

My driftwood in over 5' long.

Man I am getting a feeling of DW envy because mine is only 27"

 

[BadOleRoss]

The bottom of my tank is actually supported by the stand. The stand is constructed on 2x4s and 2x6s. I built the 2x4 walls for the tank and screwed a piece of plywood to the bottoms of the walls to act as the bottom of the tank.