Tell me what to draw

[Bassinkorea]

sure. I am working on two ply taniks for two people at present, but I coul fit this in. It should nt take long to draw up.

Cool

 

[ErikFromNJ]

Wow. Thats pretty cool. I've used sketchup for residential construction purposes. additions, etc. but never a fish tank.

This one I thought was pretty cool as well.

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwareho...48fe0f799de74b82043f0bbf2&ct=mdrm&prevstart=0

 

[brianhellno]

You design tanks? Dude that's awesome. Maybe you can help me with what I have. Here's the general idea:



Here's the back shot:



And here's a rough idea of the filtration:



Alright I'll give you some dimensions and maybe you can help me with some of the design.

Tank is 120" x 46" x 40"
All the bracing is made up of 2x4s
Except the corners which is 4x4s
The ply sheets are 3/4"
The inside dimensions are 112" x 36" x 36"
The viewable window area is 92" x 32"
I'd want a 96" x 36" x 3/4" glass

The tank will actually be built into the stand. Maybe you could show me a good design for the stand? Also the filtration is three one inch bulkheads at either side of the tank. They will be 6 inches below the water line and will give water to either a sump or three fx5s. They will run down the side of the tank and through the stand below to the filtration. This way it will quiet any noise and you won't see the filtration when the side panels and finish are put on. Also I was wondering if you knew of any designs that would be used to help hold the window in place? Maybe some kind of bracing that would help hole the window against the tank. Thanks for your help if your interested.

 

[AquariumNerd]

sure. I will get back to you as soon as possible. But for the time being no one else please ask me for help otherwise I will feel it nessary to spend my gcse study time designing your tanks, haha

 

[AquariumNerd]

You should be able to use the standard four x two members to create intervals for the front window, which could be made of around three to five separate pieces of glass cut to size. You could coat the entire tank inside and edges of the window frame with a water proofing paint like the ones used in concrete ponds. You could then adhere the pieces of glass or acrylic to the uprights witch are spaced at intervals along the front. You should allow at least a one'' overlap for the glass or acrylic. Separate smaller sheets would probably work better, as when the tank is full there will likely be a tiny bit of flexing in the wood and glass is hard but not that flexible. You could just use one sheet, but smaller ones might be easier to work with. Overall I favour acrylic, although most of my tanks are glass. Acrylic is less scratch resistant, but more flexible, and flexibility means more shock absorbent. Files used in a work shop might be hard, but someone in school waked one on a desk, it just snapped in half. Hard does not mean strong.
Also, when you say the bulkheads will be six inches bellow water line, how can you guarantee this. The water level reached when the system is running depends on the pumping rate, the headloss in the return lines through friction, and if the pipe becomes a bit clogged with muck. With all those return lines I can not Imagen a water level six inches above the bulkheads with a usual turnover rate of around five times per hour. Did you mean that you would use separate l pieces on the inside attached to the bulkheads to adjust the water level?.

 

[AquariumNerd]

ok bassinkorea I haven't finished your design yet, but it is in progress. Here is what I have done so far. Also someone else's .60x30 ply tank is making progress. Here is frame so far
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=d5c84743fe89abd9c6c814ca6fa149ac&prevstart=0

 

[AquariumNerd]

aquarium stand, idea


here is an idea. Not all the reinforcing members are needed. Just an idea but Note, the ply also adds reinforcement, although you would need to add doors at intervals.

 

[AquariumNerd]

aquarium stand, idea


here is an idea. Not all the reinforcing members are needed. Just an idea but Note, the ply also adds reinforcement, although you would need to add doors at intervals.

I have not shown bolts, nuts, brackets, but if you include ample bolts and brackets on top sections where all three axes cross over you should be able to build without any of the internal diagonal reinforcing members you could also include diagonal members instead or as well as the thick ply on the front.

 

[Jgray152]

Build a larger pond with a water fall and built in skimmer box

 

[BIGS]

You design tanks? Dude that's awesome. Maybe you can help me with what I have. Here's the general idea:

View attachment 364794

Here's the back shot:

View attachment 364792

And here's a rough idea of the filtration:

View attachment 364793

Alright I'll give you some dimensions and maybe you can help me with some of the design.

Tank is 120" x 46" x 40"
All the bracing is made up of 2x4s
Except the corners which is 4x4s
The ply sheets are 3/4"
The inside dimensions are 112" x 36" x 36"
The viewable window area is 92" x 32"
I'd want a 96" x 36" x 3/4" glass

The tank will actually be built into the stand. Maybe you could show me a good design for the stand? Also the filtration is three one inch bulkheads at either side of the tank. They will be 6 inches below the water line and will give water to either a sump or three fx5s. They will run down the side of the tank and through the stand below to the filtration. This way it will quiet any noise and you won't see the filtration when the side panels and finish are put on. Also I was wondering if you knew of any designs that would be used to help hold the window in place? Maybe some kind of bracing that would help hole the window against the tank. Thanks for your help if your interested.

Thats almost spot on to how I intend to build my plywood tank starting this week lol