What is the expected life span????

[TheFishKeeper]

Ok so here is the question. I am considering building a 1000 gal. plus tank. but I am concerned about doing a plywood tank do to I am unfamilliar with what type of life expectancy I will get out of it. Can I get some comments on durablility of 1 - plywood tanks 2 - plywood with fiberglass covering 3- plywood with 1/4inch coverings 4 concrete???? If you have had a plywood tank for any length of time please tell!

GO FISH!

 

[laura65536]

I have read on here that some people that used fiberglass and epoxy paint have had tanks for up to 18 years, and on garf it says some of theirs have been kept for 12.

for something of that size I would suggest reading about the 1700 gallon shark tank, garf won't help you much, the suggest to not build over 2' tall and 8' long, but the shark tank turned out SUPER nice, just with I had room for something like that

 

[hmt321]

if the tank was constructed properly, set up properly (with good support), and maintained (re-seal glass, bulkhead fittings, ect), and not moved, i would think that a plywood tank with a fiberglass layer would last upwards of twenty years.

i personally think what gets most large tanks (either diy or pro made) is when people move them, joints get stressed in weird ways, vibrations, and accidents happen.

 

[will-kib1]

over the years i have built 11tanks with plywood the first ones with just marine epoxy resin from the local boat yard as the tanks got bigger istarted to use fiber glass mat and epoxy resin from a fiberglass specialist that could mix in pigment so i could have what ever colour i wanted the first tank i built was a 4x2x2 that was painted with 4 coats of resin inside 2 coats out side a friend ended up with it and it was still going strong 18 years later i belive its still going to this day the 2 largest i built 1 that was 10x4x3 with glass in the front and 1 10x5x4 which didnt have glass was more like apond had 3 coats of resin and fiberglass mat on the inside and three coats of resin only on the outside both these tanks lasted over ten years only due to house move that ihad to brake them up if there built right and fiberglassed well i think they would last well over twenty years + sorry for my poor computer skills still learning