I had an acrylic tank setup in my garage for several years. Tank was around 200 gal and I used a 100 gal stock tank 3/4 full of lava rock for a sump. I tore that system down when my son who was 2 at the time dumped ATF in the sump, and killed the fish. Now I am getting the itch to build a larger plywood tank. I can go 10X4X4 if I set it up right on the floor with no stand. I have several ?'s though. Swimming pool filtration is pretty well a given instead of a sump like my previous system. Would it be a good idea to lift it a few in off the floor and put in a central drain, or should I just go with a skimmer box on 1 end? If I put in a central drain I plan on raising a small area around it about 6", because I want to have a deep substrate bed, and know that the drain itself needs to be above the substrate. Whats the best product to seal the tank with that is not gonna cost me several hundred $$ just to seal it up? Is 3/4" plywood with 2X4 studs every 2" ok, or should I go closer together with the studs? I have an oceanic 100 that I can cut apart. The glass is 1/2". Would the front and back pannels from that tank be good enough for viewing windows in the front of my tank, or should I just buy a large sheet of acrylic and make 1 3' X 6' window? If I go with acrylic how thick should I go?
Where do I start???
- Thread starter marksuttonjr
- Start date
Where to start...
2x4' every 2 feet is good
I'd personally go with skimmer drain at top, to many variables with drain in floor that could go wrong.
I used max acr with great success
Personally I wouldn't like either viewing panel options. The 1/2" is to thin unless you place them at the top of the tank to avoid the full water pressure of 4ft depth which would be odd...the 6x3' would be the same deal. Center and top which would also severely limit the view of the tank. It's ultimately going to be what you are comfortable with and what's within your budget.
2x4' every 2 feet is good
I'd personally go with skimmer drain at top, to many variables with drain in floor that could go wrong.
I used max acr with great success
Personally I wouldn't like either viewing panel options. The 1/2" is to thin unless you place them at the top of the tank to avoid the full water pressure of 4ft depth which would be odd...the 6x3' would be the same deal. Center and top which would also severely limit the view of the tank. It's ultimately going to be what you are comfortable with and what's within your budget.
I watched several youtube videos since I made this post, and have changed my route a bit. Plan is no longer cold water.at. Planned stocking will be JD's, Oscars, and Lma Cats. Possibly some pacu, or something else to grow out then eat. I also brought the wife on board. Outside of tank is gong to be 8' long, 4 'deep and 31" from front to back. I chose that size, because we have 32" doors coming into the house from the garage and the tank is going in the family room. I do not want to have to build the tank in the hose if I have any other choice. It will not be cold water like my original plan. I will be putting baffles 1' from each end to create sumps at both ends of the tank.Baffles will be a few in off the bottom, so that they bottom feed and will be filled with lava rock for filtration. I will have a pump at each end returning water to the display area of the tank over the top of the baffle. I would like the tank to be somewhat moveable, so i am thinking castors front, middle, and back in each support across the bottom. I will also be growing aquaponic salad veggies in trays in the top of the tank to help keep up with the nitrates.