wood qestions, glass
- Thread starter njackson
- Start date
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enter what you are wanting to know and do some research...
IMO, and not to discourage you, you have no idea what you want or what is available even.
This leads me to believe you might not posses the tools or space or skills to construct such a project.
What kinds of things have you built in the past?
It is much more cost effective to buy smaller tanks already made. Until you get to the 100's of gallons tank size, DIY is not the way to go...
enter what you are wanting to know and do some research...
IMO, and not to discourage you, you have no idea what you want or what is available even.
This leads me to believe you might not posses the tools or space or skills to construct such a project.
What kinds of things have you built in the past?
It is much more cost effective to buy smaller tanks already made. Until you get to the 100's of gallons tank size, DIY is not the way to go...
with the glass like this- http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=306061&stc=1&d=1231860895
I dont know anything about clearseal tanks. If they are glass tanks they can be taken apart and the glass pieces used. You would not want to butt them up against eachother in the front though you would want a center support so they both attach to the wood. This means a 6"+ brace in the middle of your window. Does not look as good, but if you can get the tank cheap you can save a lot of money.
As far as MDF do not use it. If you have a small leak with a plywood tank you can drain the water and repair it. With MDF it will soak up all that water and be ruined (and probably blow out) before you get a chance to repair it.
As far as MDF do not use it. If you have a small leak with a plywood tank you can drain the water and repair it. With MDF it will soak up all that water and be ruined (and probably blow out) before you get a chance to repair it.
right just found this thread and you aint far from me so what gars you plannin on? i've never seen any that will survive the uk winters!
now for the tank build......
for the ply the cheepest i have found DELIVERED is arnold levers. you can go in to a warehouse and pay for it then they will deliver for you
if you have a van you could prob save a few quid buy trying some local dealers or building sites
accrilic is not cheep and DON'T try and skimp on it you want to go a bit over the top on the thickness i would say 20mm MINIMUM for the smaller sizes of tank you have been talkin about
normal sponge will be too dense use pot scrubbies they are even cheeper than sponges so you will get better filtration for less money
sturgen and channel cats will produce alot of waste so i would re-think useing a sump as a 10 x 3 x 3 will look small when they start growing a bit
it is easy(with a little elec knowlage) and pretty safe to run mains outside to run filter /airpumps etc as long as you use the correct exterior fittings and use a breaker, this would imo be much better than battery pumps
i have read up on building a ply tank and for my own peace of mind i will be fiberglassing all the joints to try and minimise leeks
if the tank is not up against any solid walls (house walls not shead) it will need alot of braceing! i dont think you understand the pressure that will be in it, it says your at collage on your profile so i'm assuming you are 18-20. so as a quick example, when you fin buliding your tank you should be able to stand in it and kick the sides as hard as you can with no effect.
i hope i dont sound like a d*** head when i post this as i do wanna help but for a 10 x 3 x 3 diy with diy filter i would guess you are prob still gonna spend £1000 so it aint something you can doo cheep and it wont be that easy, i do alot of joinery and have access to a very large joinery workshop and i am still wondering if i should attempt a big ply tank indoor as if anything went wrong and 300 gal ended up in my front room my life would not be worth living lol
hope this helps
now for the tank build......
for the ply the cheepest i have found DELIVERED is arnold levers. you can go in to a warehouse and pay for it then they will deliver for you
if you have a van you could prob save a few quid buy trying some local dealers or building sites
accrilic is not cheep and DON'T try and skimp on it you want to go a bit over the top on the thickness i would say 20mm MINIMUM for the smaller sizes of tank you have been talkin about
normal sponge will be too dense use pot scrubbies they are even cheeper than sponges so you will get better filtration for less money
sturgen and channel cats will produce alot of waste so i would re-think useing a sump as a 10 x 3 x 3 will look small when they start growing a bit
it is easy(with a little elec knowlage) and pretty safe to run mains outside to run filter /airpumps etc as long as you use the correct exterior fittings and use a breaker, this would imo be much better than battery pumps
i have read up on building a ply tank and for my own peace of mind i will be fiberglassing all the joints to try and minimise leeks
if the tank is not up against any solid walls (house walls not shead) it will need alot of braceing! i dont think you understand the pressure that will be in it, it says your at collage on your profile so i'm assuming you are 18-20. so as a quick example, when you fin buliding your tank you should be able to stand in it and kick the sides as hard as you can with no effect.
i hope i dont sound like a d*** head when i post this as i do wanna help but for a 10 x 3 x 3 diy with diy filter i would guess you are prob still gonna spend £1000 so it aint something you can doo cheep and it wont be that easy, i do alot of joinery and have access to a very large joinery workshop and i am still wondering if i should attempt a big ply tank indoor as if anything went wrong and 300 gal ended up in my front room my life would not be worth living lol
hope this helps
cambo01;2640374; said:
thanks for that iam going smaller for the tank becuase of the price, iam thinking of going to be 6ft x 3ft x 3ft and i will do i lot of bracing and the shed wall is made out of bricks , and in the past i have built furniture and i will borrow tools from my friend and for the arylic iam not going to do arylice to expensive so i will buy a 3ft tank cheap and se the glass of that thanks.
idea 6ftx3ftx3ft
silcon- £5.00
pond liner - £30
glass tank- £10-£40-ebay
screws- £2.73
wood glue- £2.73
exterior wbp plywood 8ft x 4ft x 18mm £163.28 5 pieces
super glue £5.00
sponge - £20 http://hagblomfoto.com/article_spongefilter.htm
flexible pipe - £3.00
clips - £2.00
3 battery air pumps- £45
battery flurcest stripeligth 25 watts £10 each get two £20 and small led light 3 pack £1.00
concrete block- 97p get 20
3 door hinges £2.98
that all i need i think, all the spare wood i have left will be for bracing the tank
silcon- £5.00
pond liner - £30
glass tank- £10-£40-ebay
screws- £2.73
wood glue- £2.73
exterior wbp plywood 8ft x 4ft x 18mm £163.28 5 pieces
super glue £5.00
sponge - £20 http://hagblomfoto.com/article_spongefilter.htm
flexible pipe - £3.00
clips - £2.00
3 battery air pumps- £45
battery flurcest stripeligth 25 watts £10 each get two £20 and small led light 3 pack £1.00
concrete block- 97p get 20
3 door hinges £2.98
that all i need i think, all the spare wood i have left will be for bracing the tank
At least it will be outside. A 400 gallon tank with only plywood for walls is gonna make a mess when it comes apart.
