Your thoughts and experiences on plywood tanks

[spiff44]

Those are all good points too. Its almost an inherent problem with DIY builds that there is always a "better" option just a small percentage away from whatever it is you decide to do. Trying to save money is usually the worst reason or perspective to be doing a DIY build.. this is usually where most failures come from. I guess more than anything this is the point I was trying to make.

So yeah, if you do a really thorough build, erroring everything on the safe side.. quality mats.. best plywood.. ect.. then you probably avoid a lot of these concerns.


But then you're probably close to or exceeding what it would have cost to use concrete or block. Or maybe could have even bought one outright in full glass or acrylic. Or came very close to it. It goes on and on....


If you're doing a DIY to save money.. all it takes is one significant failure and then you might have been better off just buying one.

 

[stempy]

But then you're probably close to or exceeding what it would have cost to use concrete or block. Or maybe could have even bought one outright in full glass or acrylic. Or came very close to it. It goes on and on...

Actually this is the entire reason (almost, a prebuilt would not fit down my basement door leaving very few options) I did a DIY plywood build. My total cost was only around $1100. I do not even want to mention the quotes I got for companies to come assemble a tank in my basement of this size......

If you're doing a DIY to save money.. all it takes is one significant failure and then you might have been better off just buying one.

Sadly this is all to true. It is a large risk especially if in a finished room such as a living room, if it goes so does your entire room plus possible structural damage. You really have to take that into consideration. It also means you really do need to overbuild to try and avoid such catastrophes. I cringe at all the builds I see on how talking about no need to overbuild, they've done the bare minimum for years with no issues etc, etc, then you don't hear from them again......I remember researching for my build thinking wow, I have yet to find more than a couple success stories...People really do underestimate the potential for disaster in these builds, the dollar difference in doing the bare minimum and overbuilding is so small I just don't understand why people don't do it. I bet it cost me less than $100 to completely overbuild my tank rather than just doing the plywood box with epoxy on the inside. It's to bad there isn't some kind of sticky that truly explains all the pitfalls associated with these builds and why you should take the time and money to do it right the first time. Well I'm done here, hopefully we helped someone reading this thread contemplating doing a plywood build

 

[wannadivesteve]

Back to the Max ACR fume question. You mentioned it's no worse than paint... can I assume latex or other non oil based paint? Any issues in a room already having aquariums? It'd be pretty easy to move my air pump to a different room for a while if I had to.

Thanks.

 

[stempy]

I remember being Very worried about the fumes as I was working in a closed basement and we have other pets and kids. The fumes surprised me as it wasn't bad at all. If you held the container up to your face it wasnt even horrible. If you've ever cleaned a bathroom with any chemical that is far far worse IMO than the fumes from this epoxy. No masks or ventilators or anything at all needed.

 

[wannadivesteve]

Good info on the fumes. My goal is to grow out a bunch of discus for the big tank and I would like to get a head start in an 80 gallon while putting together the big one.

Thanks!

 

[Box car willy]

You are right to a degree. I think most people that build plywood tanks and fail don't take into account the minute movements wood can make such as swelling and shrinking with temps, humidity. Or the flexing you will have when you are working in the tank leaning on it or simply from the decor putting pressure on it. If you build it and take into account those issues before they arise plywood tanks are ridiculously strong. If you just take the time to build a frame for the plywood then coat the inside AND out ( i used Dryloc on the outside of the tank) as well as fiberglass the weak points (seams) you will have a tank, literally. I can walk on mine, climb in and out of it without any kind of fear because it is so well braced. I am confident that that tank will still be standing many many years from now. Moral of the story, don't cut corners or cost, do it right and do it well and you will have a tank you can be proud of that lasts for many worry free years.

I agree if your building a plywood tank to save money I think your starting off wrong right from the get go! If your serious money shouldn't be a concern I know guys who have had wood tanks running for 10 years plus but don't be cheap or rush it

 

[ThomasL]

i thought about building one for my rtc and gar but i am going to build a pond since i live in bama and it is warm almost all year

 

[BMac91]

i thought about building one for my rtc and gar but i am going to build a pond since i live in bama and it is warm almost all year

You must live in south AL? I am in central, just outside of bham and there is no way a pond would survive here. It is below freezing many times during the winter here, those suckers wouldn't make it through December here.