DIY Corner Tank Build.... Need Suggestions.

[BillyZ]

Originally Posted by Verbalkint

Just a question here, do you personally thing 3' sides would be too big?

I keep looking it at measured out on the floor, and the more I look, the more i think I could live without that floorspace.

Besides, it'd make my fish happier.

Take my suggestion seriously. Find some cardboard and mock up the tank and set it in the corner. Thats the best way to get a real feel for how it will make the rest of your room feel.

[Verbalkint]

Will do. I think i have enough cardboard laying around to even approximate the height of the whole setup. (Refridgerator boxes come in handy i guess, eh)

I'll post later if the wife and I decide that this is a worthwhile endeavour.

[Kasakato]

Verbalkint- do you have thoes pictures of the overflow?

[Verbalkint]

Oh.. Man.. Glad you mentioned something, cause it goes into the water tonight.


PM me, so that I remember when I get home. or shoot me an email.. (drich at nea-online dot net)


That's usually the 1st thing I do when I walk in the house.

I'll snap a few quickies and post em up on my gallery for ya.

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

Let's all take a stab at this one shall we?

36 x 6" = 216"^2 (6" side one)
30 x 6" = 180"^2 (6" side two, less 6" already calculated)
30 x 30 = 900 / 2 = 450"^2 (Triangle considered Square, then cut in half)
--------------------------------
846 Sq. In..

* 36" High = 30456 Cubic Inches

or

30,456 * 0.0043 Gallons per Cubic Inch = 131Gallons.



As for the back, I would use 3/4" Plywood and put 1/8" plexi or acrylic on the surface, use silicone to seal it, that way you can paint the plywood black, use a clear silicone to seal the plexi/acrylic to the plywood (apply a lot, spread it evenly, then you can put Plywood (masonite might be better for a smooth surface),acrylic/plexi, then silicone coated plywood on that, then park your car on it to evenly spread the silicone thinly

it's guarenteed leakproof, looks nice and also has a very smooth glass like finish. The bottom I wouldn't worry about too much, but if you do it the same the seals will be nice and tight when siliconed. I know it increases the cost by about 40$ in plexi (it doesn't have to be a very high grade/clarity of plexi), but last thing you want is 130 Gal of water on your floor.

I don't know enough about acrylic to say what would be strong enough, but I know 1/2 and possibly 3/8" should be good enough provided the top is secured to stop it from caving in (nice steel angle iron on the top to make the frame should do wonders, perhaps on the bottom aswell.) if you can get someone to weld it for you.

[Verbalkint]

Bingo.. Thank you sir.

Talked with the wife about it.. She's ready to go.. Suggested we 'prefab' it with cardboard, per your suggestion Clown.

She agreed that would be prudent.


Just a quickie, cause this is most likely the most expensive single portion of the whole thing, and thereby determine the overall size of the whole project, how thick would acrylic need to be to support 131 g of water, with a size of appx 33" high x 42" wide?

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

Edited post above to include some thoughts

looking at a chart, 3/4" is recommended, I though acrylic was stronger then glass, might be worth your while to find out how much a 5/8 3' by length (42.4") of tempered glass would cost, might have to be special ordered tho

[austinsdad]

You guys are good....!

[BillyZ]

oh you were goin back to a 3' tank? sorry... all my calculations were assuming a 2 foot tank.

[Verbalkint]

I thought acrylic and silicone were a no-no??

Anyway.. you're saying 3/4 plywood, with 1/8 acrylic on top?

Doing that, it'd prolly be better to build the tank proper out of acrylic, then lay a plywood 'frame' around the 4 sides (2 back, 2 6" sides), Which would defeat the whole purpose of using plywood (cost reduction)


Right now, 3/4 BIRCH 7 PLY is appx $43.00 at my local Lowes. I'd need at least 2 sheets, so lets call that 90$'s.

Acrylic Sheet 48" x 48" 3/8" Thick can be had for about $130.00.
(with a 2' sides and height, Acrylic Sheet 24" x 24" 1/4" Thick for $18.00)

Doing just the 'window' of the tank would require less than this, tho I am having trouble finding custom cut places around me.

Then, with Other materials (epoxy for the wood, paint, etc etc), I'd be looking at around $300 finished.

If i go acrylic on the whole thing, that will more than double the finished cost. ;-/