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05-29-2013, 11:52 AM
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#1 |
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Algae Grower
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building my tank.. (on progress)
hi guys... been reading alot at this site.. been helpful alot.
but recently failed on this current project.. but im not giving up.. so got some questions too.. and in need of guidance.. so. heres my story.. ive decided to build a big tank.. not new to keeping fishes, but its been awhile.. (years actually) all work and stuffs.. sure takes up your time... but now im back and decided to build one. around april 2013. i planned to make a 48inch x24inhch concrete tank.. with 2 viewing glass panels (front and back) using extra glasses at home. sized 48"x20" 6mm glass.. so plans were made.. materials bought.. etc.. april 7, started to weld 10mm rebars and formed the cast for bottom slab. corner walls.. etc.. april 14, the cement was poured at the cast.. april 21 cast was removed.. placed super thoroseal (pond safe) waterproof coating to seal up the slab.. calculated volume that can be placed is 70gal.. april 28. made the stand.. L 57"x W 25" H 3' i used coco lumber.. thick 8"x2" and 2"x3" used concrete nails to nail them together.. then coated the whole stand with concrete epoxy to strengthen it,, may 5. moved the stand indoor.. and placed the concrete tank on top of it. then started to coat the exterior of the concrete tank with concrete epoxy also.. it took, 8guys to move the heavy concrete tank.. may13 i placed the first glass panel.. silicone to cushion them in the concrete.. had a few problems with the leveling of concrete at the sides... but so far, evrything was fine.. may 20 placed the other glass panel.. so far there was no problem that time... until that night.. while cooking my dinner... i heard a loud bang or snap.. i thought the mop fell down on the floor.. sounded similar anyway.. then when i passed by the tank... guess what.. the glass cracked... (no water yet) my heart broke that time. i decided to give up on the tank.. due to it having so much un-leveled wall frames for the glass.. and thought it was too much trouble to level / fix it.. may 25. i started to make a new plan, this time. planning it carefully.. i made another slab today.. 3inch thick size of 56"x24" the glass i planned to use was too thin, even if braced. so. i didnt want to gamble so im planning to use 10mm glass this time.. two 52"x22" 10mm for the viewing windows.. you can see attached images ill update more as i progress.. new tank im planning to build is 52"x24" depth of 20" calculated volume is 100gal. so. i was thinking.. do you think my stand could support it?.. Last edited by yanzco; 06-15-2013 at 12:34 PM.. Reason: added info |
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06-04-2013, 01:18 PM
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#2 |
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Algae Grower
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alright.. since we had trouble bringing down the heavy tank..
i decided to demolish it.. it took only an hour to completely demolish the whole tank.. then placed the new bottom slab.. then welded 2 of the walls together.. damn the concrete slabs are heavy.. 3 inch is way overbuilt.. should've went for 2 inch.. this new tank is angled much better, used a big right angle ruler.. and it weights a lot lighter than the old tank.. but still, its too heavy.. it weights a lot lighter if i went for 2 inch.. now.. give it a few days for curing.. and ill start coating it with thoroseal.. |
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06-15-2013, 12:16 PM
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#3 |
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Algae Grower
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june 3, 2012
-- 1 layer of concrete based waterproofing (Super Thoroseal)... -- vertical strokes using paint brush june 4, 2012 -- another layer of super thoroseal... -- horizontal strokes using paint brush june 5, 2012 -- yet another layer of thoroseal... -- vertical strokes using paint brush june 6, 2012 -- another layer of thoroseal... -- horizontal strokes using paint brush june 7, 2012 -- last thick layer topcoat with thoroseal using trowel.. june 10,2012 -- cleaned the whole tank with brush and vacuumed.. -- using pioneer concrete epoxy, placed 3mm thick angle bar on both sides to support the glass panel later on... june 15,2012 -- glass arrived... two 267.5cm x 22 inch - 12mm glass panel -- siliconed it using dow corning 100% silicone.. yay... curing time.. 1 week.. excited to leaktest it next week..  now, its time to look for rocks to design the exterior.. |
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06-15-2013, 12:19 PM
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#4 |
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Planted Member
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wow never seen a tank built like this kinda cool, cant wait to see how it progesses
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06-15-2013, 12:49 PM
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#5 | |
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Algae Grower
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Quote:
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06-15-2013, 01:25 PM
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#6 |
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Planted Member
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so im curious as o why go with this style versus a more standard all glass or acrylic aquarium? I see pros and cons going both ways just curious as to your thought process. Also how bloody heavy is that thing going to be when full? makes my back hurt just thinking about trying to move it lol.
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06-15-2013, 02:25 PM
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#7 |
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Algae Grower
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well.. i kinds thought, why not put a pond like aquarium inside the house.. :O
so... i guess this is the result.. i was planning to use extra materials from construction anyway, and less glass = cheaper.. so i thought, why not... :O well. yep, its bloody heavy.. the first tank, pure casted concrete poured.. took 10 guys to lift... that tank was a disaster so i demolished it.. the second tank.. is lighter.. estimated combined weight was 300kg.. took only 4 guys to lift the parts then assembled on the stand.. with water.. its 100gal.. so, its 410 kg... with the concrete slabs... 410+300.. +substrate +rocks and other stuffs.. could reach 800kg... but yea, i regret using concrete rather all glass, but yea.. why not be different.. might end well
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