my first diy plywood tank

kid creole · 05-20-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovingHDTV

I find it amazing how different people see different things in the same picture

Sounds like you need to lock those wheels up, Orlando has wheel envy

lol I always like to see what people have in the garage. I would actually like it if people would post a picture of their tools and work area.

causedabigpoop · 05-21-2009, 02:57 AM

Here are a couple of shots of the stand, and one of the piece of plexiglass. The stand is built of true 4x4 lumber and is very stout. I"ll bet it would hold my car, lol. Ill start on the plumbing after work tomorrow home depo here i come.

If you saw all of my garage you would laugh its a mess, starting to get a little grief from my wife about the project mostly "is it going to leak"

CL · 05-21-2009, 03:00 AM

how thick is that plexi?

sunfire99 · 05-21-2009, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clwatkins10

how thick is that plexi?

x2

It doesn't "look" thick enough for the main viewing pane. Also, I have to ask since no one else has. How did you come up with your username?

CL · 05-21-2009, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunfire99

How did you come up with your username?

lol, I'm sure that we were all wondering that...

causedabigpoop · 05-21-2009, 12:41 PM

The plexiglass is 1/2" thick should be thick enough,

The username is kinda funny how i got it, when i set up my xbox 360 to xbox live I just let microsoft give me a random name and thats what they gave me. I thought it was funny so I kept it.

sunfire99 · 05-21-2009, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by causedabigpoop

The username is kinda funny how i got it, when i set up my xbox 360 to xbox live I just let microsoft give me a random name and thats what they gave me. I thought it was funny so I kept it.

Well that makes more sense. It's funny and weird at the same time.

Who knew Xbox had that kind of AI built in?

redman88 · 05-21-2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunfire99

Well that makes more sense. It's funny and weird at the same time.

Who knew Xbox had that kind of AI built in?

AI no thats just a large list of names and a bit of code for combining names

jinx© · 05-22-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovingHDTV

I find it amazing how different people see different things in the same picture

Sounds like you need to lock those wheels up, Orlando has wheel envy

lol...so true, although those nice Zipp wheels were the first thing I noticed as well.

Shortly followed by noticing he has the same tackle box as one of mine.

Cool build. Between watching you and Wasserpest, I'm going to end up blaming a plywood tank project of my own on you two...lol (Actually WP already caught the blame for me having to set up another tank in the recent past...lol

)

Wasserpest · 05-22-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Cool build. Between watching you and Wasserpest, I'm going to end up blaming a plywood tank project of my own on you two...lol (Actually WP already caught the blame for me having to set up another tank in the recent past...lol

)

Sent you too many plants?

I am following this journal too. The Pond Armor is pretty pricey stuff, but looking good. Are you getting the 1.5 Qt kit?

I wonder if the Plexi will bond well via Silicone. Read different things there.

jinx© · 05-23-2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wasserpest

I wonder if the Plexi will bond well via Silicone. Read different things there.

That's something I'm curious/concerned about as well. Plexi and acrylics haven't really played well with silicone IME. (non aquarium related experiences)
As you mentioned, I've read mixed reports on the topic as well.

causedabigpoop · 05-23-2009, 01:54 PM

I've been reading up on the bonding of plexi, I to am now concerned about it. What Ive found is to bolt the plexi with a gasket of silicone. If I were to do that, what about using the epoxy with fiberglass to wrap around the plexi it would give it the sealing of the epoxy and the sealing of the silicone with the bolts holding it in place and the fiberglass could cover the bolts inside the tank. My concern with that is how much the plexi would flex and possibly crack the epoxy.

**Hoppy** · 05-23-2009, 02:03 PM

The water should easily hold the plexiglas in place against the silicone sealant, making that sealant act as a gasket to prevent any leaks. If there is a problem, it looks to me like the bowing out of the plexiglas due to the water would be the problem. Neither plywood nor plexiglas is really very stiff - both will balloon out with the water pressure. But, how much they balloon out may be insignificant. I know I wouldn't put any holes in the plexiglas for bolts. I think I would glue a strip of wood all around the plexiglas, so it can't move up or down, or sideways.

Also, remember that both wood and plexiglas will creep with a load on them, which might slowly add more stress to all of the joints. That would encourage me to glue vertical 2 x 4 or 2 x 3 reinforcements on all of the plywood panels.

causedabigpoop · 05-27-2009, 04:38 AM

ok I've painted on the pond armour ive got a couple of shots of it. allso the viewing window has been installed. The pond armour has had 3 days of cure time so I'll do a water test tomarrow night .

The way I installed the plexy is like this. First I drilled holes every 6 inches and counter sank them, then I put a generous gob of marineland 5200 sealant on the botem side of the plexy. Oh yaa I roughed up the plexy before the sealant went down. I next sat the plexy down on several pc of 1/4 tubing to get the right spot, pulled the tubing away and sat the plexy, screwed the stainless screws and the plexy was done. The next day I took aquarium silicone and went over every corner and the edges of the plexy just to make sure.

Wasserpest · 06-15-2009, 02:34 AM

That's a nice black color! How is the filling going?

05-21-2009, 02:57 AM	#17
causedabigpoop Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: vancoouver WA Posts: 17	Here are a couple of shots of the stand, and one of the piece of plexiglass. The stand is built of true 4x4 lumber and is very stout. I"ll bet it would hold my car, lol. Ill start on the plumbing after work tomorrow home depo here i come. If you saw all of my garage you would laugh its a mess, starting to get a little grief from my wife about the project mostly "is it going to leak" Attached Thumbnails

05-21-2009, 03:00 AM	#18
CL C-A-T-S (View User Tanks) PTrader: (78/100%) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 9,583	how thick is that plexi? __________________ 100 \| 48 \| 33.6 \| 7.2 \| 5.5

05-23-2009, 02:03 PM	#28
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17,198	The water should easily hold the plexiglas in place against the silicone sealant, making that sealant act as a gasket to prevent any leaks. If there is a problem, it looks to me like the bowing out of the plexiglas due to the water would be the problem. Neither plywood nor plexiglas is really very stiff - both will balloon out with the water pressure. But, how much they balloon out may be insignificant. I know I wouldn't put any holes in the plexiglas for bolts. I think I would glue a strip of wood all around the plexiglas, so it can't move up or down, or sideways. Also, remember that both wood and plexiglas will creep with a load on them, which might slowly add more stress to all of the joints. That would encourage me to glue vertical 2 x 4 or 2 x 3 reinforcements on all of the plywood panels. __________________ Hoppy

05-27-2009, 04:38 AM	#29
causedabigpoop Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: vancoouver WA Posts: 17	ok I've painted on the pond armour ive got a couple of shots of it. allso the viewing window has been installed. The pond armour has had 3 days of cure time so I'll do a water test tomarrow night . The way I installed the plexy is like this. First I drilled holes every 6 inches and counter sank them, then I put a generous gob of marineland 5200 sealant on the botem side of the plexy. Oh yaa I roughed up the plexy before the sealant went down. I next sat the plexy down on several pc of 1/4 tubing to get the right spot, pulled the tubing away and sat the plexy, screwed the stainless screws and the plexy was done. The next day I took aquarium silicone and went over every corner and the edges of the plexy just to make sure. Attached Thumbnails

06-15-2009, 02:34 AM	#30
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,643	That's a nice black color! How is the filling going? __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

05-21-2009, 12:41 PM	#21
causedabigpoop Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: vancoouver WA Posts: 17	The plexiglass is 1/2" thick should be thick enough, The username is kinda funny how i got it, when i set up my xbox 360 to xbox live I just let microsoft give me a random name and thats what they gave me. I thought it was funny so I kept it.

05-23-2009, 01:54 PM	#27
causedabigpoop Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: vancoouver WA Posts: 17	I've been reading up on the bonding of plexi, I to am now concerned about it. What Ive found is to bolt the plexi with a gasket of silicone. If I were to do that, what about using the epoxy with fiberglass to wrap around the plexi it would give it the sealing of the epoxy and the sealing of the silicone with the bolts holding it in place and the fiberglass could cover the bolts inside the tank. My concern with that is how much the plexi would flex and possibly crack the epoxy.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode