1000 gallon plywood aquarium

TLengert

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jan 16, 2016
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It is great when I can get excited and not spend a dime or do any work.
A dime?! I wish... haha. I'm, for the most part, enjoying building this thing. Was talking with Pisces here in Calgary and arranged to have a box of large rock and a "show piece" of wood. Also, thinking of stocking it with ~50 Altum Angelfish. Also debating some Discus and Tetra's. I've ruled out Cichlids as I like my plants.
 

Kittiee Katt

Potamotrygon
MFK Member
Aug 1, 2015
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My House!
FUDGE! That's awesome. Will be watching this for sure.. :)
 
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Psylant

Fire Eel
MFK Member
May 24, 2011
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Whoah! Nice! You're based out of Calgary? I'm in Okotoks! Nice to see another monster tank in the area :)
 

TLengert

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jan 16, 2016
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Haha yes I'm in Calgary! I've been meaning to snoop around on here looking for locals to buy stock for the aquarium.

So I picked up 2 different epoxies I'm going to apply. First coat is this:
IMG_20160201_205524.jpg

This stuff is designed to penetrate the wood and seal it from the inside out. Also adds some strength and leak resistance. Problem with this stuff is it is only 50% solids so it can soak into the wood. That means 50% is chemical. All I have to say is the small almost made me leave the house for the night. Yes I used a respirator to apply it and I ended up having to open all the windows in the house. It is was -5c here last night.
IMG_20160201_210753.jpg
IMG_20160201_211051.jpg
 

theokie

Gambusia
Mar 7, 2010
3
1
18
Alberta Canada
Glad to see another local build.... I'm just south of Edmonton. I'm hoping to do a similar build, 13'x4'x36" later this summer. Good luck and I will be following closely
 
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TLengert

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jan 16, 2016
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After much thought, I will be doing a double 2x4 upper and lower edge for the glass to be siliconed to. I have 9.8125" on each side of the glass to fill; should have done 11' glass. I will be filling that space, with vertical 2x4's on edge, and installing the top brace after the glass comes next week. For now, more epoxy time!
download_20160206_144556.jpg

Nice to meet you theokie, look forward to seeing your build ;-)
 
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TLengert

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jan 16, 2016
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Thanks axs377 :)

Glass will be here in, hopefully, 3 days. After some extensive research I will be ordering 3 x 4-pack of this http://www.ecobondadhesives.com/store/index.php/pet-safe/pet-safe-ps100-white.html I have scoured the Internet, read transcripts from interviews, email exchanges etc. and this product seems like the new king for aquarium silicone.

And then we have a Non-Toxic Silicone that’s really toe-to-toe for people that just believe in silicone. It’s your non-toxic equivalent to that. We have two types that are very similar to each other, Pet Safe and Farm Safe. They’re really meant for animal owners, animal lovers that have anything from tend animals to animals that chew things and pull things apart that need to be glued back together.

When it’s fully cured, animals can chew it up. And even if they digest it, it won’t affect them because it’s completely non-toxic. They’ll pass it and it’s so safe. If you value your animal or your fish, it will bond in for aquatic use. It’s what I clear for fixing aquariums to again, that pond area or that water trough if it’s farm-related. You don’t have to drain the water out, you can actually patch and seal on the fly with it. It will bond and seal underwater like all of our products.
Seems the "farm" one would be better suited as an adhesive but I only need a sealer as I will have ~10,000lb of water ensuring it is "adhered" to the wood.
 

TLengert

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jan 16, 2016
18
2
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First, PL4000 no longer exists and is replaced with PL400. PL400 is NOT a good adhesive so anyone else building a plywood aquarium buy the PL Premium as PL400 WILL pull apart and the glue will fail not the wood.
image-20160213_213328.jpg

Here is a picture with the 50% solids epoxy which is designed to penetrate the wood and waterproof from the inside out.
IMG_20160210_221054.jpg
IMG_20160213_192504.jpg
IMG_20160213_192528.jpg

First coat of 100% solids epoxy is on the back wall.
IMG_20160221_090930.jpg

Glass should be here end of the week then I can put the glass inside the tank and finish the front wall.
 
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