520 gallon plywood tank

Leebtattoos

Polypterus
MFK Member
Jul 18, 2012
508
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Lampasas, Texas
Gar. Currently I have a Tropical that's about 12"+. I'll be on the hunt for more trops and a Cuban once it's fully running. Those will take time so I'll also be looking to catch some interesting longnose locally.
You may have said and I may have just forgot(wouldn't surprise me my memory sucks these days) but whats the planned stock for this bit tank?
 
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1000ninja

Gambusia
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May 4, 2017
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What kind of birch are you using? I was just pricing some plywood and they have UV finished birch, c3 classic birch and b2 natural birch
 

Leebtattoos

Polypterus
MFK Member
Jul 18, 2012
508
338
87
Lampasas, Texas
My only choice was a .75" whitewood/birch at lowes. It actually had a primed side that I sanded down. I wish it didn't bit short of special ordering, that's all I could get. They charge an extra $75 just to special order anything which sucks.

But it worked. Just have to make sure it's sanded well.
What kind of birch are you using? I was just pricing some plywood and they have UV finished birch, c3 classic birch and b2 natural birch
 

Leebtattoos

Polypterus
MFK Member
Jul 18, 2012
508
338
87
Lampasas, Texas
Not really a tank update, but starting to finish the room up. So that will, in turn, lead to finishing the tank. I did put some sand in so the waters murky.

I started trimming the room out. Still need to sand and stain the plywood, then I'll trim that gap. Also the top ledge is 8" wide so plenty of room for some potho pots above the tank.

IMG_6738.JPG
 

1000ninja

Gambusia
MFK Member
May 4, 2017
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I circled what I’m taking about. Are they just screwed into the plywood directly under it? Are they actually providing any structural support or are they just for looks?

8B9905D3-B820-40C3-A8B5-D8929FD1420B.jpeg
 

Leebtattoos

Polypterus
MFK Member
Jul 18, 2012
508
338
87
Lampasas, Texas
I circled what I’m taking about. Are they just screwed into the plywood directly under it? Are they actually providing any structural support or are they just for looks?

View attachment 1288825
They are glued and screwed into the first layer and glued to top and bottom braces. On corners they overlap seams and act as a brace. I followed other tested designs on this tank. Nothing is of my original plans. All copied from tanks that do not leak. I haven't seen plans for tanks that are only 1 layer of plywood without any bracing. This makes all stressed areas 1.5" thick. I'm no structural engineer, but that sounds cooler than .75" thick for 500+ gallons.
 

Leebtattoos

Polypterus
MFK Member
Jul 18, 2012
508
338
87
Lampasas, Texas
Got the bed build-in put together with my dog bed in the bottom right corner of pic. Just repurposed some pallets for the bed frame and used extre birch from the tank to enclose everything and make a headboard. There's a 5" ledge between the tank and where the mattress will be. Can't really tell in this pic but it's there. Still things to do but now y'all can see my vision a little better.

IMG_6762.JPG
 
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