Waterproofing Bottom of Potential Cylinder Aquarium

[jjohnwm]

Nice! Too bad about the bottom trim piece. If you own a router, I would be tempted to get a wooden plank, rout out the center so that whole bottom sits down into the recess, and then cut out the plank into a circular piece that would function as a base/trim-piece/bottom-support.

Your 5-buck tank is already somewhere around 8 times its original price. If you could get a router on sale...and of course, some Varathane, stain, sandpaper...oh, and a piece of acrylic for the top, along with a jigsaw for cutting it round...dang, this rabbit hole is getting deeper and wider...

Just noticed, you said this was done yesterday? Definitely wait a few days for the water test!

 

[Tetra Studio 60]

Good call on the waiting the couple extra days, I thought I posted yesterday saying I was gonna hold off till the end of the weekend, but yesterday was a blur.

you could get a router on sale...and of course, some Varathane, stain, sandpaper...oh, and a piece of acrylic for the top, along with a jigsaw for cutting it round...dang, this rabbit hole is getting deeper and wider...

Honestly the only part I would be missing here is the router, but I'm toying with a couple ideas of what to do for the bottom brace. Part of me is thinking of just rocking the rimless look with some Eva foam (got some spare in the workshop), but another part of me wants to put together a nice custom wood base. I suppose nothing stops me from making the wood base in future if I just go rimless now.

My excitement for this is building so fast, I've only had one tank for a year or so in the last 15 years due to growing up and moving out. The childhood memories of breeding guppies are all rushing back. Led to a great call with my dad actually.

This certainly isn't going to be my only tank once finances allow. I think my girlfriend is worried I've picked up yet another hobby

 

[CHOMPERS]

Interesting project! You have some excellent advice and ideas here. I only have two things to add. A circle is an inherently strong shape for a tank. Upper and lower bracing is not needed, so you can go rimless if you want.
Secondly, uncured silicone will bond perfectly well with your original silicone. The exception is when a tank is placed into service and the original silicone develops a layer of growth. Years ago I did some extensive testing on this subject (using old tanks from an aquatics wholesaler). Testing was done to failure (or maxing out the scale). All tested brands performed well except for Boss silicone. GE silicone was the best.

 

[Tetra Studio 60]

Hey all, sorry if this is considered thread necromancy, but just wanted to cap the story with a picture of the finished tank!



I need to turn the lighting down, or at least that's my impression, but otherwise I'm quite happy with the result this far! Gonna be doing daily tests until it's established.

I stocked 5 assassin snails as there were some pest snails who came with the plants and that felt like an easy introduction species before I move on.


Thanks again everyone for helping me begin this journey, this forum is a delightful community.

 

[CHOMPERS]

Wow, that turned out really well. I love it.
The shrimp will look great in there.