fiberglass

I am looking to upgrade my bichirs from their current 120g and 150g homes into an 8'x12' footprint. I was looking at some quotes from places like customaquariums, but it didn't make sense to me to pay $10,000+ USD for an aquarium, when I've just replaced the windows in my entire home for...

Ok, so I've designed a tank, it's an "L" shape, 8 foot on one leg, by 6 foot on the other. I'm going to use 2x10's for a base, glue and screwed, 2x6 studs for the framing, 12" on center, 3/4 in ply, epoxy fiber glass coating, the hole shebang. My questions are what woyld be considered adequate...

I'm curious how come most here seem to use the woven mat and epoxy resin instead of chop strand and polyester resin? The polyester is cheaper and the mat comes in 50 inch wide rolls. Also you don't have to sand between coats.