18' x 9' x 3.5' catfish tank build in progress.....

[mkman]

should look awesome.

 

[crazy clowntang]

I want to build a tank (not this big) but I was wondering how do you determine the amount of 2x4's and what size plywood that is needed. I assume that with all the water volume there must be a formula to determine how to setup the 2x4's and what size pywood is needed to get maximum structual strength. I would think that 2x4's every 12 inches along the outside would be ok, right? With 3/4" plywood, and 1inch acrylic panel in the front.

 

[cvermeulen]

I wouldn't recommend 3/4" acrylic, you are wanting 1" acrylic for this build.

If it was a cichlid community tank, 3/4" would be fine for this depth. With big catfish I'd agree with the 1" acrylic. Unfortunately the price goes up exponentially

 

[necrocanis]

I want to build a tank (not this big) but I was wondering how do you determine the amount of 2x4's and what size plywood that is needed. I assume that with all the water volume there must be a formula to determine how to setup the 2x4's and what size pywood is needed to get maximum structual strength. I would think that 2x4's every 12 inches along the outside would be ok, right? With 3/4" plywood, and 1inch acrylic panel in the front.

Really depends on the depth of the water as to how strong the materials need to be.

If it was a cichlid community tank, 3/4" would be fine for this depth. With big catfish I'd agree with the 1" acrylic. Unfortunately the price goes up exponentially

Yeah let's just hope it doesn't break the bank. 1" acrylic must be pretty pricey. Going to need two 30" x 60" sheets.

 

[basslover34]

Really depends on the depth of the water as to how strong the materials need to be.

Don't forget the fish that your keeping in there... they are called tank busters for a reason and are real power houses....with room to actually build up some speed... I think the extra strength is needed

Yeah let's just hope it doesn't break the bank. 1" acrylic must be pretty pricey. Going to need two 30" x 60" sheets.

Yeah imagine what mine are going to cost... I'm going 5' deep

 

[necrocanis]

Don't forget the fish that your keeping in there... they are called tank busters for a reason and are real power houses....with room to actually build up some speed... I think the extra strength is needed


Yeah imagine what mine are going to cost... I'm going 5' deep

Yeah I don't think they will break through over 4" thick walls that my tank will have lol. Going with 1" thick acrylic. Looks like the costs with shipping will be around $800.00 a lil cheaper than I origionally thought. Still going to take me a nice little while to save up that kind of dough.

 

[necrocanis]

Luckily I have a few fish in the freezer that I can skeletonize and make some $$$ off of. Just takes away time for building on the tank though.

 

[basslover34]

Luckily I have a few fish in the freezer that I can skeletonize and make some $$$ off of. Just takes away time for building on the tank though.

Get a job washing jets or something

no taking time off from the tank build... I'm already glued to this project and Buster is keeping his fins on the glass watching as well ... maybe he's wishing it's his new home... perhaps I should start mine soon LOL

 

[X24]

Did you price out the glass aswell?

How far away is your acrylic specialist?

If it wasn't for the cats I'd say at 30" you could deffinately pull off 3/4" but the safety factor needs to be beefed up with your collection of larger cats.

 

[necrocanis]

None of the glass shops have gotten back to me. The qoute above is from a website I found. That's their rough qoute with shipping. Glass shops around here are horrible. Most told me that the largest glass they can order in is 3/4".