206G Plywood Tank...Done - Part1
- Thread starter Buckdog
- Start date
I sometimes feel silly posting since I am new to this aspect of the hobby, so excuse me if I ask something "stupid."
Are there any things that I would need to look out for or account for when using 3 viewing windows instead of the usual 1 that most builds have? I want to start a build in the near future, but I think 3 is the way to go instead of the single front viewing window.
Also, to try my hand at this type of build before getting into a monster tank I am considering building a smaller one for my office. Do you have any recommendations or concept designs for an enclosure containing 2 - 5 gallon tanks or something similar? Have you built smaller tanks? If so, do you have pics? I know it would usually be cheaper to buy a small tank than build one, but I doubt a tank with your type of decor and style would be readily available much less unique if there even is such a place to buy them.
Thoughts????
Are there any things that I would need to look out for or account for when using 3 viewing windows instead of the usual 1 that most builds have? I want to start a build in the near future, but I think 3 is the way to go instead of the single front viewing window.
Also, to try my hand at this type of build before getting into a monster tank I am considering building a smaller one for my office. Do you have any recommendations or concept designs for an enclosure containing 2 - 5 gallon tanks or something similar? Have you built smaller tanks? If so, do you have pics? I know it would usually be cheaper to buy a small tank than build one, but I doubt a tank with your type of decor and style would be readily available much less unique if there even is such a place to buy them.
Thoughts????
Sorry for taking so long, I was out of town for awhile.
There is no "stupid" when it comes to this stuff. We just had a accident at a friends house where we lost 70 gallons onto a hardwood floor. The house is a 50's style two story and it all went to the rooms below. The near disaster could have been avoided with just a little more diligence.
I did the 3 window because of the depth of this tank. I wanted people to get that sense of depth. I am no mechanical engineer but I have 30 yrs experience in various specialized mechanics. It may sound crazy but I put myself in the waters place and thats how I built the tank. I also researched various contruction techniques plus some of my own experiences. I believe it has worked because when we filled the tank and hung it off the edge of a pallet it barley bowed or twisted. We left it there for, what, two days I believe and nothing happened.
In your case you may want to do what I did and build a foam core model first. If not then use thick cardboard or thin plywood. Do it in 1/4 scale or something. Get some cheap glass to put in it. Its time consuming but believe me you will figure out a lot doing it that way. The thing I like about that is if you build a ten gallon on scale to your big final build you will see the rigidity (and flexibility) of the materials when you start gluing and bonding. To me this is way better than building a huge tank from just a sketch and then running into a huge problem two thirds of the way through.
Hope this helps. Above all, have fun.
There is no "stupid" when it comes to this stuff. We just had a accident at a friends house where we lost 70 gallons onto a hardwood floor. The house is a 50's style two story and it all went to the rooms below. The near disaster could have been avoided with just a little more diligence.
I did the 3 window because of the depth of this tank. I wanted people to get that sense of depth. I am no mechanical engineer but I have 30 yrs experience in various specialized mechanics. It may sound crazy but I put myself in the waters place and thats how I built the tank. I also researched various contruction techniques plus some of my own experiences. I believe it has worked because when we filled the tank and hung it off the edge of a pallet it barley bowed or twisted. We left it there for, what, two days I believe and nothing happened.
In your case you may want to do what I did and build a foam core model first. If not then use thick cardboard or thin plywood. Do it in 1/4 scale or something. Get some cheap glass to put in it. Its time consuming but believe me you will figure out a lot doing it that way. The thing I like about that is if you build a ten gallon on scale to your big final build you will see the rigidity (and flexibility) of the materials when you start gluing and bonding. To me this is way better than building a huge tank from just a sketch and then running into a huge problem two thirds of the way through.
Hope this helps. Above all, have fun.
What's the latest Buck? Any updates on the teepee? How bout the roof of the tank?
Hey Judon,
Thanx for checking back. Yeah, working it on as much as I can. Done a lot but still a lot coming. Here's a couple shots:
One is of a 1/24 scale 1930's Frys gas pump I'm about to assemble. It's intended to go with the "run down" building I just finished. I patterned this building after the shack in post #209. Trying to hold everything at 1/24 scale. Stay tuned!
Hey everyone! It's been since 2012 since I've been here on MFK. A LOT of life has happened since then. I literally had to mothball the tank and all the gear cause I though they would never see water. Yeah.
Well, things have more or less settled down. I decided now is the time for a re-start. I dug out the accessories, paperwork, etc. Filled the tank and did a three day static test. Good. Was worried about the silicone but it seemed to stick well. No water creep at all (for now).
I was gonna go tropical with tetras cause I was done with all the work with goldfish. But, grandkids and goldfish go well together. I decided this will be their tank. So I got them involved with the filling for now. So stay tuned, here we go...again!
Well, things have more or less settled down. I decided now is the time for a re-start. I dug out the accessories, paperwork, etc. Filled the tank and did a three day static test. Good. Was worried about the silicone but it seemed to stick well. No water creep at all (for now).
I was gonna go tropical with tetras cause I was done with all the work with goldfish. But, grandkids and goldfish go well together. I decided this will be their tank. So I got them involved with the filling for now. So stay tuned, here we go...again!
Terrific thread! Impressive construction details, plus pics that actually show what's going on (a lot of tank-build threads are incomprehensible). Awesome stand, amazing detail work on the decorations (even if not necessarily to everyone's tastes), but...correct me if I am wrong...it's been FIFTEEN YEARS since you started this and it has still never had any fish in it?!?!?!?!? Did I read that right???
The solar system has travelled over 100,000,000,000 kilometers in that time! The completion of this tank is taking on an almost cosmic time scale!
Don't get me wrong; this is outstanding! I mean, when I start a project I don't rush, I work at my own speed and I don't care when my wife makes some scathing comment about my glacial progress. It takes as long as it takes. I get it...
...but FIFTEEN YEARS???
The solar system has travelled over 100,000,000,000 kilometers in that time! The completion of this tank is taking on an almost cosmic time scale!
Don't get me wrong; this is outstanding! I mean, when I start a project I don't rush, I work at my own speed and I don't care when my wife makes some scathing comment about my glacial progress. It takes as long as it takes. I get it...
...but FIFTEEN YEARS???
