9' long 4'high 5'deep ply tank has begun.....kinda!

[mike huntley]

Hey Mike, I figured I'd move our discussion over on to your thread. As far as LR bonding to the epoxy I think you will be OK but I have never tried it. The only thing I know that LR does not bond to is glass and silicone. I used a bead of fiberglass resin around my viewing window to get a seal and the LR bonded great to that. If you are going to be coating the inside of your tank with LR or even think you might have to after your next fail, make sure you get a good seal of epoxy around your viewing window area. If there is an area where you will need a seal with the epoxy, regardless of the sealing method, its around the glass. If you are still considering a liner, you might want to switch to acrylic glass. That way you can bolt the glass through the liner and get a good seal. Hope your ready for the glass sticker shock!

Cheers Ross for the input, very helpful. I'm leaning still towards buying one more batch of epoxy and doing tank and filter, just to see if it will work with plenty more applications. Like the idea of glazing it at this sort of stage, then putting the final coats on the tank and over the glass, even if the epoxy was to fail at that stage i know i can always drain and dry, then apply LR.

not sure why i'm having these problems but admit i think its due to not having enough coats applied. mike

 

[Satan's Goldfish]

cheers for that mate, is it available in LFS? how's the move coming along?

Sometimes. I got more current tubes of it from a koi and pond specialist.

 

[spwd]

steve, i'm gonna chase up the glass tomorrow for my price, keep you posted mate. get your planning permission yet?

ok buddy,not got anything back yet but should know in a months time
were keeping our fingers crossed.



Steve

 

[WimHam]

Goodluck with the build i am watching it with interrest.

As i said before i am planning on doing something simillair 800 gallon/3000 litre build in an gardenhouse but since that is heavy i need a good foundation under the gardenhouse still trying to gather info on how to build a proper foundation with reinforced concrete.

 

[mike huntley]

Goodluck with the build i am watching it with interrest.

As i said before i am planning on doing something simillair 800 gallon/3000 litre build in an gardenhouse but since that is heavy i need a good foundation under the gardenhouse still trying to gather info on how to build a proper foundation with reinforced concrete.

you shouldn't have any problems building a decent footing/concrete slab.

Mine has a small footing about 12 inches deep, then light weight breeze blocks in a single course around in a square, then a plastic membrane inside and filled with concrete, you can always add steel to the slab if you're worried about the strength, but i cant see it giving any problems.

 

[mike huntley]

just ordered another five litres of black epoxy, hopefully should be here in a day or two then i can coat the filter and tank once, leave it to cure for a week and rub it down lightly then apply another coat. better work this time! waiting to hear back on the glass still............

 

[mike huntley]

had quote via email today for the viewing window in 25mm cast acrylic, £391.00 from Amari Plastics in Norwich, very helpful people. now just waiting on the glass quote

 

[spwd]

Thats not a bad price for the acrylic but me personally,i will not have it,the bottom front of my tank is scratched up and its glass and its a recent thing too,but never the less its good to get a quote.



Steve

 

[mike huntley]

Thats not a bad price for the acrylic but me personally,i will not have it,the bottom front of my tank is scratched up and its glass and its a recent thing too,but never the less its good to get a quote.



Steve

i thought that was a decent price, knew it was gonna be more than glass (which i might add i'm STILL waiting to hear about )

The epoxy arrived this morning, bloody quick, i only ordered it yesterday morning. I was gonna sand the main tank tonight and give it the first coat but time got the better of me, along with me thinking a drop of patience wouldn't go a miss too. leave it til saturday morning, rub the tank down and clean the lot right out properly then give it the first coat.

How come the glass got scratched up steve, if you don't mind me asking, i thought acrylic was more prone to scratches etc. ?

 

[spwd]

Dunno how its got scratched,although the clown loach likes to lie up against the glass so may have got sand between him,also all my fish are getting bigger so if they whip around and rub sand across it maybe thats how,but its near the bottom so i guess its from the sand,also the tank is quite a few years old now,dont know if that makes any difference.

Good luck with the sanding and epoxy unless your watching the footy lol.


Steve