Building a 1500 Gallon plywood & glass tank

[VLDesign]

It's in a finished basement, and the walls are painted drywall.

Hmm guess I could run a sheet of Visqueen along the walls behind the tank as I build that part.


Also, the window might change to acrylic after all. Looking into the clarity of 3/4" glass vs 1" acrylic and I think the acrylic will look nicer in the end.

But I have a few weeks to decide on that still.

The bonding of the silicone to the acrylic window is what scares me. Glass was initially chosen because it adheres to the silicone better.

 

[tcarswell]

Looking pro man. Best of luck to you in this project!

 

[DB junkie]

I personally back your glass decision. Most are quick to jump to acrylic and I don't really understand why.

IF it was me I'de rather have a bit of a clarity issue than slip and fall on my arse in a puddle of water, from a leak in the seal of the viewing window, while trying to examine all the scratches that now need to be buffed out of your 2 week old acrylic window. All it takes is one whoops, or a love for big angry fish. Who are we kidding? There WILL be scratches.

But hey, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, OR the one with the best ideas........

 

[MyFishEatYourFish]

i agree with DB junkie, in the END! glass will look better. acrylic, i think, shouldn't be used in a tank with monsters. my reef is acrylic and the bottom inch or so is cloudy just from hermit crabs clambering. if you want to spend the extra buck on acrylic why not spend 2 on some starfire glass, if the clarity is that much of an issue. scratches will especially show up in a well lit tank.

 

[VLDesign]

Yeah I just got some prices on the acrylic and I would have to shrink the window to 96" in length instead of the 110" or pay double for the acrylic. Screw that.. lol

And starfire glass is going to be about $1600 for the window, so I am sticking with the original plan and using regular ole glass.

Tomorrow I plan on getting the 2x4s and I might actually get done with the tank frame tomorrow night or Friday. Then this weekend get the plywood down and if I can locate the hardi board get that installed as well.

Then order the glass next week and next weekend apply the pond armor.

So glass should take a week to get here, then I can install it on the weekend of the 21st and fill by the 28th. Right on schedule!

 

[Chris1530]

if you dont mind, what are you paying for the glass. is it 36 x 96 x .75 or
110 x 36 x .75 ?

 

[DB junkie]

What is Hardi Board?

What kind of plywood are you using?

I know when I was building speaker enclosures we were after the lightest, strongest, wood with the least amount of voids. This coveted wood was 11-13 ply Baltic Birch. VERY nice stuff, but not cheap and was VERY difficult for me to find around where I am at.

 

[VLDesign]

Hardi board is a concrete backer underlayment for tile. Comes in various thicknesses (Except where I live) lol


Not sure on the plywood yet..

Here is tonight progress. Won't be able to work on it again until this weekend.

 

[VLDesign]

Oh yeah and the nice bonus I discovered while putting the uprights in, is that there are wall studs right where the supports are the the front window area..

Yeah more support!

 

[BIGguppy]

your nut's bro! im sure some one has to agree with me! but great build and im dying to see te out come HURRY UP!!!!!