Okay I need some help for my first DIY project. I'm currently selling all my tanks in my fish room to accommodate for this huge massive build. I have been reading up on plywood/Glass tanks and Cinder block tanks, however since this will be a massive first time build I want to know the best way to go. I already have metal stands with marine plywood to hold my tanks up at the moment but I will have my guys cut the stand's down to about 3 foot from off the ground. So stands are not the problem, they will be built from industrial steel Uni-Strut and bolted to the wall and concrete floor. I just need some ideas of similar builds 10'x4'x3'. What are the benefits of both? and what is the easiest option and maybe cost effective, not saying I will pick that one I just want the best option. I also would like a large viewing panel, but i'm not sure what that would be made from as long as its clear like glass.
DIY Ideas for 10'x4' tank PLYWOOD or cinder block?
- Thread starter caribemob
- Start date
I have been researching for the last 6 months plus. I have a bunch of flagged threads that I will try and post tonight.
Plywood is probably the most common that you will find. Lots of great examples. Height of tank will be a big factor. Also, not sure if you are held to the 10x4, but plywood comes in 8x4 sheets. By going to 10ft you need to use two sheets with increases complexity and cost.
Glass viewing pane is probably the easiest approach because it can easily be siliconed versus acrylic. I think the area that is hardest to decide on (at least for me) is how to water proof the plywood. Lots of debate on that one.
Plywood is probably the most common that you will find. Lots of great examples. Height of tank will be a big factor. Also, not sure if you are held to the 10x4, but plywood comes in 8x4 sheets. By going to 10ft you need to use two sheets with increases complexity and cost.
Glass viewing pane is probably the easiest approach because it can easily be siliconed versus acrylic. I think the area that is hardest to decide on (at least for me) is how to water proof the plywood. Lots of debate on that one.
Here are all the threads I flagged that had some key information that I thought I would leverage for my build, or they did something unique. I think some of the key decisions is to decide on final size and then how you will filter that. I think 500-600 can still easily be done via sump, but when go bigger than that you really want something like the Ultima or comparable filter.
Also, seeing this is in your garage I think heating is going to be a big factor for you. You probably want to consider insulation whether its on the tank or in your garage itself. Heating a large tank becomes a big factor.
I will most likely be doing a 8x4x3(t) build with a sump. I would like to do an Ultima but I am trying to stay under a certain budget. I am huge fan of some of the builds where they have designed filtration that requires zero maintenance.
Tank Builds
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/600g-diy-plywood-build.656650/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/523-gallon-plywood-build-pic-heavy.468208/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/stingray-addict-w-o-hope-must-build-bigger.676666/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/10x14-2500-gallon-plywood-stingray-pond.394202/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...going-pressurized-or-good-old-wet-dry.604498/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/my-new-2600-gallon-plywood-tank-project.416005/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...d-fiberglass-and-800-gallons-of-water.319933/
Filter Considerations
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...iltration-and-evolving-with-your-fish.499111/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...ass-aquarium-1000-gallons-for-dummies.529038/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/rc-540-gallon-ca-community-build.595725/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/300-gallon-sa-ce-community-build-thread.423425/
Also, seeing this is in your garage I think heating is going to be a big factor for you. You probably want to consider insulation whether its on the tank or in your garage itself. Heating a large tank becomes a big factor.
I will most likely be doing a 8x4x3(t) build with a sump. I would like to do an Ultima but I am trying to stay under a certain budget. I am huge fan of some of the builds where they have designed filtration that requires zero maintenance.
Tank Builds
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/600g-diy-plywood-build.656650/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/523-gallon-plywood-build-pic-heavy.468208/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/stingray-addict-w-o-hope-must-build-bigger.676666/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/10x14-2500-gallon-plywood-stingray-pond.394202/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...going-pressurized-or-good-old-wet-dry.604498/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/my-new-2600-gallon-plywood-tank-project.416005/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...d-fiberglass-and-800-gallons-of-water.319933/
Filter Considerations
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...iltration-and-evolving-with-your-fish.499111/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...ass-aquarium-1000-gallons-for-dummies.529038/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/rc-540-gallon-ca-community-build.595725/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/300-gallon-sa-ce-community-build-thread.423425/
You should consider the shape and the space, if your talking 8+ feet in any one direction then you need more then 1 sheet for the bottom of the tank. For 2 sheets your foot print could be 16x4 or 8x8. Both of those would give you same volume however the glass is going to be much different price. During my research I found most people agree the easiest way to seal would be pond armor, however, a much cheaper but much more headache would be 3m Bondo resin and hardner.
You can order 10' plywood thru some lumber suppliers, we had to special order some when we rebuilt an old cargo trailer.
I wanted to do 12x4 but the house I'm moving gives me two options. Do 8x4 in family room as display tank and have plumbing and drain nearby for autodrip or stick it in the garage where there is no plumbing and I'll barely see it. Will probably do 8x4.
With most of your stock sold what are you planning to put in there?
FYI, you can get 12x4 sheets of plywood. Go to a lumber yard, they should be able to get it for you.
As others suggested, you can get larger pieces of plywood, but it could be cost prohibitive. The other challenge is the glass viewing panel. I think the largest you can get is about 10.5ft or something like that.
Check out glasscages.com for their pricing of glass per sqft which will help you build out a budget.
Check out glasscages.com for their pricing of glass per sqft which will help you build out a budget.