First plwood tank build started..... with pics

[necrocanis]

All seams are wood glued heavily and then screwed every 2-2.5 inches with wood screws. I didnt use liquid nail, or predrill the holes. I wasnt aware they had to be predrilled. will this comprimise the build? I read of garf.org how to put it together and they didnt mention this.

Stocking will be freshwater stingrays. I have an 8inch disc female motoro that will be going in it, and i will either get a male for her, or add my 7 discus. But im leaning more towards two rays.

Lighting will be a 48 inch power compact coralife 130watt strip, two E300 watt hagen heaters(the new type), and filtration will be either one FX5 and a wet/dry, or two fx5's. Since i have a 6.75 inch lip, i have no idea how i'll get the fx5 on it, so i may plumb the fx5 threw bulkheads in the back of the tank.
decor will be white sand and maybe a couple pieces of wood/silk plants.

So long as the screw heads didn't pop off and the ply didn't split you should be fine. Predrilling is a pita, but can be useful for getting screw heads below the surface. Don't worry so much and get er filled!

 

[Rivermud]

Necro is right, pre-drilling is just a precaution against splitting your wood and it helps to give you a more finished look. It also helps you get straighter holes than simply putting screws in.

Wood glue imho is the best product you can use for joints.. so you are fine there.

 

[greengiant]

just a few Questions what grade and type of plywood did you use? when you have it finished can you do a cost breakdown? this looks like it is gonna be a great easy DIY tank on the cheap. I'm thinking I may be able to keep a fish I got permanentlly if I can build it this way. if I have my estimating right you should be under $1 a gallon right?

 

[scoobydoo]

like this build alot nice and simple

 

[Rivermud]

just a few Questions what grade and type of plywood did you use? when you have it finished can you do a cost breakdown? this looks like it is gonna be a great easy DIY tank on the cheap. I'm thinking I may be able to keep a fish I got permanentlly if I can build it this way. if I have my estimating right you should be under $1 a gallon right?

It never works out that way.

Just guesstimates for an average...

2 sheets of a/c or a grabe plywood 55-90 each.
Screws, 10-15 dollars
Glue, 3 bucks,
glass 125 - extreme depending on the glass thickness and clarity
Silicone 6-12 bucks for this build..
Sealant 30+ for this build

So far this doesn't accounr for a hood, lights, plumbing, filtration, etc.. DIY tanks are never as cheap as people think they are going to be when they begin. A good rule of thumb is to figure out a budget for your tank then double it.

DIY tanks do not become truly cost effective till you start going much larger most of the time. Glass, lighing, and waterproofing always seem to be the big cost factors, however I have also found that plumbing hardware is not cheap either.

 

[Grog]

Yes everyone generally underestimates the cost of materials...aside from the pleasure of putting our ideas through the paces which is what I think diy is all about, costs can still be prohibitive for some. I'm fortunate to have a pile of old plumbing, wood, glass, screws ect. i can draw from which helps alot. I'm curious regarding cutting down on the plywood costs, which seem to be a substantial consideration. The 3/4 in and above stuff is usually quite expensive so I'm considering just bonding thinner sheets together with construction adhesive. I've seen 1/2 ply for $15, any thoughts?

 

[kzimmerman]

Construction adhesive is very strong stuff, although very thick. It might not be easy to spread a uniform layer over the ply. I would be more inclined to think that contact adhesive, applied in several coats, with the last coat being the tack coat that conects the two would be more effective. However, this requires lots of pressure, not sure if that would be possible in a home environment. Regular wood glue would work too, as would gorilla glue and epoxy. I think you would find it easier and more cost effective to use lighter ply with an external framing.

 

[joey02]

Great idea with the liquid rubber; been using a similar product to seal concrete ponds for a few years with good success. I can attest that it sticks to plywood quite well too ( I make plywood weirs or waterfalls coming off of header ponds). Your build inspired me to give the liquid rubber supplier a call here in ontario (zavlar guy) It sounds like they havent done many trials regarding whether its safe for potable water or fish friendly. One thing he did say though is that although its impermiable to moisture, the material will turn a brown color after its been in contact with water. He also claimed it has a certain 'selfsealing' ability if nicked. Just blowing smoke I wonder? It just makes me question how inert it really is. If the material did release something into a pond, the volume may negate any ill effect...but in an aquarium...I really hope this works well for you as I definitely want to use it in a future build myself. Its cheap and easy to find here in canada....

It doesnt turn brown under water. its the opposite. it goes on brown and drys black. It has already been cleard for potable water in austrailia. i also read that it can self heal, which i found interesting as well.

Not to sound stalker ish... but I'm watching

So long as the screw heads didn't pop off and the ply didn't split you should be fine. Predrilling is a pita, but can be useful for getting screw heads below the surface. Don't worry so much and get er filled!

thanks... i`ll get water in it asap!

just a few Questions what grade and type of plywood did you use? when you have it finished can you do a cost breakdown? this looks like it is gonna be a great easy DIY tank on the cheap. I'm thinking I may be able to keep a fish I got permanentlly if I can build it this way. if I have my estimating right you should be under $1 a gallon right?

It will end up more than a $1 per gallon. more like $2 a gallon. But there are alot of extra things i will be doing with it.
I will do a complete cost break down when finished.... right down to the rubber gloves i ware for the rubber. i used good one suide exterior grade plywood. (A/C)

Yes everyone generally underestimates the cost of materials...aside from the pleasure of putting our ideas through the paces which is what I think diy is all about, costs can still be prohibitive for some. I'm fortunate to have a pile of old plumbing, wood, glass, screws ect. i can draw from which helps alot. I'm curious regarding cutting down on the plywood costs, which seem to be a substantial consideration. The 3/4 in and above stuff is usually quite expensive so I'm considering just bonding thinner sheets together with construction adhesive. I've seen 1/2 ply for $15, any thoughts?

not sure if you can do thinner sheets glued together, but i had also thought of that. i dont see why not.

 

[joey02]

It never works out that way.

Just guesstimates for an average...

2 sheets of a/c or a grabe plywood 55-90 each.
Screws, 10-15 dollars
Glue, 3 bucks,
glass 125 - extreme depending on the glass thickness and clarity
Silicone 6-12 bucks for this build..
Sealant 30+ for this build

So far this doesn't accounr for a hood, lights, plumbing, filtration, etc.. DIY tanks are never as cheap as people think they are going to be when they begin. A good rule of thumb is to figure out a budget for your tank then double it.

DIY tanks do not become truly cost effective till you start going much larger most of the time. Glass, lighing, and waterproofing always seem to be the big cost factors, however I have also found that plumbing hardware is not cheap either.

your estimates are very close. but 1/2 inch glass costs $16 a square foot. plus tax comes to $18.08 a square foot. plus it has to be specialy ordered. i was going to do 10mm but i think 12 will be alot safer. so around $180 for the glass.

The total build will cost around $500. but thats without filters,heaters,light. which is great considering a glass 135gal bare tank here costs $576, and a 180gal is $1130. just the tank nothing else.

 

[Bizarroterl]

Keep in mind that location can have a big impact on material costs. Typically glass will be less expensive for those in a large city with lots of local competition vs those that have only 1 glass shop within an hour's drive.