cvermeulen, it's not plastic, it's what you'd see in a commercial restroom on the walls, it's only 3/16" thick and was $12 a sheet 
I had the screws
The sunken down area, or the deep end as I've been calling it, will have two bulkheads 2" from the floor. I don't plan on putting any subtrate in the deep end, and it will have some kind of "jets" put down there to keep from having "dead spots" It's funny you mention a port hole because I've got a 1/2" piece of glass that's like 24"X10" I was thinking of putting in for fun
To answer your floor drain question... Yes, sort of. By the time it's drained ther'll be about 2" left in the deep end...
As for the cost of heating the tank... it was not fun the last two winters, but I've got a much better plan this time around. I used to have to use two 4' sections of electric baseboard heat each pumping 2000 watts... Yikes! I definately think that moisture proofing the room and using this new heating method with definately save a considerable amount of ching
Now as for you question about losing gravel over the edge... I've got a plan for that. I'm going to be siliconing rocks on the edge for two reasons, one to protect the edge from my dumb *** every time I step into the thing, and the other is to do exactly what said 2x4 would have done, prevent the loss of substrate to the deep end. One rock will not be siliconed into place to create a way to get water down to the deep end in case of failure. But failure is not an option
I've also got this to say....
The sheeting is done! Next is cutting holes in it where the bulkheads are going to be. The reason I’m doing that is because last time there was barely enough thread on the shower drains to make a good seal. I’m going to make the holes slightly larger than the nut for the bulkhead, this way I’m only dealing with the thickness of the hardie panel and pond armor. And yes, I plan to silicone in the bulkheads this time. Last time I did not. I might go get the hardie panel tomorrow and the two sheets of plywood to make the sump tank. The sump tank will be made out of ¾” plywood lined with hardie panel, then lined with pond armor. Enjoy the video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx4Tk5qr5Uc
As always, if there’s any questions or comments feel free to ask J
I had the screws The sunken down area, or the deep end as I've been calling it, will have two bulkheads 2" from the floor. I don't plan on putting any subtrate in the deep end, and it will have some kind of "jets" put down there to keep from having "dead spots" It's funny you mention a port hole because I've got a 1/2" piece of glass that's like 24"X10" I was thinking of putting in for fun
To answer your floor drain question... Yes, sort of. By the time it's drained ther'll be about 2" left in the deep end...
As for the cost of heating the tank... it was not fun the last two winters, but I've got a much better plan this time around. I used to have to use two 4' sections of electric baseboard heat each pumping 2000 watts... Yikes! I definately think that moisture proofing the room and using this new heating method with definately save a considerable amount of ching
Now as for you question about losing gravel over the edge... I've got a plan for that. I'm going to be siliconing rocks on the edge for two reasons, one to protect the edge from my dumb *** every time I step into the thing, and the other is to do exactly what said 2x4 would have done, prevent the loss of substrate to the deep end. One rock will not be siliconed into place to create a way to get water down to the deep end in case of failure. But failure is not an option
I've also got this to say....
The sheeting is done! Next is cutting holes in it where the bulkheads are going to be. The reason I’m doing that is because last time there was barely enough thread on the shower drains to make a good seal. I’m going to make the holes slightly larger than the nut for the bulkhead, this way I’m only dealing with the thickness of the hardie panel and pond armor. And yes, I plan to silicone in the bulkheads this time. Last time I did not. I might go get the hardie panel tomorrow and the two sheets of plywood to make the sump tank. The sump tank will be made out of ¾” plywood lined with hardie panel, then lined with pond armor. Enjoy the video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx4Tk5qr5Uc
As always, if there’s any questions or comments feel free to ask J
I'm not tearing this thing apart now! But secretly I really want to, great idea, just a few weeks too late!
