My Plywood Build 250 Gallon

[john73738]

Filter Plumbed, filled, sanded, and will be sealed with drylok tomorrow morning. Come hell or high water I will be epoxing the tank this weekend. Plans are to get up sunday and start finishing monday with 5 coats.

Stay tuned,

 

[Valous]

I am liking the sump above the tank idea. wish I would have thought of that before I built the stand for the 210. would make cleaning the tall tanks a bit easier.

 

[john73738]

I am liking the sump above the tank idea. wish I would have thought of that before I built the stand for the 210. would make cleaning the tall tanks a bit easier.

Thanks, Cant wait to see how it works (or IF )

Right now hoping 1 gallon of epoxy is going to be enough. If I have to get another I should still come in under budget, but don't want to if I don't have to.

 

[john73738]

Quick update.

The day is finally here. Epoxy starting in the morning. Spend the whole day today applying bondo to all seams and repairing any flaws in the wood. And of course SANDING

If I never use a sander again EVER! I will be happy

Progress pics tomorrow.

Bear

 

[David K. Bradley]

Quick update.

The day is finally here. Epoxy starting in the morning. Spend the whole day today applying bondo to all seams and repairing any flaws in the wood. And of course SANDING

If I never use a sander again EVER! I will be happy

Progress pics tomorrow.

Bear

John73738:

I read through your entire thread. It's really a terrific DIY build. Well thought out and time well spent for great quality work you've done.

A few questionsI have concerning your overhead filtration system. I love your idea for this, but why overhead instead of through the garage wall, or an under the tank on the stand. How did you calculate the size of your system in relation to your tank size? How is it determined? What parameters are taken into consideration when calculating the size of a system like yours?

I'm in the process of drawing a tank for a 975.50 Gal tank (conventional drawing on a drafting table) and was thinking of using an overhead system similar to yours, but having second thoughts now, do to tank size and weight issues. I may just use a through wall system and have plumbing intakes and exhaust ports in the tank and a few spray bars. The spray bars are questionable do to having a species of fish that takes gentle agitating waters in their original biotope.

Additional plausible thoughts or feedback from you or others would be appreciated, for like you I don't know everything there is to know about DIY builds. BadOleRoss has helped me out tremendously, though.

I'd like to see how your Sweetwater progress turns out, as I'm thinking of using Sweetwater myself. When you purchased your Sweetwater, which product of theirs did you purchase? The PT98 EPOXY GEL or the PT1-PT10 EPOXY PAINT seems the only two plausible for plywood DIY tanks. But I'm not sure which to use. What do you suggest I do?

You also stated, I believe, you were going to use bondo for seams and joints. I would think that The Fish Guy had a great suggestion for that and I believe he suggested using fiberglass tape and your Sweetwater Epoxy like you would mud and tape sheetrock. Sounds plausible and wise. But why the bondo? Not wanting to down your methods, just trying to understand the concept.

I hope you have great success with your build and it looks terrific so far. I'm sure the care and quality of work thus far applied will carry out to the end of your build. Anxiously waiting for the finished results of it all. BTW, thanks for sharing your build with everyone.

 

[Valous]

well I think the bondo is used kinda like wood putty. using it to cover any screw holes and this give a stronger bond around the seems then any tape. trust me I restored an old bronco with this stuff and you can run through some sand paper if you dont apply it nicely.

John keep up the good work and hope you are enjoying the build because that the biggest part of these DIY.

 

[TheFishGuy]

I read one word that concerns me, drylok. Drylok directly on wood WILL NOT WORK LONG TERM!!!

Yes, bondo is used as woodfill on larger holes or dents or to cover screws and such.

If I can chime in on the filtration question... Make the filter as big as possible. There's no such thing as too much filtration. Experience comes in handy too... I have four square feet of sponge filter filtering my 1200 and it keeps it plenty clean. I also have half a 55 gallon full of bio media... But all you really need is sponge filter... Think about the size of a sponge filter used to filter a 20 high.... then go from there... then double it...

 

[john73738]

John73738:

I read through your entire thread. It's really a terrific DIY build. Well thought out and time well spent for great quality work you've done.

A few questionsI have concerning your overhead filtration system. I love your idea for this, but why overhead instead of through the garage wall, or an under the tank on the stand. How did you calculate the size of your system in relation to your tank size? How is it determined? What parameters are taken into consideration when calculating the size of a system like yours?

I'm in the process of drawing a tank for a 975.50 Gal tank (conventional drawing on a drafting table) and was thinking of using an overhead system similar to yours, but having second thoughts now, do to tank size and weight issues. I may just use a through wall system and have plumbing intakes and exhaust ports in the tank and a few spray bars. The spray bars are questionable do to having a species of fish that takes gentle agitating waters in their original biotope.

Additional plausible thoughts or feedback from you or others would be appreciated, for like you I don't know everything there is to know about DIY builds. BadOleRoss has helped me out tremendously, though.

I'd like to see how your Sweetwater progress turns out, as I'm thinking of using Sweetwater myself. When you purchased your Sweetwater, which product of theirs did you purchase? The PT98 EPOXY GEL or the PT1-PT10 EPOXY PAINT seems the only two plausible for plywood DIY tanks. But I'm not sure which to use. What do you suggest I do?

You also stated, I believe, you were going to use bondo for seams and joints. I would think that The Fish Guy had a great suggestion for that and I believe he suggested using fiberglass tape and your Sweetwater Epoxy like you would mud and tape sheetrock. Sounds plausible and wise. But why the bondo? Not wanting to down your methods, just trying to understand the concept.

I hope you have great success with your build and it looks terrific so far. I'm sure the care and quality of work thus far applied will carry out to the end of your build. Anxiously waiting for the finished results of it all. BTW, thanks for sharing your build with everyone.

Agree with fish guy, At 1x1x8 it is appx. 60 Gallons. 6" of it will be bio media, and also will have around 4 ft2 of mechanical filtering. As far as weight go for a larger system there will need more bracing.

I am renting so a through the wall system is not an option, but when we buy that is another story. I got the Epoxy Paint

I read one word that concerns me, drylok. Drylok directly on wood WILL NOT WORK LONG TERM!!!

Hmmm... I read the thread by truck_317 that is what gave me the idea. Well I am only using it on my filter, and only a small part of it will be holding water. If it does not work then I am not out much. I was going to do part of the tank in it also but decided not to. If I do not have enough sweetwater then I will get more.

Gotta get breakfast, need my strength, EPOXY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks,

Bear

 

[john73738]

well I think the bondo is used kinda like wood putty. using it to cover any screw holes and this give a stronger bond around the seems then any tape. trust me I restored an old bronco with this stuff and you can run through some sand paper if you dont apply it nicely.

John keep up the good work and hope you are enjoying the build because that the biggest part of these DIY.

Funny, My wife asked me last night if all the hard work is worth it. There is just something very satisfying about doing it yourself.

 

[john73738]

Closing in on the prize!


First coat on tank,

Nothing like coming up 1 ft2 short

BTW that is just reflection not missed areas

Also Gator was right, This Sweetwater Epoxy is GREAT to work with :

Filter with 3 coats,