My Plywood Build 250 Gallon

[john73738]

Food for thought with the impending let down in mind.

If you enjoy creating things with your hands, like most of us DIY'ers, draw up a set of plans for your ultimate tank. Then it will always be a dream and a positive objective to reach for. This is just an idea of sorts for you to think about, is all. Give it some thought.

If you choose to do something like this, be detailed in your drawings down to the last item you want to include in this ultimate tank you have in mind. Even if it's a light fixture screw. Then build it!

I am in the process of doing this with my own ultimate tank for my house. I'm thinking of now going 4'x4'x12' as opposed to 4'x4'x8' in size as originally planned. I have involved my wife with this task, asking her opinion on things of which, she may have a better idea or a different idea which will work just as good or even better (this can and has happened, guys . . . so don't laugh). I involve her in this process so she doesn't feel left out and it makes it much, much easier for me to do things I would like to see happen with the tank as well. BUT I MAKE SURE I DO NOT IGNORE HER INPUT - (A HUGE FACTOR YOU NON MARRIED TYPES SHOULD MAKE A DETAILED NOTE OF). It also makes driving down the road a bit smoother, if you get my drift.

This is especially true when it comes to stalking the tank. The wife wants to stock it as a decorative community fish tank. I want to stock our tank with two or three compatible colonies of MF in this tank. One colony (30 fish of one species) is a do-able thing. But knowing how to have two to three compatible colonies in the same tank is a bit more challenging and complicated I think. I may have to contact a friend who is a specialist on this sort of thing to make sure I'm not taking a bigger bite than what can be chewed. I'll keep you posted on this issue thru a PM if that's acceptable with you.

So I go from the impending let down of the completion of my current project, to 2 lined up...

A single 75 Gal stand, and one 10' dual tank stand with built in behind tank sump. Plenty to keep the mind busy.

 

[john73738]

Just sat and reread the entire thread. As I wrap up the project I wanted to thank all who gave advice to a clueless newbie.

I hate these threads where people post up "Im gonna build this blaha blah.." and then they don't post up diddly squat!!

Next time have some pics of the beginning of the build ready for your first post. I despise hunting through pages of jibba jaba trying to find pics of an actual project.

If you don't have pics, don't post.

Lots of pics up now.... No comments? If you dont want to search then check out my album.

 

[Valous]

So i went and re-looked through your gallery. I am glad to see that the end is near. The tank looks great and cant wait to see it up and running. Couple questions, how satisfied are you with the sweatwater? And how easy was it to apply to the plywood?

 

[john73738]

So i went and re-looked through your gallery. I am glad to see that the end is near. The tank looks great and cant wait to see it up and running. Couple questions, how satisfied are you with the sweatwater? And how easy was it to apply to the plywood?

Very satisfied. Paints on easy, tough, flexible, Love the choice of color. And can silicone right to it with no problems.

 

[john73738]

Final coat of epoxy Tuesday, paint the stand/tank Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Silicone saturday, filled the following tuesday......Score

Delays.... Just like a Government Project

Final Epoxy coat today, and painted all braces with the epoxy also.

So Finish work next 3 days, then (hopefully) glass will be sealed in on Monday.

Filled by next weekend.

Being that I have never worked with epoxy before I am a little paranoid of the filling. Cant wait for it to be filled so I can breath again

 

[broken]

Delays.... Just like a Government Project

Final Epoxy coat today, and painted all braces with the epoxy also.

So Finish work next 3 days, then (hopefully) glass will be sealed in on Monday.

Filled by next weekend.

Being that I have never worked with epoxy before I am a little paranoid of the filling. Cant wait for it to be filled so I can breath again

I can see that being scary, I know I would be parinoid.
Good luck.

 

[john73738]

I can see that being scary, I know I would be parinoid.
Good luck.

I got 5 good coats of epoxy on it, I know it will be fine, but it is just that feeling like you left the coffee pot on and you are just walking into work.

So tomorrow I will finish painting the braces, and try to do some trim work. Found out I am only getting 1 day off this weekend so that will push back my timeline. But that will give me a 4 day weekend to get back to my regular days off.

 

[TheFishGuy]

Cool!

 

[john73738]

Hi all,

It is ready for the glass, Got all the trim on the tank, Figured it was not good to be swing a hammer around an 8' piece of glass.

So here it is...

Added Corner molding and trimmed the sides matching the stand

Preview with filter on top

Next four shots of the plumbing. Seem to have 2 MIA 1.5" elbows.

The Silicone.... Trying to get it done in the morning

A couple questions....

What kind of paint should I use for the outside, and should I coat with kilz first?

Has anyone ordered Driftwood off ebay.. Found a killer piece, but..... Any advice?

 

[Burko]

Looking Good Mate.