New Build - 300 gallon plywood tank
- Thread starter fish4me
- Start date
i think you're fine on the glass.
I would also recommend you fiberglass the entire setup. I'm usually the guy that says dont bother fiberglassing. not even the corners...however i've recently been pointed to a link where someone did some stress testing on epoxy only tanks, and the ease at which they can be ruptured or pierced is quite scary. It INSTATLY changed me from no fiberglass, to all fiberglass. That fast.
http://www.jonolavsakvarium.com/eng_diy/epoxy_test/article.html
it's just some dude with a screw driver and some epoxy, but still. it's really amazing how easily it's chipped.
also, i hear pond armor leaves pin hole sized leaks when using the manufacturerr recommended amount. People are suggesting minimum 3 layers, but more like 4 layers is the accepted amount. No links on that. gewgle
I would also recommend you fiberglass the entire setup. I'm usually the guy that says dont bother fiberglassing. not even the corners...however i've recently been pointed to a link where someone did some stress testing on epoxy only tanks, and the ease at which they can be ruptured or pierced is quite scary. It INSTATLY changed me from no fiberglass, to all fiberglass. That fast.
http://www.jonolavsakvarium.com/eng_diy/epoxy_test/article.html
it's just some dude with a screw driver and some epoxy, but still. it's really amazing how easily it's chipped.
also, i hear pond armor leaves pin hole sized leaks when using the manufacturerr recommended amount. People are suggesting minimum 3 layers, but more like 4 layers is the accepted amount. No links on that. gewgle
So................
I will be fiberglassing the whole interior of the tank (anything that would be touching water) I will be using west system epoxy which was ordered three days ago and should arrive by mid-week. My goal is to apply all fiberglass and matting on weds of this week when it is suppossed to be roughly 50 outside and then the tank will remain outdoors to cure. I simply cannot have all the epoxy fumes within my basement so the tank will remain outdoors for about 1 week and will take longer to cure due to the temperatures. Custom glass piece will then be ordered and installed (76 3/8" by 23 3/8" and 3/8" thick from glass cages.
As far as pond armor, due to overall cost and also reinforcing the whole interior with fiberglassing + epoxy, I feel there is no need for pond armor as well other than coloring, so this will not be used. I do, however, need to find a solution to provide a background other than epoxy color.
In the remaining 4 days prior to receiving the epoxy I am going to finish the trimming of the tank frame for finished appearance and varnish the stand pieces with stain to match, then work on diy filtration ideas.
All suggestions are welcomed. Will be adding pictures as I go. Also have more pictures under the thread " new build - 300 gallon".
I will be fiberglassing the whole interior of the tank (anything that would be touching water) I will be using west system epoxy which was ordered three days ago and should arrive by mid-week. My goal is to apply all fiberglass and matting on weds of this week when it is suppossed to be roughly 50 outside and then the tank will remain outdoors to cure. I simply cannot have all the epoxy fumes within my basement so the tank will remain outdoors for about 1 week and will take longer to cure due to the temperatures. Custom glass piece will then be ordered and installed (76 3/8" by 23 3/8" and 3/8" thick from glass cages.
As far as pond armor, due to overall cost and also reinforcing the whole interior with fiberglassing + epoxy, I feel there is no need for pond armor as well other than coloring, so this will not be used. I do, however, need to find a solution to provide a background other than epoxy color.
In the remaining 4 days prior to receiving the epoxy I am going to finish the trimming of the tank frame for finished appearance and varnish the stand pieces with stain to match, then work on diy filtration ideas.
All suggestions are welcomed. Will be adding pictures as I go. Also have more pictures under the thread " new build - 300 gallon".
i was just thinking,
when epoxy is curing it goes through this middle stage where the epoxy is slightly firm(not completely cured) such that you can indent your finger print or anything on it. so when the epoxy is at this stage i was thinking you could give it a slightly wavey three dimensional effect to the background with a tool of your choice(nothing sharp though), you could also add colour pigements to the west.s.epoxy to give the background colour. the back grounf indentations would have to be done when you're doing your final coat of epoxy after you've done your fibreglassing
when epoxy is curing it goes through this middle stage where the epoxy is slightly firm(not completely cured) such that you can indent your finger print or anything on it. so when the epoxy is at this stage i was thinking you could give it a slightly wavey three dimensional effect to the background with a tool of your choice(nothing sharp though), you could also add colour pigements to the west.s.epoxy to give the background colour. the back grounf indentations would have to be done when you're doing your final coat of epoxy after you've done your fibreglassing
Updates.....................
No new pics yet. I fiberglassed half of the interior tonight using west system epoxy and hardener along with matting. I realized quickly that I will need to order some more west system epoxy, probably a whole gallon more. This stuff does get expensive and I would definitely suggest using it outdoors when applying if at all possible. I have respirator, but without that and being indoors would be awful.
Also, for those new to the diy hobby of making plywood tanks, fiberglass matting is very tricky to apply, and even more tricky if you don't have the correct tools around. It is made much easier with aluminum rollers, not brush, and fiberglass specific roller for smoothing bubbles. Regular rollers will become a sticky disaster in about 10 minutes.
So, will be ordering a gallon more tonight, and finishing the another 3-4 feet of matting tomorrow with the remainder of the quart that is left. I have almost exactly half of the quart remaining, but that is only after half of the first coat. The mat really absorbs the resin, after all that is what provides all the strength, the combination of materials. Will update with new pics soon.
No new pics yet. I fiberglassed half of the interior tonight using west system epoxy and hardener along with matting. I realized quickly that I will need to order some more west system epoxy, probably a whole gallon more. This stuff does get expensive and I would definitely suggest using it outdoors when applying if at all possible. I have respirator, but without that and being indoors would be awful.
Also, for those new to the diy hobby of making plywood tanks, fiberglass matting is very tricky to apply, and even more tricky if you don't have the correct tools around. It is made much easier with aluminum rollers, not brush, and fiberglass specific roller for smoothing bubbles. Regular rollers will become a sticky disaster in about 10 minutes.
So, will be ordering a gallon more tonight, and finishing the another 3-4 feet of matting tomorrow with the remainder of the quart that is left. I have almost exactly half of the quart remaining, but that is only after half of the first coat. The mat really absorbs the resin, after all that is what provides all the strength, the combination of materials. Will update with new pics soon.
Want to get some opinions about the next step.
The west system is getting expensive.
I am considering simply a light coat of that to just hold the matting in place and then painting over the mat with sweetwater epoxy. Any thoughts or opinions on whether this will provide a strong combo, or would you go will the whole thing West System?
The west system is getting expensive.
I am considering simply a light coat of that to just hold the matting in place and then painting over the mat with sweetwater epoxy. Any thoughts or opinions on whether this will provide a strong combo, or would you go will the whole thing West System?
i dont see any reason why not. i think that's actually how most people do it. the resin, then the mat, then the epoxy
Fiberglassing mat with epoxy covering is complete for the base of the tank on the interior and some of the sides. Pictures have been taken and will be posted shortly. Pictures are not all that exciting at this point. Sides and back of tank will be completed hopefully by thursday of next week, and glass will be ordered at that point.
how big are the fish that are going to be slamming on the 3/8" glass? looks great so far! goodluck
