Some pics during construction of my 540g

retiredrunner

Feeder Fish
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Jan 5, 2006
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Given the size of the tank and the stand will you be able to remove it from the house ever if need be? The 3 ft width will prob go through a door but I thought it looked like you might be building all this in your basement so that would make for a pretty tough haul up a flight of stairs. Im planning on building a big tank this spring. I dont know if i ll go quite that big bc I gotta be able to get it out of my apartment when I finish school. Im thinking I ll prob make mine 28-30 inches wide just to make sure it will go through any doors. I dont know if I can afford 500 bucks for the glass for a 36 inch tall tank either so I ll prob end up going 24 inches or so. Long and short seems to be the most cost effective way to build a big tank so that probably the route I ll go.

Given what youve learned while trying to seal your plywood what method would you rec? I had heard that the truck bedliner might be a good way to go, but I had also wondered how well the slicone would adhere to that which sounds like that was a problem for you. Based on your experience thus far what do you rec for the wood treatment? The truck liner sounds good, but is there anyway to avoid the probs you ran into? Do you think the wood epoxy would be a good route or would you go with the pond liner as your first choice now?

Thanks for the advice and I hope your car is ok so you can get back to work on your project.
 

Guinness

Piranha
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Dec 5, 2005
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It diffinately will not fit through the door. When and if I move it will stay with the house, or I'll take it apart ant take the glass with me.
DO NOT USE TRUCK BED LINER!!!!!
I am not the only one who learned the hard way. I even called to ask someone in their tech department who said it would be fine. Epoxy is the way to go. It would have been done long ago if I had used epoxy.
Guinness
 

retiredrunner

Feeder Fish
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Jan 5, 2006
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Sweet. Thanks for the advice. I just found out my buddy who lives below me just got done working for a guy over xmas break doing epoxy work on boats. He offered to help me to the epoxy on mine when I get it started on it. I gotta build mine so that it can be moved so I am leaning towards acryllic for the weight advantage. I also might wait to put the glass in it until i get the whole thing in place where its going to be set up. How did the repairs on your truck come out? Will you be able to get yours done soon? Ive really enjoyed checking out all your pics thus far so keep them coming as you continue.
 

Guinness

Piranha
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Dec 5, 2005
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Oak Lawn IL
I got my car back yesterday. The bearings in the water pump were shredded. There were lots of metal shavings in there. I expect the tank to hold water by the weekend and be running in less than a month. As a side note, I would use glass because silicone doesn't work so well on acrylic. If you do go with acrylic you will need to make a gasket and devise a method to hold the acrylic to it. I've heard of some people using stainless steel U channel, but have never tried it myself.
Guinness
 

concord

Candiru
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Jan 14, 2006
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England
Wow you planning to scuba in that thing? who's the chick? :naughty: : :headbang2
 

Nate_N_Nicole

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Jul 17, 2005
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Flat Rock, Mi
Nice can't wait to build my monster tank (I'll just keep dreaming for now)
 

Radius

Feeder Fish
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Jan 10, 2006
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VIctoria, BC, Canada
That tank looks great! Makes me wish I was building one right now...

I know a thing or two about sealing these monsters. Personally I'd fiberglass the entire inside, making sure to use fibreglass matt along all the seams. That'll give it immense strength. Put four or five coats of resin on there too, make sure it's strong.

Polyester is toxic and doesn't seal against water, so to finish it off get a foodsafe epoxy and put two to four more coats on. You can get the resin with pigments so it can be just about any color you want.

It's a lot of work, but in the end it strengthens the tank a lot and is totally safe and waterproof. The only drawback is you'd need a large fan to vent the house while you make it.
 

StylinT

Feeder Fish
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Jan 14, 2006
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Brockville
www.ovas.ca
Would love to see some pics of how your filter is gonna look
an your lighting too
 

Guinness

Piranha
MFK Member
Dec 5, 2005
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Oak Lawn IL
I haven't started the filter yet, probably next weekend. The chick was the girlfriend, but she dumped me last week. Funny thing is, I've been happier since. I'll post new pics as it comes along.
Guinness
 
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