Thinking About Constructing a Monster Aquarium Yourself?

[Chaz88]

Just like putting an acrylic tank on a foam board, it doesnt matter how many tons it is, spread out over the entire surface of the foam, it easily supports the weight because the "P.S.I." is very low...

You might be correct that the foam with concrete lattice can withstand the PSI.

But it is not the same as placing a tank on foam with a solid plywood backing. If you put say a 4 inch spaced lattice work of 1/4" re-bar between the plywood and foam, then put the tank on, the foam would be pushed into the lattice work.

Also the pounds per square inch of a tank placed on foam is not the same thing as the pounds per square inch of outward pressure at the bottom of a given water depth. Say you have a container 1 inch deep that holds a thousand gallons of water, you have very little bottom pressure. If you have a container 50 feet deep that holds a thousand gallons of water you have considerable bottom pressure.

I would want to be sure the foam has more than enough PSI strength for the depth of my tank before proceeding. If it dose I think it would be an exceptional and simplified concrete tank construction method.

 

[zennzzo]

You might be correct that the foam with concrete lattice can withstand the PSI.

But it is not the same as placing a tank on foam with a solid plywood backing. If you put say a 4 inch spaced lattice work of 1/4" re-bar between the plywood and foam, then put the tank on, the foam would be pushed into the lattice work.

Also the pounds per square inch of a tank placed on foam is not the same thing as the pounds per square inch of outward pressure at the bottom of a given water depth. Say you have a container 1 inch deep that holds a thousand gallons of water, you have very little bottom pressure. If you have a container 50 feet deep that holds a thousand gallons of water you have considerable bottom pressure.

I would want to be sure the foam has more than enough PSI strength for the depth of my tank before proceeding. If it dose I think it would be an exceptional and simplified concrete tank construction method.

How do you figure? there is concrete over the rebar...and water exerts it pressure evenly, and the shallow it gets the less pressure it exerts...The example you are giving above is exactly why it will work and work well...

 

[Chaz88]

How do you figure? there is concrete over the rebar...and water exerts it pressure evenly, and the shallow it gets the less pressure it exerts...The example you are giving above is exactly why it will work and work well...

You are putting forth that a tank full of water built with the lattice work and foam block has the same kind of pressure issues as setting a tank on a piece of foam. Think about it. It is not the same thing.

Yes the water will exert its pressure evenly in all directions, at a given depth. But as you even said the pressure is greater at the bottom. Whatever you build it out of must be able to withstand the bottom pressure. Particularly the pressure being exerted in the horizontal plane.

The concrete lattice work is basically a bunch of interconnected rods of reinforced concrete with foam filling the holes between the rods. Foam is much less dense and much weaker than concrete. So I would want to be absolutely sure that the thin piece of foam over the concrete part of the structure can withstand the pressure being exerted on the foam plug filling the spaces in the concrete lattice work.

 

[zennzzo]

You are putting forth that a tank full of water built with the lattice work and foam block has the same kind of pressure issues as setting a tank on a piece of foam. Think about it. It is not the same thing.

Yes the water will exert its pressure evenly in all directions, at a given depth. But as you even said the pressure is greater at the bottom. Whatever you build it out of must be able to withstand the bottom pressure. Particularly the pressure being exerted in the horizontal plane.

The concrete lattice work is basically a bunch of interconnected rods of reinforced concrete with foam filling the holes between the rods. Foam is much less dense and much weaker than concrete. So I would want to be absolutely sure that the thin piece of foam over the concrete part of the structure can withstand the pressure being exerted on the foam plug filling the spaces in the concrete lattice work.

 

[Chaz88]

I feel the same way! I am not saying this can't work. However, you can not equate the ability to cary the structural load of a house to the ability to withstand water pressure. It is not the same thing.

 

[zennzzo]

I feel the same way! I am not saying this can't work. However, you can not equate the ability to cary the structural load of a house to the ability to withstand water pressure. It is not the same thing.

Don't get it twisted...I was simply trying to illustrate the ability of foam to resist crushing in a low PSI application...just like the Low PSI that would be exerted against that grid of forms once poured with reinforced concrete and built upon.


I am absolutely certain that one could build a tank 6' deep using that form like it was intended, line it with minimal thickness plywood or equivalent, seal it and be done...never to be bothered with the structural strength of the walls, ever...

 

[Chaz88]

I am absolutely certain that one could build a tank 6' deep using that form like it was intended, line it with minimal thickness plywood or equivalent, seal it and be done...never to be bothered with the structural strength of the walls, ever...

Lined with plywood and with the re-bar tied to the floor, I agree that it would work. I thought it was being looked at as a direct replacement for a solid concrete wall.

 

[Turbotad]

ok so i talked to this guy and there have been 3 olympic pools made with this so i think it will work one of wich was above ground lol i have a meeting to get my quote and price im super pumped up lol glad i found this fourm motivated me lol

 

[Chaz88]

ok so i talked to this guy and there have been 3 olympic pools made with this so i think it will work one of wich was above ground lol i have a meeting to get my quote and price im super pumped up lol glad i found this fourm motivated me lol

Sweet! Good news, glad you talked to them before jumping in the deep end.

How did they waterproof the pools?

 

[zennzzo]

ok so i talked to this guy and there have been 3 olympic pools made with this so i think it will work one of wich was above ground lol i have a meeting to get my quote and price im super pumped up lol glad i found this fourm motivated me lol

Excellent!! I guess I was sort of right about it being strong huh?...=P