Thinking About Constructing a Monster Aquarium Yourself?

[Anythingfish]

I would really like to read your article as well. and maybe even do a Q/A thread after you're done!

As everyone has a different skill level and wants to include their own ideas in their tank; I will be happy to comment on suggestions which vary from my DIY aquarium design.

 

[Redtail_Watcher]

My question is how do you make a DIY tank water proof compared to a custom class tank step by step?

 

[Anythingfish]

My question is how do you make a DIY tank water proof compared to a custom class tank step by step?

I am working on a posting for DIY tanks suitable for housing really big monster tropical fish.

There are two significant issues with regard to monster fish tank construction: The cost per gallon and monthly operating cost. In colder climates the tank must be well insulated. Although the tank pictured below only cost $360.00 for all the materials, about 10 cents per gallon, and took only 8 hours to construct in an emergency it is not suitable for long term use.

This is a photo of: my emergency 3500 gallon plywood tank with a Silver 10 Mil Heavy Duty Home Depot tarp. The tank is 12 feet by 12 feet by 4 feet deep with about 3 feet of water at present. My largest fish is either a 40” Pacu weighing 45 pounds or a 42” Arapaima Gigas weighing something less in the range of 25 pounds. The biggest Redtail Catfish is over 3 feet long.

 

[Redtail_Watcher]

3500 gallons!!

I Really wish i could show you mines!! i just don't have a digital camera...(sucks!) My indoor pond it is made of 2x6's and reinforce by 2x4's 2feet apart at the bottom i got a 5g pond liner(i believes it's a 15x24ft liner) for less than 100 bucks and i spend $200 on wood and screws and $75-80dollars on 2200gallon water Pump/fliter which included also with shipping i got from ebay. (total around $374-$378) which is waY less expensive like 10%of than a custom built giant fish bowl:j/k: (lol! )

But you make mines seems like a shrimp boat...

Specs are 4ftH x 4ftW x 12FTL(you size number by smallest to greatest which is the rule for construction.) i believe it's 1300gallons.

I did wanted to do a tank instead of a pond in the first place. the problem is that I am living at home it's all in my bedroom with 6 fish tanks. It's just that glass is expensive i don't like to spare on any expenses when builting a Huge tank.(i just got a bit of restritions) I'm going to set it up in a apartment that allows pets and have a large basment. (this is going to be a just holding tank! until i get my own house) i want to built a A. Gigas tank. i believe my standard Gigas tank should be 12x30ft It would be the final chapter of my Monster fishes permant home.

I believe i can get a hold of half 4x12 inch sheet of custom made white Plastic. i seen 2 of them before when i work with a quy who was my boss last year, who use to make that stuff.

Do you think that plastic is better or ply wood?? because i heard that from Zoodiver that his paint kept rubbing off on his GIgas display tank(witch scares me even with high quality epoxy paint.)
Also i want to us 1inch thick tempered glass for it is stronger than acrylic glass. which can be half of what Acrylic is made of. but it is twice the wieght of Acrylic. (4x12 2inches weigh about 600lbs) because it doesn't scratch easliy because my RTC Is one mean fish it will try to fight and eat other catfish. A 3ft A. gigas would not stand a chance againast my RTc.(it's about 25-26 inches less than two years old)

any suggestion on how to setup the glass to the wood and make it water poof?(I'm considering acrylic too also. because i do not, want to have my glass cut in half.)

I am working on a posting for DIY tanks suitable for housing really big monster tropical fish.

There are two significant issues with regard to monster fish tank construction: The cost per gallon and monthly operating cost. In colder climates the tank must be well insulated. Although the tank pictured below only cost $360.00 for all the materials, about 10 cents per gallon, and took only 8 hours to construct in an emergency it is not suitable for long term use.

This is a photo of: my emergency 3500 gallon plywood tank with a Silver 10 Mil Heavy Duty Home Depot tarp. The tank is 12 feet by 12 feet by 4 feet deep with about 3 feet of water at present. My largest fish is either a 40” Pacu weighing 45 pounds or a 42” Arapaima Gigas weighing something less in the range of 25 pounds. The biggest Redtail Catfish is over 3 feet long.

 

[rottbo]

please ted do right an aricle about this

 

[Aquatic Dreams]

Anymore pics?
I would love to see some close up shots.

Cheers
Aquatic

 

[Anythingfish]

Anymore pics?
I would love to see some close up shots.

Cheers
Aquatic

I can’t locate my polarized filter for these shallow water pictures so these will have to do. The water depth was reduced to 20 inches in my 3500 gallon outdoor aquarium to take the pressure off the 2” by 6” side wall support timbers which are bowing a bit. I am adding additional 12’ timbers on all sides on the 12’ by 12’ by 4’ deep tank.

This is a photo of one of my 40” Pacu. They are vegetarians but these characters eat hotdogs, rats, birds and smaller fish up to about 12”.

This is a photo of one of 5 Redtail Catfish, the largest is more than 3 feet.

This is a photo of my Arapaima Gigas which I got 18 months ago at 3”; today he is over 40 inches and a very aggressive feeder. Hotdogs of course and large trout pellets floating or sinking. When he (or is it a she?) is eating you can hear it snapping at the food on the surface, it is a really loud smacking noise.

The two fish on the left are Redtail Tiger Shovelnose Hybrids. Both fish are about 30", and very active especially at night in front of the window. One of these had a golf ball sized tumor removed by a veterinarian earlier this year and is doing fine.

 

[Redtail_Watcher]

YOu make me jealous! (12x12x4H)

i have everything you own in that tank accept an Aprima Gigas aslo Accept what i use to of me having was, a black pacu that was 12-13inches and 2-3inches thick long while back. (it died i forgot to declorinate the water because, i felt sleepy and tired... ) also all your fishes are bigger than mines!(..nuts!)

But i do love the your quality of skill taking pictures carfully of you fishes.

 

[Miles]

Very nice Ted.. Let me know when you are ready for these big fish..

My dream tank is to build a house that has a "Moat" style tank built into the entire foundation of the house all the way around. Similiar to Todd's stingray tank, but is encompossing around the entire house. You could place a viewing window in each room and having rock outcropping and lighting only in those areas. The fish could travel any distance around the entire tank but would be most likely to claim territory near the light rock outcropping, each of which would host access holes for feeding and maintenance

Do you get it? LOL

 

[Redtail_Watcher]

did you reinforce the bottom of your tank any kind of way?

since you live in washington i must bet that your area you live in get cold like last years ice storm right? (for you guy didn't know it was a record low for about over like 25years ago which, back then it was even colder my temepature here in Ohio of early spring 2005 was 35 degress below 0zero celecius) i met an eskmo He said from Alaska he said a record of 70-75degrees below zero!!

Aren't chu worried about somthing like that happining again??

I do because, it was so cold and dangerous, i was at work on night shift and it happen over night/moring my family was too darn scared to pick me up any one out side would go to jail if you got picked up by the police(kinda felt bad for them trying to drive in 1-2feet of snow during a catagory 5 ice storm).

Any suggestion of what would you do?? when somthing happen like that again. any suggestions??

I can’t locate my polarized filter for these shallow water pictures so these will have to do. The water depth was reduced to 20 inches in my 3500 gallon outdoor aquarium to take the pressure off the 2” by 6” side wall support timbers which are bowing a bit. I am adding additional 12’ timbers on all sides on the 12’ by 12’ by 4’ deep tank.