Re: NANFA-- Tank Building

Mysteryman (bestfish_at_alaweb.com)
Wed, 30 Apr 2003 13:14:01 -0700

Nick Zarlinga wrote:
>
> Adam, this we recently discussed this thread a few months ago. Tank
> building is all about bracing. As you indicated, less bracing means thicker
> materials. A large tank that is made completely of acrylic or glass is
> usually unnecessary unless you are using it for a room divider or something
> similiar. Wooden tanks with glass or acrylic fronts are the easiest to
> build, however in my opinion, can be unreliable after a period of time,
> especially in a main furnished room in your house. How are you with using
> fiberglass? I think one of the best ways to make a large reliable tank is
> to use fiberglass over a wooden or steel skeleton. You can brace it how you
> would like and still leave a frame to set the glass or acrylic. Using an
> opaque background and sides also lends itself to less algae cleaning since
> it is not as noticable. It is stinky, smelly, and flat out a pain in the
> butt, but the end result is probably the best bang for the buck. Definitely
> an outdoor project and you need to use a respirator. Yeah, it is as fun as
> it sounds, however the only part that you would have to worry about leaking
> is the seal around the glass/acrylic viewing panel. And that would be
> neglegable. Don't forget the height of the tank is what determines the
> thickness of the glass/acrylic, not the length or width. Good luck, we'd be
> interested in your progress.
>
> Nick Zarlinga
> Aquarium Biologist
> Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
> 216.661.6500 ext 4485
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-nanfa_at_aquaria.net On Behalf
> Of Golden D. Dog
> Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 5:47 PM
> To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> Subject: NANFA-- Tank Building
>
> Sorry about the delay I was out and about the last few
> days. Yeah I was looking to make an all glass but
> after seeing the acrylic and the ways that the larger
> tanks are pieced together I am seriously pursuing that
> end ( I have some calls in to acrylic sheet sellers.)
> It looks like the only trouble with acrylic is bracing
> certain spans properly. However since the material is
> easily cut with a table saw or router that makes the
> spanning problems a bit easier to deal with. I plan
> on posting my progress here on the list for anyone
> interested along with where I purchase my materials
> from. Also, does anyone know if I can post pictures
> here ? If not, no big, I can post to a web site and
> link.
> -Adam
> --
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Wood tanks unreliable?
I guess I'll toss my two cents in the mix.
Plywood tanks are as reliable as anything else, provided that they are
built correctly. Eliminate bowing & keep the wood dry, and it should
last a long time. This means that you can't skimp on the screws and
glue, and you have to take steps to insure that the top edges of the
wood are protected from water. A center brace is also very important to
prevent bowing, which puts a strain on the joints and seals. I like to
use three smaller braces across the tank instead of just one big one in
the center, because it works just as well and doesn't interfere so much
with the light distribution.
There are two main ways to make a plywood tank.
-- Epoxy coat the insides for sealing & waterproofing
This works well, but is a royal pain, and somewhat expensive.
-- Regular latex paint, but line the interior with a thin layer of
plexiglass.
This costs about the same, actually. The thin plexiglass is sealed like
an ordinary aquarium would be. The wood is kept dry, and the risk of
tank inhabitants somehow penetrating the wood and getting it wet is
greatly reduced. As a side benefit, the plexiglass over the wood creates
a lovely refractory illusion of depth. To get this effect, the
plexiglass must be installed after the paint is completely dry. Putting
the plexiglass over wet paint makes everything look flat. The Main glass
window is easy to seal & waterproof over the plexiglass, and the
plexiglass in the window area can either be removed or left remaining.

I suppose that plexiglass over epoxy would be the ultimate way to go,
resulting in a tank which will last for many decades. This is one of the
best ways to get a really big tank for a relatively small amount of
money, but only up to about 750 gallons or so. Any bigger and you'll
probably be better off with concrete.
I've made wooden tanks myself. They're not really all that easy to make
either; you won't be able to crank one out by yourself in a weekend.
You'll need two or three guys for the job.

Fiberglass--- Nick is right about the fiberglass. It seemingly lasts
forever and is ultimately waterproof. It's a real hassle to use, though.
However, it can be cheaper than epoxy or plexiglass, so it's very
cost-efficient. If you want a REALLY big tank, concrete coated with
fiberglass would certainly be the way to go.
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
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/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org