Hey Everyone,

I am thinking about getting a tank built and need some information about how big to make the holes for the sump.

The tank that i am thinking about is a 1800mmx600mmx600mm, i was going to get it made out of 10mm glass.

I am going to get a centre overflow as i would like to view the tank from both sides, I have been advised to get two 25mm drains and either 1-2 20mm outlets.

I am going to be making my own stand and know it needs to hold a lot of weight, I have calculated roughly 800kgs filled with water without gravel and rocks.

Ah i can not think of anything else i would need but feel free to fill in any blanks or add anything.

i hope to take some photos when i am doing all this but it is going to take a while.

just off the top of my head, 10mm sounds too thin??

10mm is fine for 600 high from memory, the main concern with thickness is depth not length because length can be braced..

just off the top of my head, 10mm sounds too thin??

10mm is fine, most 6 footers are made from this thickness.

10mm is fine. Build the stand from 4x2 and either use ply screwed to it or add some diagonal braces. How tall does the stand need to be?

Size of the drain holes would depend on the planned flow.

I would be making the stand with 4x2's and using 12mm ply for bracing around the sides and 18mm ply for the base.

What size sump would people suggest, i have a spare 100l tank that might fit under the stand if i play my cards right, i would have bubble trap, and two or three compartments for media and the return pump.

For the compartments i was thinking having filter wool, then corse sponges then bioballs (another type of something aswell) and the filter wool again. I was thinking using the filter wool to [polish the water as it is dirt cheap to buy.

Question Time:

- Where do people usually source plumbing equipment?

- Where do people get those white ball valvues?

- Glue the connections or get "quick" snap together connections?

- Transporting a 6 footer? Trailer or van?

ahhhhhhhh

i think that might be it for now.

- Where do people usually source plumbing equipment?

Plumbing World, Placemakers only sell 15mm pressure pipe in 6 metre lengths.

- Where do people get those white ball valvues?

What for?

- Glue the connections or get "quick" snap together connections?

I just use 15mm pressure pipe glued together for the return, and 40mm (I think) waste pushed together for the overflow.

- Transporting a 6 footer? Trailer or van?

Van would be much better, but do-able on a trailer.

Actually Plumbing World sell all pvc per mtr up to 100mm.

Waste or pressure pipe as well as alkathene.

How small a tank could you build from 6.5 - 6.83mm thick glass?

- Where do people get those white ball valvues?

Don't use the white ball valves, they are crap and will jam (note WILL not might). You want the blue ones. Mico plumbing sells them. I'd post a picture but seems the resizing thing has stoppped and I can't but you should be able to click on the link.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i109/suphew/Image023.jpg

Why guess when you can work it out for yourself:

http://www.fnzas.org.nz/index.php?PG=glass2

10mm only gives a safety factor of about 2.4 - a bit low but about the same as many existing tanks.

Unless you plan to use thicker than 10mm glass on the bottom of the tank you'll need significantly more than 18mm of wood under the glass - more like 100mm to have any effect. This can be achieved using multiple 4x2's (maybe 4 or 5) across the depth of the tank. The best way is to build the frame and glue the 18mm panel to the top of the 4x2's with something like no-more-nails. If the empty tank with poly under it is placed on this while the glue cures it will exactly conform to the bottom of the tank. Then the bottom glass will be properly supported and have no extra stress added.