petplanet Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 Well I have been humming and harring about what to do with my big fish and have pretty much decided that big fish need a big tank. Now the biggest problem is the price if I get a big glass tank. I was originally planning 700 deep x 750-1000 wide x 2.5-3m long. Got some pricing on various tank sizes and lets just say, not cheap. I remember seeing this guys tank 1700 gallon shark tank: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_1700g_tank_1.php Now I don't want to go that big but he mentioned plans for plywood tanks on this website. http://www.garf.org/index.html This is the basic design they have. They don't recommend going as deep, wide or long as I would like. I thought if I used their basic design and beefed it up it may be an option. Space and weight are not to much of a factor as this tank will be going in the basement and feeding off my sump room. I would like to have a long, wide tank with a coral island at each end and bucket loads of swimming room. Dimensions of 4m long x 1.2m wide x 700 deep. That would be $4-5000.00+ if it was glass. Far out, that's 3360 litres of water!!!! I thought I could put the whole tank in a metal frame (probably stainless), use double thickness over lapping plywood(screwed and glued), and three or four glass front panes. The tank could then have the metal bands running right around the tank for support. Basically the plywood is painted with two-part epoxy paint for potable water tanks (nasty stuff). I could then silicon in the glass panes and then recoat the whole thing with this silicon epoxy pond paint (not sure what it is called but it rocks). Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 What about doing the tank on all sides with metal between panels like this tank but in a smaller scale http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... php?t=8952 You could use stainless and it would look good or even get it powder coated! The smaller panels of glass would solve strength issues and bring down the cost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 I always wanted a massive tank, thought about a steel frame and then line with cool store walling , aliminium sheet either side of 6 inch polystyrene. could take off one side of walling and fibreglass the inside anyone got any thoughts on that cheers mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluetom Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 what about making a fibre glass tank? wouldn't be too hard, just hand lay up. not too sure about costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.PROPHECY Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 i hopeing to get a 2.4m long by 1.2m wida tank next year to try breed my aros in probly gona be all glass unless i find a chaeper option, not to kean on ply tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petplanet Posted June 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 It is going to be a saltwater tank so metal and aluminium are not good options. It will be sitting about 900mm of the floor. I was told that the Butterfly Creek 11 metre tank is ply construction so I am trying to find out who made it to get some tips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 Butterflys tank was made by the staff and owner. They did have a small problem as it started to leak, but it stopped by itself. here are some pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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