193 gallon plywood build thread

Looks great so far!

 

Not suggesting to another man how to handle his finances, but IMO--if you came this far, working meticulously with such degree of skill, knowledge and workmanship and DIDN'T put the most expensive glass pane you could find on the front of that thing--

Well. Some might say you're throwing a plasti-chrome decorative set-screw type tail pipe cover on the back end of a Ferrari.

Seriously though, if you can swing it, I'm lobbying HARD for Starphire glass.

 

I hear ya Sparky!

If I can get the starfire for even a 50% upgrade in cost, I will probably do it. the first place in town i checked with that quoted me 80 bucks for the 3/8 std plate glass told me that they don't even make starfire (low lead) glass in a thickness that tick. I told him i knew for a fact iot is made much thicker than that, and he went on to say that they might make it, but he can't get it.

That IMHO is a big difference. the place I need to check supposedly supplies all the glass to all the area shops, so i should be able to get a better deal by a bit since I would take the middle man out.

The other thing is on a 1 side viewable tank is that starfire is not as noticeable on this type of tank, and especially on a 3/8" thick piece. Also, starfire is not as strong as regular plate glass.

I am on the fence, but I will definitely go starfire if I can.

This is the basement tank, and a bigger showpiece tank will go upstairs when I can swing it.

 

Here is what I got done today..


I have a full coat of epoxy on all inside areas minus a layer on the inside of the front where the glass goes, and the bottom of the top frame/ eurobrace.

By my estimation, I still have enough to lay another thick coat on the back, bottom, and sides, in addition to getting a full coat on the front flat, and having enough epoxy to get the edges of the boards that water will be in direct contact with at all times- the overflow and the flat surfaces of the overflow.

Tank on the stand with the 45 brackets for the epoxying of the 45 angles for the corners



Nice thick coats of epoxy all dry, and curing.



I want to experiment with a different dam material than the packing tape that has been used by others. For me the epoxy seeps through and makes a little mess. Not bad, but I want to keep all the epoxy in the tank, and not wasted. I think for repeat coats on surfaces the tape will seal better to epoxy than bare wood.

I guess some guys use putty, but I would need a ton of that for the underside of the top/ eurobrace. I could wait 10 minutes before I apply the mixed resin and hardener to make it less viscous. But then would need to work faster. I think that is my best plan, along with the tape dam.

 

great update again horkn
and you are saying this 193 gallon tank is for the basement and upstairs there will be an even bigger one?

how big is bigger out of interest?

Steve

 

Pardon my ignorance, but I have a question. Is this Plywood tank going to have only one piece of glass(front panel) or are you placing glass walls all the way around?


Luna

 

Again, without taking Toms thunder...;D He is making it an inwall with one viewable side...

 

One piece of glass, Luna. That's the point of a plywood tank. Crazy stuff, huh? After the fiberglass/tape/hardener, goes a coat of epoxy paint. When put behind a wall, it's just like a regular fish tank, and you can't tell the difference.

With the epoxy and fiberglass work, the wooden sides are so strong, it's just as if the whole thing were constructed of glass.

 

I dont want to rain on Horkn's parade, but I dont like that kind of tank. I love to be able to see 360 deg. up and down views too. Im just expressing my point of view, please dont take this the wrong way. Im still curious as to how it will all look after completion, so I will follow this thread. Good luck Horke.


Luna

 

This type of tank is generally limited for use for in-wall installations (behind a wall that's cut out to expose just the tank's front). When used in this fashion, one really can't tell that it's a plywood tank.