DIY Plywood tank (aquarium) 1757 (ltrs)
by Chuckmeister on Sep.05, 2007, under DIY Ideas
A Short tank journal by Northstar
I will start from the beginning. The 18mm ply sheets were cut to size,
the two side panels were cut at1000mm x 1100mm, the bottom panel at 2440 x 900mm,
the back panel at 2440mm x 1000mm and the front was cut at 2440mm x 1000mm with
the oval cut out of it . These were all cut to size at the timber yard .
The next step was to screw the timber frames to the ply. The bottom, back and side
frames were made from 75 x 40mm pine and the front frame made from 90 x 40mm pine.
I used 8-10 x 45mm countersunk rib head screws and liquid nails to fix the frames to the
ply. When I was doing this, my camera was not available so sorry, no pix.
I then started the stand at work. I am a welder-fabricator by trade so that was the easy
part. The stand was made from 50 x 50 x 2.5mm S.H.S and the dimensions are 2620mm
long, 800 high and 1100 wide . When I got the stand home I started to put the ply frames
together on the stand. I started with the bottom frame then the two side frames.
I used liquid nails and 160mm x 10mm bolts to fix the frames to each other. I then fixed
the back frame and then the front frame. I let the tank sit for a week to let the liquid nails
cure and to allow the tank to settle.
I then used body filler in the corners and to fill in the holes made from the countersunk
screws. I then made a frame on the inside of the front panel to take the glass.
I have just started to apply the first coat of west system epoxy resin.
The rough fit
Outside frames (support)
Made the stand from 50×50x2.5mm S.H.S steel powdercoated it matt black glued and bolted the ply frame used body filler
in the corners and to fill in the holes made from the screws i used to fix the timber frame to the ply
Back frames (support) and resin coating
the tank is nearly finished just a bit of cosmetic
work to do . The tank it is up and running though and has been for the last 2 months. I
have 2 petenia splendida, I did have 4 but lost 1 and sold one 1 salmontail catfish, 3
cichla monoculus, 1 silver arowana and I did have 3 jags but one decided she could fly
and the chance of surviving a 7 foot drop was slim .What makes it worse is I didn’t find
her body for a week and boy did she stink, maggots and all. Back to the tank; here are
some pix of me installing the glass and the background and the tank with fish in it.
And a few quick pics of the fish..
8 Comments for this entry
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October 28th, 2007 on 1:22 pm
I liked your artical on the plywood tank,we have a very exciting product that will amase you. We specialise in spray polyurea, and this most ceriainly will make waterproofing and protective coating ideal for this type of application.Check out our web site.
March 8th, 2008 on 11:43 pm
wow great job looks great!! im in the trying to build a8feetx4feetx3foot ply wood tank im planing to use a steel frame. one quick question. how thick is the glass? did you glue it? or silicone? sorry thats 3 questions. tks
July 21st, 2008 on 10:47 am
Great tank!
Always wanted to do peacock bass.
A friend & I are thinking of starting a buisness
building custom tanks. I’ll be finishing my tank soon and I’d love your opinion.
What product are you using for the back wall?
I’d love to swap ideas some time.
Curtis
September 12th, 2008 on 10:35 am
Awesome tank. Huge fan.
November 22nd, 2008 on 2:04 am
superouaou…..i wish i were fish…!
December 23rd, 2008 on 11:57 am
I would also like to know what the back wall is made from it looks awsome. I was wondering could you line the tank with plexiglass rather than seal it as you have?
December 28th, 2008 on 5:15 pm
Hey I am really interested in doing something similar for my two present and many future discus. I was wondering how you ran the filtration, what type of fiberglass resin you used, if marine varnish/boating “gel coat” would work, and many other general construction/assembly instructional questions…
Thanks for the awesome post and great idea!
February 26th, 2010 on 9:41 am
I love fish and this was a great idea. I was wondering though if plexiglass would work and how did you seal the glass? Oh, and what was the background made of? You did a great job. Thanks.