Joining the big nutz with my 456 plywood build

ok....must have been a long day.... I just figured it out...link all the sumps together with emergency overflows on each sump....so if one shuts down the water would overflow into the other sumps....
I am thinking:
three 2x4x18"high sumps/fuges
all with DSB and macro algae and msx skimmers....and turf scrubbers!!!
 
or maybe just two so you can work on them in the middle section...just thinking out loud here....someone feel free to chime in!!
 
some thoughts....
I want to do two main rock piles with swimming room around each...so basically two three by three rock structures with a one foot water gap around each except the back....they would run front to back to create swimming channels.

Also i plan on only have reef safe fish that do not get bigger than 2-3inches....like two hundread of them...damsels, wrasses, blennys, gobies, basslets, and so on....then one big show size something.....like the largest achilles i can find.....or if i could get my hands on a mutant scopas tang like david saxby has...the white and yellow morph....that thing is fat!!!
 
Amazing attention to details. Looks fantastic. I'm curious, how will you get in the top of the tank, assuming the only open end is the side you will be mounting the glass in. Are you going to route out the top piece like a euro bracing?

Also have you seen the fingerlakes reef site? http://fingerlakesreef.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=13&sid=7c6ba16fd6a0c64673d57add3bcd8899

They are the authority on plywood builds. Most of them rotate the whole tank while fiberglassing, so that they use a pour method that leaves an epoxy layer about 1/4 inch thick. Once that's dried, they set the tank on another side, and pour another layer. It gives a very nice result.

Looks good so far! KEep up the good work!
Aaron
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15291332#post15291332 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dogstar74
Amazing attention to details. Looks fantastic. I'm curious, how will you get in the top of the tank, assuming the only open end is the side you will be mounting the glass in. Are you going to route out the top piece like a euro bracing?

Also have you seen the fingerlakes reef site? http://fingerlakesreef.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=13&sid=7c6ba16fd6a0c64673d57add3bcd8899

They are the authority on plywood builds. Most of them rotate the whole tank while fiberglassing, so that they use a pour method that leaves an epoxy layer about 1/4 inch thick. Once that's dried, they set the tank on another side, and pour another layer. It gives a very nice result.

Looks good so far! KEep up the good work!
Aaron
Click to expand...

Wow....thanks for the link....tons of help. Here i tought i was the only one dumb enough to build these things myself.....LOL!!
 
oh yeah....i plan on doing euro bracing but have not come up with the exact design yet....thinking a six inch center brace with three inches around the brim and rounded corners for extra strenght!
 
i do have some concerns about the top...eurobracing:
i need to do something about the bracing being made strong enough so if any downward pressure is applied the bracing does not crack or brack in half.... because the tank is 48" deep this is a big issue.....one thought was to cut another micro lam. down to about 2" or so and screw and pc11 glue it in under the 3/4 ply. bracing and then fiberglass around it all....but then my problem would be the front glass would have to be knotched out for the micro lam. piece which would not work at all because of a risk of the water flexing the pane of glass and that knotch causing it to crack into two....yikes....any ideas?
 
OMG....its late....duh put the micro lam. brace on top of the plywood.....drrrrrrrr.....lol.......i am going to bed!!! cant think straight!!
 
just a suggestion on th bracing, What are you doing for lighting? I would assume three pendants, then you may want to put in two braces so that you don't have one rigt where the light wold be.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15291745#post15291745 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EleganceMan
Wow....thanks for the link....tons of help. Here i tought i was the only one dumb enough to build these things myself.....LOL!!
Click to expand...
Have you looked in the DIY forum at all? There are a few plywood build threads going on right now. Tons of information, with pictures. Here's one to start you off with:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1441135
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15292691#post15292691 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lost in it all
just a suggestion on th bracing, What are you doing for lighting? I would assume three pendants, then you may want to put in two braces so that you don't have one rigt where the light wold be.
Click to expand...

i thought about that but i think i will be ok because the way i plan to do the rock structures with the two piles i want two banks of metal hallides....like four on each side. But for the begining it will be some cheap shop t8's that i bought for eight bucks.
 
ok i was up all night reading three different threads with plywood tanks.....some really good stuff...but most of them seem to be, to me going really overboard with how strong they make their tanks..... granted its better overboard than under but if it take as much to build one than to buy it then whats the point really.

I am going to pc11 all the plywood and use 1.5oz chop matt fiberglass on all the corners and the euro bracing inside and out....two layers on the inside and two on the out....then i am going to paint it with GARF'S suggested rustoleum paint... thinking bright red....with black reef sand....and hundreds of small fish. so excited but so far from done....
 
dude love your build man , your not far from me in canada, we are suppose to be going to fargo to go shopping for the kids im going to have to stop by man and see your tank if you dont mind. im in Manitoba about 45 mins from peace gardens....


mike
 
456build002-1.jpg

456build001-1.jpg

456build004-1.jpg

456build003-1.jpg
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15296719#post15296719 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by asmodeus
dude love your build man , your not far from me in canada, we are suppose to be going to fargo to go shopping for the kids im going to have to stop by man and see your tank if you dont mind. im in Manitoba about 45 mins from peace gardens....


mike
Click to expand...
thanks ....let me know when your coming down.
 
How come you sealed the top? How are you going to get the glass in? People have been building plywood tanks for awhile now, your definitely not the only one, but it's looking good. Usually people do all the fiberglass/epoxy and then add the glass. THEN add the eurobracing top to seal the deal, otherwise you can't get the glass in.
 
Are those drywall screws I saw in the photos? Are they permanent? Are you concerned about rusting of the fasteners? One of the main causes of failure of plywood tanks, if I remember reading correctly, was the use of drywall screws and improperly braced corners. They eventually come loose, corrode and the corner seams/joints start to open up and leak. I believe I read that in AcroSteves build thread somewhere, posted by a guy with lots of plywood tank experience.
 
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