My 480g plywood tank is nearing completion lots of pics.

[scchase]

Today I finished adding the bracing though I have 1 piece that still needs to be coated in epoxy before filling with saltwater. Then I filled it up. With the braces the total deflection at the middle of the tank is less then 1/8" as a comparison my 150 g 20 year old all glass aquarium has nearly 5/8" deflection at the middle.

Here is a pic of it full now it will have to sit in the garage for the rest of the week and not leak then go downstairs after a couple minor adjustments.

 

[fillibar]

Looks good. How much does it weight, excluding the water I mean?

 

[scchase]

Without water it is light maybe 180-200 pounds I can move it by myself around the garage and flip it on its back if needed so it cant be that bad at all.

 

[tsquad]

coooooool

I think I will try making a plywood tank as a vivarium. Leaves lots of room for error because it won't be holding water...could be good practice for later on.

But your tank is incredible, do you mind me asking how much all of it cost?

 

[scchase]

Plywood 100
Epoxy 100
Glass 275
Fiberglass 175
Screws 15
Silicone 30
Liquid Nails 10
That is approximate.

 

[tsquad]

Sweet! That sounds in my price range, since I won't be buying glass, just a piece of plexiglass, cheap. Very cool. I can't wait to see your setup set up.

 

[Heinz]

how did you seal the glass to the plywood ? just silicon nothing els ? thats enough ?

 

[scchase]

Yep that is all you need the silicone is more of a giant gasket then anything else even more so with Acrylic panels.
Tsquad I would not sue plexiglass for a tank it scratches reall easily and can be rather brittle. Plus you have to have the right thickness for the highth of the tank you are building.

 

[tsquad]

Yes, but it won't hold water. It will just be a viewing window...I could use screen, but I'd want to keep the humidity up in the vivarium. I think I'd use 3/8" Plexiglass (technically acrylic, they sell the stuff at HomeDepot).

 

[scchase]

Ah in that case it would be fine.

 

[javatech]

This is my tank that i made with plywood and glass with a two part epoxy paint

And this is the center brace i made for mine

 

[scchase]

Looking very nice why did you cut hoels in the brace though.

 

[zaireguy]

I am using a 240 plywood tank also.Some say they aren`t as nice as glass but man you have a lot of extra $$ to go around

 

[scchase]

Ill take plywood and the extra 5k any day, plus I can drill holes wherever I want without anything special.

 

[Reefvet]

This is my tank that i made with plywood and glass with a two part epoxy paint

javatech I've seen you post these pictures before and I'm always impressed, it's a great looking tank.

Do you have any pictures of it set up ?

 

[keefsama2003]

i did the same thing but i made 2 90gallon tanks.

i used fda approved foodgrade gelcoat instead of epoxy

 

[Broodingwolf]

wow, what an amazing looking tank, and equally amazing price tag! Wonder how much it would be if it was made with starfire glass instead... hehehe nice contrast there eh? Plywood and starfire.

 

[scchase]

Yes you have heard it hear I will make a 480 gallon tank come in fully stalked with state of the art technology for less then 5k. My next project here in the next couple of weeks will e to make a recirculating beckett skimmer. The skimmer will be fed with the overflow water from the tank directly into near the top of the cylinder then then drain out from the bottom into the sump. The beckett loop will draw water from the top send it through the beckett and back up the column. Total height should be around 4 foot maybe a little more.

 

[Jimsmowen]

Just wondering about a few things, if you drill it do you just use standard bulkheads and some silicone??

And when you put the front panel of glass in, did you just silicone straight onto the front and leave it or did you put something behind it aswell so its "sandwiched" in?

 

[scchase]

As far as the bulkheads should be able to just use standard procedure there I have had them on FRP before and that is all bumpy even so it shouldnt be a problem. Tglass is just attached on the front water pressure keeps it there so no worries there.